About Bew White Chapel at Children's Hospital · Birmingham, Alabama
Bew White Chapel is an interfaith Catholic chapel located inside Children's of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. It sits on the 1st floor of the McWane Building, across from the GO Store and adjacent to the hospital's Spiritual Care office, and is open around the clock for patients, families, and staff of all faith traditions. The chapel falls under the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and hosts a weekly Catholic Mass celebrated by a priest chaplain on the hospital's Spiritual Care Team. Children’s of Alabama was founded in 1911 (originally as Holy Innocents Hospital for Children under the Episcopal Diocese), and the hospital hired its first chaplain in 1987 — the chapel is named in honor of the Bew White Jr. family, who have served the hospital for three generations (Bew White Jr. joined the Board of Directors in 1965 and was chairman in 1974–75).
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Why belong here
Bew White Chapel exists to bring Catholic — and broader Christian — worship and pastoral care to children, families, and staff during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Catholic Mass and the sacraments are made available inside the hospital so patients and their families do not have to leave their child's bedside to practice their faith. The hospital's 14-person Spiritual Care Team, which includes a Catholic priest and deacon, supports families around the clock with bedside visits, prayer, sacraments, sacred texts, and liaison with the medical team during trauma and crisis. Anyone — patient, family member, or staff of any or no faith tradition — is welcome to step into the chapel for quiet reflection at any hour of the day or night.
Mass times at Bew White Chapel at Children's Hospital
Weekly Mass schedule
About Bew White Chapel at Children's Hospital
Bew White Chapel is the traditional Christian prayer and worship space inside Children's of Alabama in Birmingham, the state's only freestanding pediatric hospital. It is open around the clock and serves patients, families and staff of every faith — including a Catholic community that gathers for weekly Mass celebrated by the priest chaplain on the hospital's Spiritual Care Team. The chapel falls under the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and is named for the Bew White family whose three-generation partnership with Children's of Alabama has helped build and sustain the hospital.
History of Children's of Alabama and the Chapel
Children's of Alabama was founded in 1911 with the help of the Episcopal Diocese of Birmingham under the name Holy Innocents Hospital for Children. It later became a private, nonprofit pediatric healthcare institution. The hospital hired its first chaplain in 1987, and the Spiritual Care Team has grown steadily ever since. The chapel itself bears the Bew White family name in recognition of Bew White Jr., who joined the Children's of Alabama Board of Directors in 1965, served as Board Chairman in 1974 and 1975, and remained on the board for over 30 years. Three generations of the White family — through Gabriella White, Summer Classics, and Gabby — have continued their philanthropic partnership, including deepened ties with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
- 1911 — Children's of Alabama founded as Holy Innocents Hospital for Children (Episcopal Diocese of Birmingham)
- 1965 — Bew White Jr. joins the Children's of Alabama Board of Directors
- 1974–1975 — Bew White Jr. serves as Chairman of the Board
- 1987 — Hospital hires its first chaplain
- Recently renovated — Bew White Interfaith Chapel reopens as traditional 24/7 worship space
The Sacred Spaces
Children's of Alabama maintains two distinct sacred spaces for prayer, meditation and worship. Together they signal the hospital's commitment to holistic, family-centered care that honors every tradition — and none.
- Bew White Chapel — 1st floor of the McWane Building, across from the GO Store and next to the Spiritual Care office. Traditional Christian worship space, open 24/7. Hosts weekly Catholic Mass and Sunday Christian worship.
- The Meditation Room — 2nd floor of the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, near the Information Desk. Contemporary-design quiet space, open 24/7; Qibla marked by a large candle.
Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy
The Spiritual Care Team is the pastoral heart of Bew White Chapel and the broader hospital. Clinically trained and certified chaplains serve patients and families around the clock, working as integral members of the care team to honor and support each family's spiritual needs.
- 14 staff chaplains and 6 volunteers — including a Catholic priest and a Catholic deacon
- Led by Herb Robertson, MDiv, Director of Spiritual Care (205-638-6196)
- Reach the team any time: call the Spiritual Care office at 205-638-9090, or ask a nurse, or dial the hospital operator at 205-638-9100
- Some chaplains are dedicated to specific units (hematology, oncology, cardiology, neonatal ICU and other critical-care areas)
- Team serves as liaison between medical team and family during trauma and crisis
Spiritual Care Services
Spiritual care at Children's is offered in a wide variety of forms that respect each family's faith tradition and developmental stage.
- Bedside visits with patients and families
- Sacred rituals and spiritual resources: sacraments, prayer, sacred texts, meditation, Godly Play
- Leading weekly worship services in Bew White Chapel
- Facilitating contact with community spiritual-care representatives and resources
- Emotional and spiritual support through illness, hospitalization and life crises
- Integration of spiritual needs into the overall care plan
Mass & Liturgical Life
Catholic Mass and Christian worship are celebrated inside the hospital so families do not have to leave a child's bedside to practice their faith.
- Weekly Catholic Mass: Thursday at 12:00 PM (per the published chapel Mass schedule)
- Sunday Christian worship service at 10:30 AM
- Seasonal worship opportunities — contact the Spiritual Care office for details (205-638-9090)
Distinctive Programs
Children's of Alabama's Spiritual Care Team runs several programs that go beyond traditional pastoral care — including a beloved stuffed-animal ministry that helps chaplains connect with young patients.
- Simon the Loving Lion Ministry — philanthropy-funded stuffed animal given by chaplains to build spiritual-care relationships with children
- Partnership in Caring — financial assistance for funeral services offered to bereaved families
- Godly Play — used as a developmentally appropriate spiritual resource with pediatric patients
Visiting the Chapel
Because Bew White Chapel sits inside a working pediatric hospital, it is open continuously and accessible to patients, families and staff around the clock. Practical details for Catholic patients and visitors are coordinated through the Spiritual Care office.
- Address: Children's of Alabama, 1st floor of the McWane Building, 1600 7th Avenue S., Birmingham, AL 35233
- To request a visit, sacraments or pastoral care, ask a nurse, call the Spiritual Care office at 205-638-9090, or dial the hospital operator at 205-638-9100
- Christian Sunday worship at 10:30 AM; weekly Catholic Mass on Thursday at 12:00 PM
- Chapel is interfaith in practice — all are welcome at any hour