Sojourn Chaplaincy at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center

11/20/2025

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It’s a day and week that we will gather in community to honor and grieve trans community members whose lives were taken by violence this year. It’s always a challenging day and if you are also grieving, please know that our hearts are with you.

On this Trans Day of Remembrance, we remember those we’ve lost and recommit ourselves to building a world where trans people can live, lead, and thrive with safety and honor.

This year as we relaunch the Trans Spiritual Care Initiative, we’re shifting the focus of this work to meet the challenges of these times by equipping allies across faith communities and across traditions to stand with trans people. We are revamping the curriculum and shifting our focus beyond hospital walls to build allies in faith communities. These trainings equip allies to challenge harmful theology and policy and fight to defend trans dignity, trans rights, and trans lives.

In the words of Mary Harris, “Pray for the dead and fight for the living”. Let’s work together this Trans Day of Remembrance to end transphobia and all violence against trans people.

May the memory of those who have died be a blessing. May our work be worthy of those we honor. May we one day live in a world where all trans people are cherished as the sacred beings they are.

Click the link in our bio to learn more about the TSCI and to donate in the memory of a beloved to support our work.

11/02/2025

November 2 is a day of remembrance across many traditions.
In Mexico and beyond, Día de los Mu***os honors ancestors and the love that lives through shared stories, altars, and offerings of many kinds.
In the Catholic faith, All Souls’ Day is a time to remember and pray for those who have gone before us.

May this day open our hearts to the the blessing of rememberance—
where love endures, memory is holy, and life and death keep faithful company. 🕯️🌼

***os

10/31/2025

Samhain marks the ancient Celtic new year — the turning of the seasons, when the veil between worlds grows thin and those who celebrate honor the ancestors who came before.

Wishing a very blessed Samhain to all those who celebrate. May this threshold bring you stillness, remembrance, and the quiet fire of renewal. 🍂🕯️

10/22/2025

Today at Sojourn Chaplaincy
our chaplains are walking through the hospital offering Blessing of the Hands — a moment of pause and care for the many hands that heal, comfort, and serve each day.

Each blessing is a quiet thank you — a recognition of the sacred work that happens here, person by person, heart to heart.

If you see us in the halls, you’re welcome to stop for a blessing. No preparation needed — just your hands, and a moment of breath.

❤️

Have you had your hands blessed this week?

04/18/2025

02/15/2025

12/06/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that yesterday December 5th, Jim Forsyth passed away. Jim became involved with Sojourn in the 1990s when he was CFO for the Diocese, doing a regular audit for the organization. It was then he learned about Sojourns mission to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our city and decided this was an organization he wanted to dedicate his time and energy to. He stepped into leadership of the organization around 2012 through service on Sojourns Board of Directors.

Jim has been gently leading Sojourn towards growth and improving care for people at their most vulnerable as Sojourn’s Board President for over a decade.

Jim was a rock of Sojourn. Over the years, he showed up in innumerable ways. Jim always had a wise piece of advice, a helpful idea about how to tackle a challenge and a good joke to break the tension or lift everyones spirits. He brought bright smiles and
good sense to Sojourn.

He was loved by everyone on the board and he is greatly missed. Please join us in vigil and prayer for his journey to the other side and prayers for his wife Carolyn, his family and all those who loved him.

We will post info about services as it becomes available.

Photo: Jim smiling in Grace Cathedral in 2022 just hours before he was given Sojourn’s inaugural Jim Forsyth Service Award in honor of his many years of service and dedication to the patients, families and staff of the SF General Hospital through Sojourn Chaplaincy.

12/06/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that yesterday December 5th, Jim Forsyth passed away. Jim became involved with Sojourn in the 1990s when he was CFO for the Diocese, doing a regular audit for the organization. It was then he learned about Sojourns mission to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our city and decided this was an organization he wanted to dedicate his time and energy to. He stepped into leadership of the organization around 2012 through service on Sojourns Board of Directors. Jim has been gently leading Sojourn towards growth and improving care for people at their most vulnerable as Sojourn's Board President for over a decade.

Jim was a rock of Sojourn. Over the years, he showed up in innumerable ways. Jim always had a wise piece of advice, a helpful idea about how to tackle a challenge and a good joke to break the tension or lift everyones spirits. He brought bright smiles and good sense to Sojourn.

He was loved by everyone on the board and he is greatly missed. Please join us in vigil and prayer for his journey to the other side and prayers for his wife Carolyn, his family and all those who loved him.

We will post info about services as it becomes available.

Photo: Jim smiling in Grace Cathedral in 2022 just hours before he was given Sojourn's inaugural Jim Forsyth Service Award in honor of his many years of service and dedication to the patients, families and staff of the SF General Hospital through Sojourn Chaplaincy.

10/27/2024

Generations of Compassion was a great success because of our incredible community - that means you! It was a great privilege to celebrate our history and relaunch our Community Volunteer Chaplain Program together. Our coverage and service offerings will nearly double when the program restarts.
It’s not too late to donate! We are 65% of the way to our $25,000 goal! Every year 85-95% of Sojourn’s budget goes entirely to programming. We work hard to ensure that our administrative costs are low and that over 90% of every dollar that is given goes directly to serving some of the most marginalized members of our community here in SF.
On the evening of the event, we received a challenge grant of $6,500. Any remaining contributions will be matched in full up to $6,500.
Please donate then like, save, comment and share to help us reach our fundraising goal!

10/09/2024

Sending big love and gratitude to all the ED nurses out there. Emergency nursing is unpredictable, chaotic, sometimes holds heartbreak and more often profound joy. If you work in the ED we just want to say, we see you. We honor the sacrifices you make to do this work. We give thanks for the gifts you choose to share.

09/20/2024

Dear Beloved and Much Missed Volunteers and students,

Our hearts overflow with joy as we post this long awaited post announcing the return of the Community Chaplaincy Program with Sojourn Chaplaincy! We have the official go ahead from the hospital and a newfound commitment to ensuring the success of this program!

What this looks like is a few things. We are hiring an Education Director that will be the staff person responsible for moving this program forward and we are aiming for a re-launch in early 2025

We need your help to make this re launch a success. On October 16th from 5:30-8:30pm we will be celebrating Sojourns “Generations of Compassion” and the incredible legacy of community members like YOU!!

In the beginning of the pandemic, when the volunteer chaplains were shut out, so many of you lended your support through your prayers and practices. These prayers carried so many of us through some of the toughest moments. As we encounter another time of change and transition, We are asking for your prayerful presence—this time in joyful celebration.

We will be ceremonially blessing the new Education Director and sending up collective prayers and energy for the launch of the new program. Can you join us on the 16th? Your prayers and chaplain blessings are deeply appreciated as we lay a co created spiritual foundation for this new beginning.

Join us on October 16, 2024, at Saint Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco (conveniently located down the street from the hospital). There will be music, drinks, food, stories, and much fun! Come see other chaplains you have missed and help us in blessing this new beginning.

You can get your ticket for the event at the link in our bio. DM us if you want a role and/or to volunteer at the event.

We are so excited to see you again! Come party with us!!