Testimony from Fr. Jean Tuân SJ at Lille University Hospital
Since 2023, Fr. Jean Tuân SJ has served as a hospital chaplain at Lille University Hospital (CHU). He reflects on his mission of listening and comforting patients, describing the hospital as a place of profound suffering and fragility, but also of grace and reconciliation.
A Unique World at a Critical Moment
Lille University Hospital, one of the largest public health institutions in northern France, employs over 16,000 professionals and serves 6 million residents of the Hauts-de-France region. Comprising ten specialized hospitals, it treats 1.4 million patients annually. Appointed chaplain by Lille’s Archbishop, Fr. Tuân works across all units, officially stationed at Salengro and the Heart-Lung Institute.
Hospitals are unique spaces, places of hope and healing, yet marked by suffering. Patients, representing all social backgrounds and beliefs, come here during life’s most vulnerable moments. This setting provides a rare opportunity to hear the deepest cries of humanity and engage with individuals at their most fragile.
Listening to Life Stories
In the hospital, patients endure waiting—whether for treatment, recovery, or the end of life. This waiting opens a door for chaplains to connect. Moments of trust, when patients share their life stories, are moments of grace. Some recount rich, inspiring lives that reveal beautiful souls, leaving the listener in awe and gratitude.
Other stories are filled with unbearable pain: abuse, illness, loss, or despair. Listening to such accounts is both a privilege and a challenge. It offers patients a chance to unburden themselves, even briefly, and provides the chaplain an opportunity to bring solace in the face of overwhelming suffering. End-of-life conversations often strip away pretense, revealing what truly matters to the person.
Beyond physical pain, many patients grapple with unresolved inner struggles. Some seek peace with God, others with loved ones or themselves. These moments allow chaplains to offer comfort and guide them toward reconciliation, helping them depart in peace. The Sacrament of the Sick often brings profound relief, both to the patient and their family.
Learning Love Through the Cross
Walking alongside suffering patients is a way of sharing their burdens, echoing Simon of Cyrene carrying Christ’s cross. A chaplain’s compassionate presence provides patients with support, helping them find peace in their struggles. These encounters teach the chaplain to love deeply, without glorifying suffering or becoming indifferent to it.
The role of a hospital chaplain brings one face-to-face with humanity’s deepest suffering—disease, violence, and loss. Yet it also allows for the proclamation of God’s word, bringing hope to seemingly hopeless situations. The chaplain stands at the intersection of bioethics and faith, confronting challenging issues like euthanasia, abortion, and abuse. Amid this, prayer becomes a lifeline, sustaining the chaplain’s hope and compassion.
Through this unexpected ministry, Fr. Tuân walks closely with Christ, learning to listen, console, and find God in the stories of those he serves. These encounters deepen his understanding of life’s meaning and strengthen his faith. In the hospital, he meets the poor in spirit, who, in turn, lead him closer to God.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Click Agree to accept.