About Sacred Heart Chapel/Mercy Medical Center · Dubuque, Iowa
Sacred Heart Chapel is the Catholic chapel located on the first floor of MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center at 250 Mercy Drive in Dubuque, Iowa. As the spiritual heart of one of eastern Iowa's major Catholic hospitals, the chapel is open 24 hours a day for prayer and quiet reflection, serving patients, families, visitors, and staff. It is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and falls within the network of MercyOne Catholic health facilities across Iowa. Weekly Mass is offered for the hospital community, with the liturgy also televised on the hospital's closed-circuit channel 20 for those unable to leave their rooms.
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Chapel is the prayerful anchor of MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, offering Catholic patients, their families, and hospital staff a sacred space of refuge amid illness and recovery. With chaplains available around the clock, daily availability of the Eucharist, and weekday Masses broadcast right to patient rooms on closed-circuit channel 20, the chapel makes Catholic spiritual life accessible to anyone in the hospital. Whether one comes to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, share a quiet hour of reflection, or join fellow worshippers for Mass, the chapel's mission is to accompany every person who walks through its doors with the peace of Christ.
Mass times at Sacred Heart Chapel/Mercy Medical Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Open 24 hours a day for prayer and quiet reflection
About Sacred Heart Chapel
Sacred Heart Chapel serves as the Catholic worship space inside MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center, located on the first floor of the main hospital at 250 Mercy Drive, Dubuque, Iowa. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Dubuque and operates as part of MercyOne's wider Spiritual Care department. The chapel is open 24 hours a day for prayer and quiet reflection, providing patients, families, visitors, and hospital staff with a constant place of refuge. Mass is offered in the chapel each week and is also televised on the hospital's closed-circuit channel 20 for patients unable to attend in person.
- Address: 250 Mercy Drive, Dubuque, IA 52001
- 1st floor of the Main Hospital
- Open 24 hours for prayer and quiet reflection
- Part of MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center
- Within the Archdiocese of Dubuque
Spiritual Care Department
The Spiritual Care team at MercyOne Dubuque provides round-the-clock chaplaincy to patients and families of all faiths. Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, with an on-call priest available for emergencies or situations that arise after business hours. The department works alongside nurses, physicians, and outside faith communities to ensure the spiritual dimension of healing is supported alongside medical care. MercyOne describes spiritual care as being just as important as medical care in healing the mind and body.
- Chaplains available 24 hours a day
- On-call priest for after-hours and emergencies
- Coordination of care with external faith communities
- Ethical consultations
- Continuing education on spiritual health and wellness
Sacraments and Pastoral Services
Catholic patients can receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Communion through the Spiritual Care department. The Eucharist is available daily to Catholic patients — a nurse or chaplain will place a sign on the patient's door upon request so a Eucharistic Minister can bring Communion directly to the room. Baptism and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick are also available through parish priests or the on-call hospital priest.
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Communion / Eucharist — available daily, brought to rooms on request
- Baptism
- Sacrament of the Sick
Bereavement and Healing Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, the Spiritual Care staff offers bereavement ministry and prayer and spiritual healing for those experiencing grief, loss, or spiritual distress. The team can intervene on behalf of patients and families, coordinate a spiritual-care plan, and help address spiritual distress. MercyOne emphasizes that spiritual and emotional care is essential alongside medical care for whole-person healing.
- Bereavement ministry
- Prayer and spiritual healing
- Interventions for patients and families
- Coordination of a spiritual care plan
- Support for spiritual distress
Interfaith and Ecumenical Care
While Sacred Heart Chapel is Catholic, MercyOne's Spiritual Care staff offers non-denominational, ecumenical services and programs for patients and families of all faiths. Patients and family members are encouraged to contact their own priest, minister, rabbi, or spiritual advisor; the pastoral care staff can help facilitate that contact and assist in arranging for the sacraments or rites of one's own faith community during a hospital stay.
- Non-denominational, ecumenical services
- Coordination with visiting priests, ministers, rabbis, and spiritual advisors
- Arrangements for sacraments and rites of other faith traditions