Pastoral Care of the Sick
Ministry to the Homebound
Trained Pastoral Visitors bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to come to weekend Mass. Their visits are supplemented by staff visits on a limited basis. Where Confession or the Sacrament of the Sick is desired, a priest will schedule a visit for this purpose. Please call Deacon Jim Ryan at the Parish Center at 410-833-1696 to request this service for yourself or a loved one.
Hospital Visits
Please call the parish center at 410-833-1696 to request a hospital visit for yourself or a loved one. We make every effort to have a staff person visit the hospital, but we must be informed about the hospitalization. When you call, tell us about the reason for the hospitalization, the name of the hospital, and the expected dates of confinement. Hospital stays are increasingly brief, and regretfully we are not always able to get there in time.
Nursing Home Ministry
We are responsible for pastoral care to Catholic Residents of Cherrywood Future Care. A Mass is celebrated onsite the second Tuesday of each month, and our priests respond to emergency calls for the Sacrament of the Sick. A team of pastoral visitors conducts a Communion Service each Sunday morning followed by visits to the rooms of Catholic residents who have not been able to get to the service.
Parish Nurse Ministry
Parish nurses are church based registered nurses who commit to the healing mission of the church, care for individuals as a whole: mind, body and spirit and promote wholeness through health promotion and prevention. They establish a relationship with members of the congregation. A spiritual dimension is central to the practice of parish nursing.
The following are activities involving parish nurses:
· Blood pressure screening is done monthly on the third Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. Counseling is offered for disease management and referrals as indicated.
· Companions for the journey is a respite care program. Trained caring volunteers are available to sit with loved ones for a couple of hours, to allow the caregivers some free time. A companion gives the gift of his/ her presence through companionship, listening, encouragement and compassion. This is not a nursing agency and volunteers do not give hands-on nursing care. A parish nurse is available for telephone support and advice.
· A quarterly newsletter is provided in the Parish bulletin to share articles that focus on caring for the whole person, body, mind, and spirit.
· Breakfast with your parish nurses. On the third Wednesday of each month, we meet for coffee and doughnuts after the nine o’clock service. There are discussions on various topics as announced in the church bulletin including spirituality, physical and mental health.
· Parish nursing team offers access to health and wellness flyers and literature. Counseling and referrals are available upon request.
Anyone interested in our parish nurse ministry should call the Parish Center at 410-833-1696 or e-mail parish@shgparish.org.
Prayer Requests
The names of ill parishioners who are in need of prayer are listed in the parish bulletin each week.
The names of deceased parishioners are listed in the bulletin the week following their funeral service.
Please join us in praying for those who are ill and for those who have died and their families, and also for fellow parishioners who need our prayers for any reason whether or not they have formally requested our prayers and had their names listed in the bulletin.
Need for Ministers
Those who serve as pastoral ministers are Eucharistic Ministers who receive additional training for this special ministry to the homebound and to the nursing home. We are always in need of additional ministers. If you are interested in joining this ministry, please call Deacon Jim Ryan at 410/833-1696.
