Woman taking deep breath while on hike

In keeping with the Mission and Values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, the St. Joseph Hospital Spiritual Care department offers spiritual support and comfort to all our patients, families and staff.

The Spiritual Care Department consists of an interfaith team of board-certified chaplains who offer holistic ministry. We are here to care for spiritual, religious, emotional and ethical concerns.

While you or your loved one is a patient at St. Joseph Hospital the following assistance is available:

  • One-on-one visits from a chaplain
  • Daily Mass in the Chapel (or can be watched on Channel 3)
  • Volunteer Eucharistic minister to visit daily
  • Blessing of all newborn babies if requested
  • In-depth Bereavement Program
  • No One Dies Alone Program
  • Help in learning about Advanced Health Care Directives
  • Help when dealing with an ethical healthcare decision

The hospital Chapel is located on the first floor of the main hospital, adjacent to elevators 4 and 5. The Reflection Room is located just off the first floor lobby, adjacent to the Surgical Waiting Area.

Both the Chapel and Reflection Room are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and welcome all for prayer, meditation or quiet time. These peaceful settings provide a haven for those of all faiths.

Monday - Friday: 12 p.m.
Saturday: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m.

Mass is presented in the hospital Chapel, located on the first floor of the main hospital, adjacent to elevators 4 and 5. It may also be viewed in the hospital on Channel 3, the C.A.R.E. channel, every day at noon.

What is clinical pastoral education?

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith, professional ministry education program, which brings students into a supervised setting where they encounter people in need of care. Through extensive engagement with people in need of care and reflection with peers and teachers, students develop awareness of how their personhood influences the care they provide. Students also develop spiritual care skills, which help them to identify the hopes, needs and resources of the people in their care.

Through reflection on particular human situations and relationships, students deepen their competency in ministry. CPE is an educational process of spiritual formation for the purpose of becoming an effective spiritual caregiver. Working within the interdisciplinary team process with staff chaplains, nurses, social workers and physicians, students develop skills in interpersonal and professional relationships.

Why take CPE?

CPE is often a required component of one's preparation for ministry in many denominations and faith groups. Many students take one unit of CPE to fulfill this requirement and go on to be parish pastors, missionaries or a member of a religious order.

Many others take at least four units of CPE as part of their training and requirements to become a board certified chaplain.

Why take CPE at St. Joseph hospital?

St. Joseph Hospital has a long history of providing quality CPE training for more than 35 years. We are accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) to offer Level 1 and Level 2 CPE. As part of Providence, students in our program have the opportunity to learn in a variety of settings including: St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA; St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA; Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, CA; and St. Mary Hospital in Apple Valley, CA.

Providence is a Catholic health system with a reputation for excellence in medical and spiritual care. We are a culturally and religiously diverse community guided by the core values established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange: Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence and Integrity. Our spiritual care team strives to provide care with humility and respect for the social locations and faith traditions of those we serve. Our CPE students are guided in this approach, even as they develop a deeper understanding of their own faith and cultural uniqueness.

Full-time CPE

The Summer Intensive Unit is a full-time unit requiring 40 hours a week of participation over the course of 11 weeks. Students work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and have additional on-call duties.

Extended CPE

The spring and fall units are part-time units requiring approximately 30 hours a week of participation over the course of 18 weeks. Students have one class day a week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which is approximately 20 hours of clinical work per week with additional on-call duties. Each unit has a requirement of 400 hours.

Admission to St. Joseph Hospital CPE

Our center is committed to giving fair and thorough consideration to all qualified applicants. We select students who are seminarians, clergy and lay persons with consideration of aptitude for learning, capacity for self-reflection and potential for ministry without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

Most successful applicants have already begun graduate theological education or other specialized training in their respective religious traditions. Tuition for a Summer Intensive or Extended Unit of CPE is $500.

CPE Schedule
  • Winter-Spring Extended: January 22 - May 24, 2024
  • Summer June 3, 2024 - August 16, 2024
  • Fall-Winter Extended: September 9, 2024 - January 10, 2025

Apply six to eight months in advance as positions are limited for each unit. There is a $50 application fee, made out to St. Joseph Hospital.

For further information and application materials, give us a call.

Mailing Address

Providence St. Joseph Hospital
Spiritual Care Department
1100 W Stewart Drive
Orange, CA 92868
714-771-8137

ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education

1 Concourse Pkwy,
Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 404-320-1472
Fax: 404-320-0849
www.acpe.edu