How does one prepare for the duties of a hospital chaplain? A typical day could involve supporting families as they make the decision to end life support, standing by patients and families as major surgeries occur or supporting families as their loved ones die. But all this and more might be the lot of Salvation Army Major Barb Pritchett, who is responsible for chaplaincy duties at the hospitals in St. John’s, N.L.

A Call to Serve

While Major Barb’s role as a chaplain is in post-retirement, she had been a Salvation Army pastor all her adult life. As a youth at The Salvation Army’s Corner Brook Temple, N.L., Major Barb had grown into a strong person of faith and was active in her church. At the age of 17, she sensed God calling her to full-time ministry as a Salvation Army officer, and together with her husband, Major Lorne Pritchett, spent a total of 34 years in various appointments in Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Major Barb was living happily in retirement when she was approached to fill a vacancy that had come about due to a transfer.

At first, she was told that it would only be a short-term contract position because, at that time, pastors would no longer be involved in hospital chaplaincy. But after prayer and discussion, The Salvation Army decided to keep this vital ministry going.

“I am extremely grateful for that decision because I know how important it is,” Major Barb recalls, as she had worked there in a part-time capacity several years before. “The opportunity for ministry with very vulnerable patients, families and the medical professionals is so needed.”

Major Barb accepted the posting in October 2023.

Large Responsibilities

This hospital chaplaincy is ecumenical in nature, with full-time chaplains from all the major denominations and part-time chaplains representing other faith groups. They all work together and support each other with chapel services and other activities.

Major Barb covers the Eastern Health’s Health Sciences Centre, which is the only trauma hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador. St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre, and Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre are also her responsibility.

“My typical day is spent in prayer with patients. I’m aware of my own insufficiency, but I’m always aware that my help comes from the Lord,” says Major Barb.

She enjoys working with the health-care professionals as they have a respect for ministry as part of the holistic approach to healing.

“They see us as part of the team,” she says. “My Salvation Army uniform attracts so many people who are in need, so I must always be ready to listen to everyone, staff and patients alike.”

“Lord, Bless Barb Today”

There are many heartfelt stories that Major Barb can share, some of them intense and strongly felt.

She visited a man recently in the cardiovascular intensive care unit following major heart surgery.

“As we talked,” Major Barb says, “we were so thankful for his successful surgery. I asked, as I always do, if I could pray with him, and he responded positively. Immediately following my prayer, he opened his eyes and said, ‘What did you say your name was?’ I told him, he closed his eyes once more and said, ‘Lord, bless Barb today.’

“Oh, the blessing that flooded my soul at that moment. It reiterated for me what I have already experienced in my entire ministry. My appointments have done way more for me than I have ever done for them,” she concludes.

Peace Amidst the Pain

Major Barb recalls another memory of the faith of a patient. One day, she walked into the room of a man who was due to have brain surgery for a cancerous tumour. They had talked before, and he told her he was not a man of faith.

“That morning as I walked into his room, I knew I needed to gently address his standing with God,” Major Barb says. “I was conflicted as to how to do this, so I put myself in his shoes. Calling him by name, I said, ‘You know, I would not want to go through surgery of this magnitude without having made peace with God.’

“He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Neither do I.’

“I offered to pray and the gentleman agreed. I bowed my head and when I looked, he was out of his bed and on his knees. I fell to my knees also and we prayed together asking God for peace.”

These are stories of uplifting faith and good news, but sometimes there are encounters with the hurting and the broken.

“I have spent many hours at the bedside with families who are making decisions regarding the withdrawal of life support,” she says. “I so often don’t have any answers to give to so many hurting parents, children and families. I just validate their confusion, anger and fear, but somehow God’s Spirit ministers and they find a measure of strength and peace amidst their pain,” she says.

Privileged Position

“These present days in retirement have offered me a wonderful ministry that uses every pastoral experience I have ever had in the past,” says Major Barb.

Now 70, she struggles to lay down the mantle of ministry that she took up so many years ago. “It’s been a wonderful life,” she recalls. “I recently purchased a pillow that reads true for me: ‘Can’t stop, won’t stop.’

“I am always very mindful of the fact that I represent God in these situations,” she says. “There isn’t a lot I can say but my presence and prayer seem to comfort and support these families. It is indeed a privilege.”

Photos: Courtesy of Major Barb Pritchett

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