Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands opens its doors

April 11, 2017

The day many have been waiting and preparing for is finally here! Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands opened its doors to the public this morning marking another milestone in Texas Children’s history.

The 550,000-square-foot inpatient facility is the second community hospital in the Texas Children’s system and will serve patients and families in The Woodlands and beyond. The hospital has been in the making for several years and is the product of many long hours of dedicated planning and preparation.

One of the last preparatory acts occurred on April 7 when members of the hospital’s leadership team joined Texas Children’s chaplains and representatives from various congregations throughout The Woodlands community to bless the hospital and its staff.

Texas Children’s Chaplain Pam Krinock began the blessing and prayer walk at the main entrance of the hospital with a few words of thanks and appreciation for the new facility as well as a request of peace for those who enter the building seeking care.

“Doors are a powerful symbol,” Krinock said as water and oil, symbolizing comfort and healing, were sprinkled on the hospital’s two main glass sliding doors. “We pray they will be a sign of welcome and comfort for all who enter here.”

The group proceeded to the Emergency Center, Acute Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Operating Rooms, saying a prayer at each stop and blessing the areas and their staff with water and oil.

“We pray that comfort is provided to the families here, some of whom will be going through the toughest moments of their lives,” said Texas Children’s Chaplain Johnna Faber while the group was in the NICU. “We also pray for the staff who will hold and care for these children.”

The prayer walk ended in the hospital’s chapel, a serine, tucked away space highlighted by a floor to ceiling stained glass image of a lush forest dotted with deer and birds. Standing in front of the stained glass, four community clergyman representing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths blessed the chapel with words of peace, comfort, healing and strength. Later that day, Texas Children’s chaplains blessed the hands of several staff members in the hospital lobby.

“It is very important what happened here today because anything that begins with God’s blessing, goes well,” said Rev. Jayaraj Jones of St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands.

Al Caberra, the Texas Children’s chaplain who will be providing spiritual care in The Woodlands, agreed and said he looks forward to working with community clergy to provide spiritual care to patients and their families.

“We consider you part of our community and an extension of our chaplaincy program,” he said. “We want you to always feel welcome here and know we are extremely grateful for the added peace and comfort you will bring.”

Stay tuned for full coverage of the first day at the new Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.