The morning of November 20, 2007, marked a momentous occasion at Hoag Hospital–the grand opening and dedication of the Maseeh Chapel. The new all-faiths chapel is located just off of the main lobby of the Women’s Pavilion, and serves people of all religions and beliefs.

The dedication service was attended by over 150 hospital staff, auxiliary members and visitors, who listened as the chapel was dedicated to providing a spiritual sanctuary for any and all who need it. The service also honored the people who worked to bring the dream of a new chapel at Hoag to fruition.

The new chapel was built with a generous grant from the Massiah Family Foundation, which is funded by Fariborz and Azam Maseeh. Since 2002, the Newport Coast couple has been incredibly supportive of Hoag and its endeavors, and they have been involved in several projects on the Hoag campus. The Maseehs realized the need for a peaceful respite for families, patients and staff at the hospital, and it was then that they decided to donate specifically to the construction of an all-faiths chapel to provide a spiritual retreat for people of all religious backgrounds.

The Maseeh Chapel has a much larger capacity than the previous prayer room, with space for 50 people. In addition, it has advanced audio/visual equipment, which enables services to be recorded and broadcast throughout the hospital and in patient rooms. Patients and visitors may also dial pastoral care directly from phones in the chapel lobby, providing an instant connection to a pastor or chaplain. The chapel also features calming artwork and design elements that reflect the beauty and serenity of the oceans and beaches surrounding Hoag Hospital. The space truly provides a peaceful, spiritual environment for all visitors to the hospital.

“This chapel has been many years in the making, and many people worked long and hard to bring this project to life.” explains Chaplain Don Oliver, director of pastoral care. “I have talked to a number of visitors, patients, and staff, and all of them are very excited about holding a diverse range of religious services in the chapel and being able to broadcast them to patients’ rooms.”

Click here to view a slide show of the Grand Opening