“I was surprised at first, but I appreciated that people cared about me. In a context of hospitalization, it is not insignificant”, confides Virginie Claret, one of the Valais patients of the Riviera-Chablais Hospital (HRC), referring to the chaplain’s visits to her room. In all, eight chaplains – for a full-time equivalent of 3.3 – take turns to meet regularly with all the patients of the Rennaz establishment, as well as those of the two other sites of the Riviera-Chablais Hospital, in Vevey and Blonay, welcoming people in geriatrics.
Patients from Mottex, in Blonay, will also be transferred to the Monthey site in October. “We have already thought about the organization of our future team of chaplains on site. Because spiritual needs are part of a patient’s basic needs, ”says Fabrice Crognaletti, deputy director of hospital care, during a press conference on Thursday.
Something to delight Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey, bishop of the diocese of Sion, for whom “this recognition of the spiritual dimension is important. It is essential to meet the patients. We do not save from afar.”
The development of the agreement for the creation of an ecumenical chaplain service at the Riviera-Chablais Hospital was signed in October 2016 between the diocese of Sion, the Reformed Church of Valais, the Reformed Evangelical Church of the canton of Vaud, the Catholic Church of the canton of Vaud and the HRC. The chaplaincy is financed two-thirds by public subsidies and one-third by the Riviera-Chablais Hospital.
Round the clock
The structure’s eight chaplains are either Catholic or Reformed. “The team is made up of three lay Catholics, two Reformed pastors, a Reformed deacon and two Catholic priests”, explains the priest Vincent Lafargue, chaplain in charge of the Riviera-Chablais Hospital.
It is essential to meet the patients. We do not save from afar.
Mgr Jean-Marie LoveyBishop of the Diocese of Sion
A daily presence is thus ensured. “We visit all patients, regardless of their spirituality.” No proselytism is practiced. “We never arrive with the processional cross in front, as I like to say. We offer those who wish our faith and our Christian values, but we do not impose anything”, specifies Vincent Lafargue.
Growing demand
Patients also have the freedom to refuse the passage of a chaplain in their room. Which rarely happens, however. “The demand is, on the contrary, rather great. It is even a challenge for us to respond to it today”, notes Anne Abruzzi, of the Reformed Evangelical Church of the canton of Vaud.
We never arrive with the processional cross in front, as I like to say. (…) We don’t impose anything.
Vincent Lafarguechaplain in charge of the Riviera-Chablais Hospital
The chaplaincy service responds to any urgent request 24 hours a day, via a picket system. “It is possible thanks to a pool of priests from the region available during the night,” adds Vincent Lafargue. The team listens to hospitalized people, but also to their relatives and carers who ask for it. “Anyone may need to be listened to. This was important especially during the Covid period.”
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