Located on the second floor of the Vail Health hospital’s west wing, the Frechette Chapel is open 24 hours a day for patients, families, guests and staff. It also serves as a central meeting space for the Vail Health chaplains to conduct services. The chapel, the first to be opened within the hospital, was made possible by generous donations from the Frechette Family Foundation.
Thanks to a partnership with B’nai Vail Congregation, featured inside the Frechette Chapel is a replica of the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. The stones for the wall are made of the very same stone used by King Solomon in building the Temple in Jerusalem. In keeping with a 300-year-old tradition of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, there are spaces between the stones allowing visitors to leave a note expressing their deepest hope on a joyous occasion or heartfelt feelings during a difficult time. It is believed that a person’s most sacred thoughts transcend to heaven through these holiest stones.
Chapel and Spiritual Services
Vail Health Frechette Chapel
Spiritual Services
Services offered by the Vail Health chaplains are available to patients and their families regardless of their faith orientation.
Vail Health chaplains or volunteer chaplains are available:
Vail Health chaplains or volunteer chaplains are available:
- When you need to speak with someone about spiritual or emotional concerns
- When you feel the need for prayer or would like to receive a blessing or the sacraments
- When you need help finding spiritual resources in the community or help reaching out to your faith community
- When there is a new diagnosis or a recurrence, especially of a serious or life-limiting disease
- Before surgery or other procedure that might create anxiety or fear
- To be with family and friends during difficult times or if there is family conflict
- To struggle together with unanswerable questions like, "Why is this happening to me?" or "Where is God?"
- When a patient is facing death or when help is needed with funeral arrangements
- When a staff member needs support
- To provide religious rites and rituals as requested by patients, families and staff and as appropriate to the hospital environment
Vail Health Chaplains
Vail Health’s chaplains play an essential role in supporting the emotional, spiritual and physical well-being of patients, families and staff. Chaplains are specially trained to work with people of all faiths and backgrounds and can customize their approach based on the individual’s needs. The office of the chaplains is located next to the chapel on the second floor of the hospital. In addition to Vail Health's chaplains, local chaplains of varying faiths are also available. Please let us know if you would like an introduction to a chaplain who represents a specific religion or spiritual tradition.
JEFFREY FOWLER
Reverend Jeffrey Fowler, M.Div, is an ordained Unity Minister. He completed his seminary studies at Unity Institute in Kansas City and began work in church ministry at Unity of South Sound in Tacoma, WA, where he served as senior minister for six years. Fowler continued his education by participating in a five-month internship at St. Joseph hospital in Tacoma, where he completed his first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He went on to study in a year-long residency program at St. Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza in Kansas City, completing his four units of CPE. Fowler has served as a chaplain at Vail Health since September 2022. He also works at Abode Hospice. He and his wife, Orchid, have a young son named Simon.
Reverend Jeffrey Fowler, M.Div, is an ordained Unity Minister. He completed his seminary studies at Unity Institute in Kansas City and began work in church ministry at Unity of South Sound in Tacoma, WA, where he served as senior minister for six years. Fowler continued his education by participating in a five-month internship at St. Joseph hospital in Tacoma, where he completed his first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He went on to study in a year-long residency program at St. Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza in Kansas City, completing his four units of CPE. Fowler has served as a chaplain at Vail Health since September 2022. He also works at Abode Hospice. He and his wife, Orchid, have a young son named Simon.
MARK JOHNSON
Mark Johnson, MS, MDiv, DMin, has been a chaplain at Vail Health since March 2022 and is a member of the Spiritual Care Association and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hardin School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee, and also holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Science degree in Biblical and Related Studies from Abilene Christian University. Johnson taught at the university level for 12 years. He was an instructor of religion at Panhandle Oklahoma State University for four years and an instructor and department chairman at Amarillo College for eight years. Johnson has more than 35 years of congregation ministry experience in Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Colorado. Johnson and his wife, Annette, have three adult sons who live in Colorado, Texas, and North Dakota.
Mark Johnson, MS, MDiv, DMin, has been a chaplain at Vail Health since March 2022 and is a member of the Spiritual Care Association and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hardin School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee, and also holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Science degree in Biblical and Related Studies from Abilene Christian University. Johnson taught at the university level for 12 years. He was an instructor of religion at Panhandle Oklahoma State University for four years and an instructor and department chairman at Amarillo College for eight years. Johnson has more than 35 years of congregation ministry experience in Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, and Colorado. Johnson and his wife, Annette, have three adult sons who live in Colorado, Texas, and North Dakota.
ETHAN MOORE
Pastor Ethan Moore has been a chaplain at Vail Health since April of 2023. Ethan’s first career of 14 years was in landscape architecture and planning, which brought him to the Vail Valley in 1995. Ethan received his Master of Theology in 2005 and served as the pastor of a local church from 2003 to 2023, during which time he also served as part of Vail Health’s volunteer chaplain core. After twenty years’ experience in pastoral ministry, Ethan retired from the world of church leadership and formally joined the Vail Health team as a staff chaplain. In addition to his pastoral and chaplaincy work, Ethan is involved in the local non-profit community, serving as board chair for the Beaver Creek Religious Foundation and Vail Valley Cares. Ethan and his wife Lisa have two adult children, both born right here in the Vail Health Hospital.
Pastor Ethan Moore has been a chaplain at Vail Health since April of 2023. Ethan’s first career of 14 years was in landscape architecture and planning, which brought him to the Vail Valley in 1995. Ethan received his Master of Theology in 2005 and served as the pastor of a local church from 2003 to 2023, during which time he also served as part of Vail Health’s volunteer chaplain core. After twenty years’ experience in pastoral ministry, Ethan retired from the world of church leadership and formally joined the Vail Health team as a staff chaplain. In addition to his pastoral and chaplaincy work, Ethan is involved in the local non-profit community, serving as board chair for the Beaver Creek Religious Foundation and Vail Valley Cares. Ethan and his wife Lisa have two adult children, both born right here in the Vail Health Hospital.