CMC Vellore began as and remains a Christian foundation. One of the unique features of the institution is the Department of Chaplaincy which is always present at the patients’ side to offer support and morale, an important aspect in times of hopelessness. Here, divisions of religion, creed or caste dissolve as humanity prevails. The patients who walk in here come with physical scars and broken minds. As the physicians strive to heal the body, the heart and soul receive calm from the pastoral care provided at the Chapels in the main hospital, college and the peripheral services areas. Many patients and relatives of all faiths and creeds are often seen in prayer, at these quiet spaces for worship. Led by the Department of Chaplaincy, pastoral care is offered by different caregivers, in varied ways. In all, there are 19 chaplains from different language groups, including Khasi, Bengali, Nepalese and Mizo chaplains, to minister to the patients. There are chaplains on duty each day.
Each chaplain is assigned departments or wards. Counselling and pastoral visits to patients admitted in different wards are important aspects of their responsibility. Chaplains befriend and support patients in times of crisis. Special prayers are offered for those undergoing surgery. Holy Communion is administered to patients at their bedside. Worship services are held every day. In the main hospital, chapel services are held in eleven different languages each Sunday. The majority of CMC’s students are from Christian churches, sponsored by them to serve in their healthcare institutions after training. Nurturing and mentoring students is another important area of the work of Chaplaincy. Regular chapel services, musicals, plays and special events are organized by the chaplaincy department involving the students. Weekend retreats are held for various groups of students and staff, often in outstation centres.
The Chaplaincy department is also involved in training pastoral caregivers in India through a three-month course in Clinical Pastoral Education and a one-year Postgraduate Diploma course in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. The chaplaincy library has 7,000 books and is well-used by patients and relatives.
Music Ministry:
Music brings healing. In CMC, there are many opportunities to experience this dimension of healing. Chaplaincy formally and informally promotes this dimension of the human experience.
Choirs:
Different worship services in different chapels of CMC have their choirs to enrich the worship services. People are blessed and healed through this ministry.
Carol Services:
During the Christmas season, different carol services are specially organized to communicate the joy of Christmas. Multilingual carol service which brings more than ten Indian language groups unites people of different cultures for the glory of God. In recent years, Carols by Candlelight has become an annual feature on the Bagayam campus.
Music seminars & workshops:
Time and again leaders of music come forward to conduct seminars and workshops for the benefit of staff and students who have a special calling in this area.
