MaineHealth Maine Medical Center recognizes the importance of the relationship between spirituality and physical health. Pastoral and spiritual caregivers play an important role in this process.
Spiritual care professionals are available to help patients, families and staff in times of emotional and spiritual need. We welcome and respect all beliefs and faith traditions. Services include speaking to, or praying with patients, families and loved ones. Chaplains of many faiths are also available to administer special sacraments of faith.
The Cairns Memorial Chapel, located on the first floor of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland, is available at all hours for prayer and reflection. Devotional materials are available. Denominational and ecumenical services are held weekly and seasonally for patients, families and care team members. In addition, special services are held to commemorate special events.
Interfaith chaplains and chaplains representing a variety of faith communities are available 24 hours a day to offer spiritual support. Local ministers, priests, and rabbis are encouraged to visit their congregants upon request of the patient.
Director & ACPE Certified Educator
The Rev. Heather L. Weidemann
Phone: 207-662-2352
Administrative Specialist
Kasey Grover
Phone: 207-662-2951
Spiritual Care Manager
Jon Larssen
Phone: 207-662-3740
Catholic Chaplain
Michael Vaughn
Phone: 207-662-5279
Catholic Chaplain
Joe Stevens
Phone: 207-662-5279
Catholic Chaplain
Fr. Kevin Upham
Phone: 207-662-5279
Catholic Chaplain
Fr. Amandus Sway
Phone: 207-662-5279
Cardiovascular Service Line Chaplain
Joan Carr Myers
Phone: 207-662-6117
Palliative Care Chaplain
Myrna Koonce
Phone: 207-662-6867
Special Care Unit Chaplain
Tracy Davis
Phone: 207-662-2951
Women’s and Children’s Service Line Chaplain
Kate Perry
Phone: 207-662-1265
The MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford and Sanford spiritual care team is available to all patients and their loved ones. We provide a listening presence, guidance in mindfulness and prayer, support through decision-making, and help finding purpose and meaning. Interfaith clinical chaplains are available 24 hours a day to offer spiritual support. Local ministers, priests, rabbis, and spiritual community leaders are encouraged to visit their community members upon request of the patient.
Chaplain Office: Call 207-294-5300 or email SpiritualCareBIDSAN@Mainehealth.org
Director & ACPE Certified Educator Candidate
The Rev. Shelly Snow, MDiv, MEd, APBCC
Clinical Chaplains
Benny VanDerburgh
207-283-7573
Nathan Stearman
207-490-7457
Administrative Specialist
Sue Libby
207-283-7234
Grief is a human experience. Facing the death of a family member is very hard and everyone copes with grief differently. Regardless of whether the death was expected or sudden, this can be a time of confusion and sadness. Some people face the death of a loved one with the support of other family members and friends. Some face it in an unfamiliar place filled with strangers. Some people face it alone, with no one to turn to and no knowledge of where to begin.
Grief resources for adults:
- Maine Grief Support Groups
- What Do I Do Next
- Life After Loss
- Some Spiritual Tools & Tips
- GriefShare – Worldwide directory of support groups for people grieving the death of a family member or friend.
Grief resources for children:
- After a Loved One Dies: How Children Grieve, and How Adults can Support Them
- The Center for Grieving Children: A nonprofit organization that provides services completely free-of-charge for children, teens, young adults, and their family members who are experiencing grief & loss. Locations throughout southern Maine, for more information call 207-775-5216.
Virtual Prayer Book
The Chaplains at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center have a tradition of praying for our patient, staff, and community needs during our daily meetings. You can request prayers by entering them either in the prayer book kept in our Chapel, via email Portland / Biddeford & Sanford or using our webform.
Please use first names only and keep your request brief. Requests will be monitored daily and will be placed on the prayer list for our next meeting. Your request for prayer is a sacred trust and will be kept confidential.
Well-Wishes
If prayer is not your need or custom, our spiritual care team is happy to receive your wish for well-being. This can be for a specific individual or more generally for our health care staff. You can send a message of encouragement and support via email Portland / Biddeford & Sanford or using our webform.
Please keep your message positive and brief. Our Chaplain staff rounds in the hospital daily and will share your message with the appropriate person or group. All messages shared will be edited to remove any personal information about the sender. Please know that we will receive your well-wish with gratitude, and share it in a spirit of honor and trust.