Upper Cape Chaplaincy
The Ministry of Presence
Our mission is to provide quality, professional chaplaincy services to health care institutions and other outreach ministries of Upper Cape Cod in an ecumenical and interfaith manner.
The Ministry of Presence
Our mission is to provide quality, professional chaplaincy services to health care institutions and other outreach ministries of Upper Cape Cod in an ecumenical and interfaith manner.
Upper Cape Chaplaincy
Box 482
East Falmouth, MA 02536
Spring, 2024
“I notice how awesome you are”
------Reverend Saramaria Allenby
Spring greetings from the Upper Cape Chaplaincy,
The Upper Cape Chaplaincy’s mission is to provide quality, professional chaplain services to healthcare institutions in an ecumenical and interfaith manner. We currently have four highly qualified, part-time chaplains serving patients, families and staff at Falmouth Hospital, Reverends Saramaria Allenby, Manny Aran, Mary Hansen-Joyce and per diem Jim Schutter who also serves JML Care Center. They are aware of the nationwide shortage of hospital staffing, the lingering effects of the COVID epidemic, and that Falmouth is no exception. This year the hospital has often been at capacity and sometimes over capacity when patients overflow the Emergency Department. Chaplains have observed that some medical and support staff experience compassion-fatigue, burnout, as well as general anxiety about working long hours for an extended period of time.
As a result, the Chaplaincy Board has voted to use UCC funds for an increase in Rev. Allenby’s hospital time by three hours a week to better focus on staff spiritual and emotional needs. She does this with one-on-one and small group support, engaging in active listening techniques, positive behavior recognition and expressions of gratitude. Even the simple act of giving a busy staff person a card which says “I notice how awesome you are” can have a positive impact on their emotional health and well-being.
Falmouth Hospital CEO, H. Carter Hunt, consistently recognizes and expresses his personal appreciation and gratitude for the vital work of our chaplains. But the financial aftereffects of COVID still persist for Cape Cod Healthcare, and Falmouth Hospital has not been able to increase its Chaplain program budget for the last four years. Last year 8810 chaplain visits were made to patients at Falmouth Hospital and JML Care Center.
Thus, we look to the Upper Cape faith community to help fill the budget gap for the much-needed work of our compassionate chaplains. Your gift will help the Chaplaincy’s ongoing and newly expanded mission.
With gratitude for all that our Upper Cape community does for the Chaplaincy,
Ann Stone, President; Kristin Fraser and Rev. Ruth Blais, Vice Presidents; Donna Fish, Treasurer; Don Johnson, Assistant Treasurer; Ann Loos, Recording Secretary; Carolyn Belmore, Corresponding Secretary; Kathy Johnson, Financial Adviser; Members at Large: Cathy Holmes, Bob Johnson, Joyce Kenneally, Dick MacKenzie, Marsha Martin, Cynthia Pina Please visit our website at uppercapechaplancy.org and check out our Facebook page.