Spiritual Care
We realize illness affects people in many ways.
It’s important to us that you have the spiritual and emotional support you desire, regardless of faith or religious affiliation. Our chaplains are available to you and your family and may check in on you during your inpatient stay at St. Claire Regional Medical Center.
If you would like to request a visit with a chaplain, sacramental care, a Bible, or religious reading material, please call 606.783.6735 or ask your nurse to contact the chaplain. The chaplain will also be happy to help you contact a particular faith group if you wish. Members of your clergy are welcome to visit you during your stay if you request.
You can contact a chaplain yourself by calling 606.783.6735. Nights and weekends, call 606.783.6500 and press “0” to request the chaplain on call.
You may want to reach out to pastoral care when:
- You or a loved one is anxious or worried.
- You are facing surgery.
- A loved one is dying or has died.
- You feel like giving up.
- You or your loved one needs someone to talk to.
- You desire prayer.
Chapel
UK St. Claire’s chapel is located on the second floor of the hospital and is available for reflection and prayer. It is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. If you would like access to the chapel on evenings or weekends, call 606.783.6767 to ask Security to let you in.
Religious Services
Catholic Mass is offered during the week on a varying schedule. Call Pastoral Care at 606.783.6735 for times. All are welcome to attend.
Our Staff
Rev. Jason Caudill, Director of Pastoral Care
Jason is an ordained Nazarene minister, officially endorsed for healthcare
chaplaincy by
the Church of the Nazarene. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Bible
and Theology with a minor in Psychology from Lee University in Cleveland,
Tennessee. Following his undergraduate studies, he completed a Master
of Divinity with an emphasis in Chaplaincy at the John W. Rawlings School
of Divinity at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is currently
pursuing a PhD and is in the process of completing his dissertation.
Jason has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at the
VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as two units at St.
Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia.
He began his chaplaincy work at UK St. Claire as a volunteer in 2015. He
transitioned to a full-time position at UK King’s Daughters in 2019
and was appointed supervisor of pastoral care in 2023. Jason has also
provided chaplaincy services at Cabell Huntington Hospital, a Level 2
trauma center, and Hoops Family Children’s Hospital before returning
to UK St. Claire in December 2023. Additionally, he works with UK St.
Claire Hospice.
Chaplain Jesse Perry, Associate Staff Chaplain
Jesse is ordained to minister by the Northwest Church of Christ in Seattle,
WA. He holds a bachelor's degree in Bible from Ohio Valley College and
completed graduate studies at Pepperdine University, Harding Graduate
School of Religion, and Abilene Christian University. Jesse previously
served eight years as a missionary in Budapest, Hungary. In 2008, he earned
a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Kentucky Christian University.
He has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St.
Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, WV, and is a member of the
Spiritual Care Association and the Hospice Foundation of America.
Jesse is currently in his 17th year serving as a Chaplain and Hospice Chaplain
at UK St. Claire.
Dr. Aryn Meritt, Associate Staff Chaplain
Aryn is an ordained Minister affiliated with the Christian Churches and
Churches of Christ, having been ordained in 1994. He earned a Bachelor
of Arts in Bible from Johnson Bible College (now Johnson University) in
1994, a Master of Arts in New Testament from Cincinnati Christian University
in 2005, and a Doctorate in Biblical Studies from Masters International
School of Divinity in 2015.
He has been serving as a Chaplain at UK St. Claire since 2013, initially
as a PRN staff member and currently as a full-time Associate Staff Chaplain.
Aryn completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Mary’s
Hospital, in 2014 and 2019.
Dcn. Dan Connell, Associate Staff Chaplain
Dan is an ordained Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Lexington,
Kentucky. He completed the Permanent Deacon program at Saint Meinrad Seminary
and School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained as
a Permanent Deacon on June 2, 2012, at Christ the King Cathedral in Lexington,
Kentucky. Since his ordination, he has been serving as a Deacon at Jesus
Our Savior Catholic Church in Morehead, Kentucky. As part of his pastoral
care training, he volunteered at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in
Morehead. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ball State
University in Muncie, Indiana, and a doctoral degree in Education from
the University of Kentucky. In November 2024, Dan obtained the Board-Certified
Hospice Chaplain Certificate from the Hospice Chaplaincy Institute.
Dan joined UK St. Claire Healthcare in July 2023 as an Associate Staff
Chaplain, providing services both within the hospital and in hospice care.
Rev. Steven McKenzie, Associate Staff Chaplain
Steven is an ordained minister affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kentucky Christian University
and a Master of Divinity from Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary.
He previously served as a bi-vocational pastor for small Baptist congregations
in eastern Kentucky for over ten years before transitioning into chaplaincy.
Currently, he is employed full-time as a network engineer at UK St. Claire
and serves as a PRN chaplain, providing spiritual care and support as
part of the pastoral care team.
