INTERFAITH CHAPLAINCY

The term chaplain dates back to the fourteenth century and refers to a person who tends a chapel. The word chapel originated in the thirteenth century from the late Latin word cappa or cloak. This comes from the story of a Roman soldier in France who became St. Martin of Tours. When confronted by a destitute stranger on the road, he cut his cloak in half and gave it to the fellow traveler. A shrine was erected to preserve the fragment of that cloak. That building became known as a chapel - literally the "place of the cape".

Chapels are small places of prayer which are often in remote locations or in institutions such as schools and hospitals. They are places of spiritual hospitality where strangers go to pray, meditate or just find peace and quiet. The story of Martin the Roman soldier is particularly important since in the time of national crisis and extreme loss, we feel we should all give much of what we have to others in need.

Spiritual care under the model of Interfaith Chaplaincy is the providing of solace and comfort to others by respecting and affirming them as spiritual beings in creation and through the universality and unity of all in the eyes of God and creation. The original word spiritual came from another Latin word for wind. In the depths of despair, hopelessness, loneliness and grief, the chaplain travels with the the person in need and provides a presence of love and hope - a new wind, so to speak, blowing into the airless vacuum of sadness. It is the job of the chaplain to find and respect the religious background of all she or he helps and to raise that person from darkness to the healing light.

WORK PERFORMED AT THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER

Our chaplains are assigned to the areas of the Medical Examiner where clinical and other professional workers are trying to identify the many fragments of human remains from the tragedy of September 11TH. The chaplain provides a spiritual presence on-site.

With family members and friends scheduled to visit three times a day, seven days a week, the chaplain accompanies the visitors to the Memorial Park where the refrigerated trailers hold the unidentified remains. During the visit, the chaplain will talk with family members and friends asking about the loved one who was lost. Often the family member or friend will bring flowers or a photograph. The chaplain helps receive these and place them at the memorial wall erected for that purpose.

On Fridays at 2 PM an Interfaith Memorial Service is conducted in the tent which contains the refrigerated trailers. This service is attended by staff members of the Medical Examiner's Office and also coincides with one of the survivor visitation times. After the service the chaplain will visit with family members and staff.

The chaplain on duty makes a special effort to make rounds at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Other work revolves around documenting the work the chaplain does, taking part in ongoing training, reading professional materials and providing peer support for other chaplains.

There are training and orientation sessions which give an opportunity for the chaplains to share experiences and provide support to one another. Every chaplain comes from a faith tradition of his or her own which is a rock bottom spiritual center from which all this work proceeds.