Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care at UTMB Available at all hospitals.

butterflyOur mission is to provide for the spiritual needs of our patients (and staff) in a manner respectful of their personal beliefs. We do this by providing visitation; prayers, sacraments, inspirational reading material, seeing that religious texts are available, scheduled worship services, and liaison with the local faith communities. We offer crisis intervention, grief and bereavement support to patients, their families, and staff as well.

Contact Information:

Galveston: (409) 772-3909
League City: (832) 505-3377
Angleton: (979) 848-6060

Chaplain Visitation

The Pastoral Care Department provides support for the spiritual, religious, emotional and value concerns of patients, families and staff by providing appropriate pastoral resources, directly or through referral. Referrals to the Pastoral Care Department will be received on behalf of any patient, family or staff and can be made by any person recognizing a need for spiritual care. A request for a chaplain visit* for a UTMB hospital patient, their family, or visitors can be made by contacting the Pastoral Care office.

*Please note that there is a different chaplain assigned to visit a state offender.

Scheduled Services

Currently there are no scheduled services at UTMB.

Spiritual Reading Materials

English and Spanish reading material is available to UTMB hospital patients, family, and visitors by visiting the Pastoral Care office, the meditation chapel, or by calling to request it be delivered to your hospital room. Free interfaith and limited denominational literature is available.

Additional Information

Reverend José Cedillo, BCC, ACPE Director of Pastoral Care

Rev. José Cedillo is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in religious education in 1989 from Lee University, and his Master of Divinity degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary in 1992. Prior to joining UTMB, Jose worked for more than 17 years at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Beginning in 1999, he served as staff chaplain for pediatrics and palliative care, and in 2003 transitioned to Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) supervisory education. In 2008 he was promoted to Manager of Clinical Educational Programs at MD Anderson. He is also a board certified chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Reverend Kathy Ozenberger, ACC, Pastoral Care Coordinator, UTMB Angleton Danbury and League City Campuses

Reverend Kathy has been a chaplain at UTMB for nearly 20 years and she will be UTMB’s first chaplain at Angleton Danbury and League City. Kathy will be available on the UTMB Angleton Danbury Campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Patients may be referred to Kathy through a consult request as well as contacting her directly through hospital administration.

She holds degrees from Judson College in Marion, Alabama and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. Ozenberger completed two years of Clinical Pastoral Education at Memorial Healthcare Systems and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. She is an ordained Baptist minister and holds Associate Certification in the Association of Professional Chaplains and is a Clinical Member in the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Chaplain Jenny Schindler, BCC, Chaplain II UTMB Galveston

Chaplain Jennifer Schindler has been serving in ministry for 15 years. She is a board certified chaplain through the Association for Professional Chaplains. She trained in Temple, TX at Baylor Scott & White completing a pediatric fellowship at McLane Children’s Hospital. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Texas Tech University, and a Master’s degree in Christian Education and Recreation from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The TDCJ chaplain’s office’s ministry is dealing with hospitalized offenders with illness, surgery, and the terminally ill offenders. They contact families of the offenders when they are on the Serious/Critical list and talk with them on a daily basis.

Families and staff may contact the TDCJ Chaplain’s office by calling 409.772.6191 or leave a message at 409.772.6108. The Chaplain’s office is open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Please contact the office above if you are interested in becoming a volunteer in the TDCJ hospital.