Chaplain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A chaplain is a special kind of helper, usually a priest, pastor, or other religious leader. They offer support and guidance to people who might not be able to go to a regular church or religious service. This could be because of their health, where they live, or their job, like in the military. Chaplains help people with their spiritual and emotional needs.

A US Navy chaplain in Iraq studies his Bible for an upcoming service

'Four Chaplains' stained glass window, U.S. Pentagon

What Do Chaplains Do?
Images for kids
See also

What Do Chaplains Do?

Chaplains work in many different places. They provide care and support to people from all backgrounds and beliefs. Their main goal is to help people with their spiritual, emotional, and social well-being.

Chaplains in Schools and Colleges

School chaplains work in both religious and non-religious schools. In religious schools, they might teach religious lessons and lead services. In other schools, they act as mentors and offer support to students.

Chaplains help students during tough times, like when they are sad or stressed. They also run programs to help students, staff, and parents. These programs can teach kids how to deal with feelings like grief or anger. Chaplains often join in school activities like breakfast clubs or sports groups to get to know students better.

In Australia, the government helps fund chaplains in public schools. These chaplains support students' spiritual, social, and emotional health. They come from non-religious organizations. In Scotland, school chaplains also focus on student well-being and building good relationships. They join students on trips and share meals. They are not allowed to try and convert students to a specific religion.

Many colleges and universities also have chaplains. These chaplains help students, teachers, and staff with their faith and understanding different religions. They often lead programs that encourage discussions about spiritual, ethical, and cultural topics.

Chaplains for Emergency Services

Chaplains also work with fire departments and police. They give support to firefighters and police officers, as well as victims and their families. This can be very important during emergencies or difficult situations.

For example, during the September 11 attacks in New York City, a fire department chaplain named Fr. Mychal F. Judge was helping people at the World Trade Center. He sadly died while helping a wounded firefighter.

Chaplains in Healthcare

Many hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices have chaplains. These chaplains help patients, their families, and staff with their spiritual and emotional needs. They care for people of all faiths.

Chaplains are skilled at working with other healthcare professionals. They can help patients whose mental health is connected to their religious beliefs. They also provide comfort and support during difficult times, like when someone is very sick or nearing the end of their life.

Chaplains in the Military

French soldiers of the UNIFIL attending a Catholic Mass in Lebanon

Jewish chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff wears a kippah/yarmulke made from a piece of a Catholic chaplain's camouflage uniform after his own head covering had become bloodied when it was used to wipe the face of a wounded marine during the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing.

A U.S. Navy chaplain in Iraq studies his Bible for an upcoming service.

Military chaplain Military chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support for soldiers, sailors, and airmen. They lead religious services on ships, at bases, or in the field. Chaplains have been part of military life for a very long time.

Military chaplains are usually officers. They are nominated or appointed by religious groups to serve in the military. For example, in the United Kingdom, chaplains are employed by the Ministry of Defence. They get special training to prepare them for military life. In the United States, chaplains must be approved by their religious group to serve.

Chaplains are considered non-combatants, which means they do not carry weapons in battle. If they are captured, they are not treated as prisoners of war. Instead, they should be returned to their home country unless they are needed to care for other prisoners.

Chaplains in Government

House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi present a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to Fr. Daniel Coughlin in recognition for his 11 years of service as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, April 2011

Some countries, like the United States and the United Kingdom, have chaplains who work with their government bodies. For example, there is a Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.

These chaplains often start meetings with a prayer. They also offer advice and support to government members, their staff, and their families. They might help arrange weddings, memorial services, or other religious events.

Chaplains in Prisons

Prison chaplains work with people who are in jail or prison. They help prisoners by listening to them and offering guidance. They also try to connect prisoners with positive community resources. This can help people change their lives and reduce the chance of them returning to prison after they are released.

Chaplains in Sports

Sports chaplain A sports chaplain provides care for athletes and others involved in sports, like coaches and their families. Sports chaplaincy has grown a lot in recent years.

Sports chaplains come from many different backgrounds. Often, they are former athletes themselves. This helps them understand the challenges that athletes face. They can offer spiritual support and guidance to players.

Chaplains for Animals

Environmental chaplains and veterinary chaplains are a newer type of chaplain. Environmental chaplains focus on humanity's connection to the Earth. They support people working on issues like climate change. They also help people affected by natural disasters.

Veterinary chaplains serve people and their animals. They help with the spiritual side of the human-animal bond. A big part of their job is helping people who are grieving the loss of a pet. They can also offer blessings for animals and support during animal health crises.

Chaplains in Businesses

Some businesses hire chaplains for their employees and customers. These chaplains can offer counseling, help with conflict, and support during difficult events. They help create a supportive environment in the workplace.

Chaplains on Cruise Ships

Cruise chaplains work on board cruise ships. They provide spiritual support to both passengers and the crew. They often stay on the ship for the whole trip. While they help passengers, their main focus is often on the well-being of the crew. Crew members can be away from home for many months, so chaplains offer important support.

Chaplains in Noble Households

In the past, many noble families had their own domestic chaplains. These chaplains lived with the family and traveled with them. They could perform baptisms, funerals, and weddings for the family. This meant the noble family did not have to go to public church services.

These chaplains were often well-educated. They would tutor the children and advise the family on many topics, not just religion. They were very important because they were often the only educated people in the household.

Today, some royal families still have chaplains. For example, Queen Elizabeth II had many Anglican chaplains.

Other Types of Chaplains

Chaplain’s Office, York railway station

Chaplains can also be found in many other places. There are chaplains for private clubs, TV or radio stations, and even airports. Some chaplains work with community groups like the Boys and Girls Brigade.

Images for kids

The Reverend Manasseh Cutler, American Revolutionary War chaplain who served in George Washington's Continental Army and co-founded Ohio University
A Catholic chaplain ministers to American Marines and Sailors in Tikrit, Iraq
Rabbi Philip R. Alstat, c.1920, Jewish chaplain for "The Tombs" – the Manhattan Correctional Facility – for thirty years.
Samuel Provoost, First Chaplain of the Continental Congress, 1789
Maryland, Germantown. Headquarters Christian Commission in the Field, 1863
Military Field Rabbi Dr. Aaron Tänzer during World War I, with the ribbon of the Iron Cross. The brassard of the red cross shows him as noncombatant. He wears the Star of David as insignium
Rabbi Ralph Kreger, BCC with a patient's family member at Lenox Hill Hospital (part of the North Shore LIJ health system)
Monument to Chaplain Father Francis Duffy in Times Square (click for obverse text)
A hospitalized man receives communion from a chaplain, Guadalajara, Mexico
President George W. Bush congratulates Navy Chaplain, Imam Abuhena Saifulislam, the first U.S. Navy Muslim chaplain assigned to the Marine Corps
Religious Services 1st Cav AKA Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me by Paul Rickert, U. S. Army Vietnam Combat Artists Program, Team IX (CAT I 1966). Courtesy National Museum of the U. S. Army.
Frocking ceremony for U.S. Navy's first Muslim chaplain, when Navy (rabbi) Chaplain Arnold Resnicoff attaches new shoulder boards with Muslim Chaplain crescent insignia to uniform of Imam Monje Malak Abd al-Muta Noel Jr, 1996.
An American chaplain in September 2001.