World Religion Day 2025 - Revd Sue Pitkin, UHS Chaplain

On World Religion Day, I wanted to offer some thoughts and reflections. As a member of the Spiritual Care team here at UHS, I’m proud to offer spiritual and religious support to patients, families and staff of any world religion, and of no religion.

I’m a Christian minister (a bit like the vicar in the hospital!) and my religious faith is the most important thing in my life, but when I’m working at UHS as a professional trained to offer spiritual care to all, I don’t speak of my own faith unless I’m asked.

In our team we have Siraj, a Muslim Imam who is our manager, Priti who is a Hindu chaplain, Roman Catholic priests who come to give the sacraments and support to our Catholic patients, and Anglican priests like myself as well as Baptist ministers.

Between us we offer religious care to those who need it, such as blessing of patients before surgery, christenings, prayers for patients who are coming to the end of their lives, holy communion at the bedside, worship in the chapel for Christians and Muslims, and funerals for those who sadly die. We also offer listening support to those who don’t have any particular religious faith.

In my time as part of a team of people of different religions, I’ve learnt such a lot from my colleagues, as well as from patients, and I now believe that people who truly follow their religion, whatever it may be, live lives full of love, kindness and compassion. Exploring world religions is a way into self-knowledge and self-care, and teaches us to be kind to one another.

For more information, please read the Spiritual Care Team information leaflet.