“Spirituality is a lifeline in ministry to the sick,” says a chaplain at the Philippine General Hospital

A Jesuit priest who works as a chaplain at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila says “spirituality becomes a lifeline” while caring for the sick and dying.

“In a place where people face pain, uncertainty, and even death, chaplains bring more than just words. They bring presence, compassion, and hope,” said Jesuit Fr. Marlito G. Ocon, one of the chaplains at the Philippine General Hospital, a premier government healthcare institution.

He and his fellow Jesuits work under the aegis of the Archdiocese of Manila Hospital Chaplains and the Philippine Jesuits Province.

“Hospital chaplaincy is not just about religion; it is about helping patients, families, and healthcare workers find meaning, peace, and inner strength amid suffering,” said Ocon.

“Whether through prayer, silent companionship, or listening without judgment, chaplains address the profound spiritual needs that often go unspoken but are strongly felt,” he added.

“In this sacred work, spirituality becomes a lifeline, offering healing not just of the body, but of the soul,” he added.

Fr. Ocon entered the Society of Jesus in 1999, after four years of working as a ship design engineer for a Japanese shipbuilding company.

He had previously worked in a leper colony located on Culion Island in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines.

“For us who work in the hospital, the call to serve the sick and the dying is both a privilege and a heavy responsibility,” he shared. “The needs are constant, the hours are long, and the emotional weight can be overwhelming. Yet, even as compassion drives us, our humanity reminds us that we, too, must pause.”

According to him, “In serving those at their weakest, we must also care for ourselves so that our presence remains a source of comfort, hope, and healing.”