Board-certified chaplains are the core of the Chaplaincy Services staff at Children’s National. Clinically trained on-call chaplains are available to patients, families and staff 24/7 for support, education, ritual and consultation. A Spanish-speaking chaplain is also available 20 hours per week.
Chaplains are spiritual and pastoral counselors who work with patients and families to access spiritual strength and resources. Chaplains offer care and support when patients and their families search for meaning in the midst of illness and hospitalization. In addition, chaplains can be advocates for families and patients whose traditions, practices and values are important in daily life and decision-making.
Chaplains educate nurses, interns, residents, fellows, faculty and other staff in being culturally/spiritually sensitive and appropriate. Children’s National chaplains are frequent presenters at national gatherings for the Pediatric Chaplains Network and other local and national organizations.
Our team offers sacrament, ritual, services, workshops and memorials to assist in the integration of grieving and loss.
Chapel
Children’s National understands that families may need a quiet space for prayer or meditation during their visit or stay at the hospital. Our chapels are open to patients, families and staff for pastoral and spiritual care 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Recognizing the religious and spiritual diversity of our patients, families and staff, our chapels primarily represent the traditions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. Upon request, the staff chaplains can provide rosaries, electric Sabbath candles, prayer rugs and holy books for each faith community.
History of the Chapels
The original chapel was donated by the family of William Edward Farr Sharon in his memory and was dedicated in June 1977. In the early 2000s, the chapel was moved from the Costco Wholesale Atrium to the third floor of the main hospital. The stained glass windows were designed to communicate a sense of life, love and compassion. These windows were a gift from the Board of Lady Visitors and created by a friend of the Sharon family.
Chapel Location
- The Main Chapel is located in room 3201, third floor, main building.
Memory Tree
The Memory Tree, a Japanese red split-leaf maple, is a living memorial for our families. The Memory Tree was purchased in 2010 and continues to grow and thrive in front of the hospital’s Michigan Avenue entrance.
Recognition
Reverend Kathleen Ennis-Durstine, senior chaplain, has been appointed as a faculty member and a curriculum developer to the Pediatric Chaplains Institute, which is offered to pediatric professional chaplains yearly in a one-week intensive course. Rev. Ennis-Durstine was named as Dean to the Pediatric Chaplains Institute in the fall of 2013.
Rev. Ennis-Durstine also presented at the most recent Pediatric Chaplains Network Conference.
Rev. Ennis Durstine has contributed to several textbooks on palliative care and another on pediatric chaplaincy and several articles. Rev. Lavender Kelley, Rev. Matthew Schlageter and Rev. Eliezer Oliveira have presented at major conferences as well.
Contact Information
Our chaplains are available 24 hours, seven days a week. Families may also visit our Facebook page for inspirational posts and more. You may also check out our resources page for religion-specific prayers and other resources. Additionally, Chaplaincy Services has a YouTube channel for meditative, supportive and inspiring messages as well as education.
- The senior chaplain and manager, Rev. Kathleen Ennis-Durstine, is on site at the main hospital campus Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., room 4201, 202-476-3321.
- Reverend Bryan C. Baker, M.Div., staff chaplain, can be contacted in room WP 1052, 202-476-2626.
- Reverend Eliezer Oliveira, staff chaplain, is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Contact him in room WP 1058, 202-476-5050.
- Reverend Matthew Schlageter, M.Div., BCC-APC, staff chaplain, can be contacted in WP 1052, 202-476-6736.
- Reverend Lavender Kelley, M.Div., BCC-APC, staff chaplain, can be contacted in room 4115, 202-476-4638.