The hospital Chapel is located on the first floor of the main hospital, adjacent to elevators 4 and 5. The Reflection Room is located just off the first floor lobby, adjacent to the Surgical Waiting Area.

Both the Chapel and Reflection Room are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and welcome all for prayer, meditation or quiet time. These peaceful settings provide a haven for those of all faiths.

Monday - Friday: 12 p.m.
Saturday: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m.

Mass is presented in the hospital Chapel, located on the first floor of the main hospital, adjacent to elevators 4 and 5. It may also be viewed in the hospital on Channel 3, the C.A.R.E. channel, every day at noon.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith, professional ministry education program, which brings students into a supervised setting where they encounter people in need of care. Through extensive engagement with people in need of care and reflection with peers and teachers, students develop awareness of how their personhood influences the care they provide. Students also develop spiritual care skills, which help them to identify the hopes, needs and resources of the people in their care.

Through reflection on particular human situations and relationships, students deepen their competency in ministry. CPE is an educational process of spiritual formation for the purpose of becoming an effective spiritual caregiver. Working within the interdisciplinary team process with staff chaplains, nurses, social workers and physicians, students develop skills in interpersonal and professional relationships.

CPE is often a required component of one's preparation for ministry in many denominations and faith groups. Many students take one unit of CPE to fulfill this requirement and go on to be religious and spiritual leaders in their local community. Many others take at least four units of CPE as part of their training and requirements to become a board-certified chaplain.

Many others take at least four units of CPE as part of their training and requirements to become a board certified chaplain.

St. Joseph Hospital has a long history of providing quality CPE training for more than 35 years. We are accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) to offer Level 1a through Level 2b CPE. As part of Providence, students in our program have the opportunity to learn in a variety of settings including: St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA; St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, CA; Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, CA; and St. Mary Hospital in Apple Valley, CA.

Providence is a Catholic health system with a reputation for excellence in medical and spiritual care. We are a culturally and religiously diverse community guided by the core values established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange: Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence and Integrity. Our spiritual care team strives to provide care with humility and respect for the social locations and faith traditions of those we serve. Our CPE students are guided in this approach, even as they develop a deeper understanding of their own faith and cultural uniqueness.

The Summer Intensive Unit is a full-time unit requiring 40 hours a week of participation over the course of 11 weeks. Students have one and a half class days per week, with the remaining hours being devoted to clinical work.

The spring and fall units are part-time units requiring approximately 30 hours a week of participation over the course of 18 weeks. Students have one class day a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and complete approximately 20 hours of clinical work per week. Each unit has a requirement of 400 hours, with no on-call duties being required at this time

Our center is committed to giving fair and thorough consideration to all qualified applicants. We select students with consideration of aptitude for learning, capacity for self-reflection and potential for ministry without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

Most successful applicants have already begun graduate theological education or other specialized training in their respective religious traditions. Tuition for a Summer Intensive or Extended Unit of CPE is $500.

With clinical placements at Orange, Fullerton, Mission Viejo & Apple Valley.

January 20 - May 23, 2025
Tuition: $500 Application process closed; unit is full

With clinical placements at Orange, Fullerton, Mission Viejo & Apple Valley.

June 9 - August 22, 2025
Tuition: $500 Applications are currently being accepted until program is filled

• Email [email protected] or [email protected] for questions
• Application and Instructions for CPE (Fillable Form)

With clinical placements at Orange, Fullerton, Mission Viejo & Apple Valley.

September 8, 2025 - January 9, 2026
Tuition: $500 Applications are currently being accepted until program is filled

• Email [email protected] or [email protected] for questions
• Application and Instructions for CPE (Fillable Form)

With clinical placements at Orange, Fullerton, Mission Viejo & Apple Valley.

January 26 - May 29, 2026
Tuition: $500 Applications are currently being accepted until program is filled

• Email [email protected] or [email protected] for questions
• Application and Instructions for CPE (Fillable Form)

Apply six to eight months in advance as positions are limited for each unit. There is a $50 application fee which can be paid online at the link below, or paid via check made out to St. Joseph Hospital.

For further information and application materials, give us a call.

Providence St. Joseph Hospital
Spiritual Care Department
1100 W Stewart Drive
Orange, CA 92868
714-771-8137

1 Concourse Pkwy,
Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 404-320-1472
Fax: 404-320-0849
www.acpe.edu