Handbook for Ministers of Care

Table Of Contents

• Welcome.
   
• General Ministry Information.
   
• Application Process.
   
• Guidelines for Pastoral Visiting.
   
• Bringing Eucharist.
   
• On-Going Support Information.
   
• Pastoral Links Information.
   
• Pastoral Visitor's Prayer.
   
• Resources.
   

Welcome (Back to the Table of Contents)

Welcome to the Ministry of Pastoral Visitation to the Sick and the Homebound!

"Truly I tell you,

just as you did it to one of the least of these

who are members of my family,

you did it to me" (Mt 25:40)

General Ministry Information (Back to the Table of Contents)

• Parishioners responding to the call to serve in this Ministry, are specifically trained in classes (6 weeks) offered either through the Archdiocesan Institute for Ministry (A.I.M.) or through the Parish Adult Faith Formation office which includes training in offering Eucharist to the homebound parishioner.
   
• Ministry volunteers act as compassionate visitors, offering a vital pastoral link between the Parish and the sick and the homebound.
   
• St. Patrick Parish provides pastoral visitation, not only to the homebound in their own homes, but in several congregate living centers within the Parish boundaries, including all units of the Life Care Center, Arnold House, Fuller House, and The Stoneham Housing Authority on Duncklee Avenue and Parker Chase Road.
   
• Service in this ministry is designated only for this parish. Pastoral Visitors should not take it upon themselves to bring Communion to a parent, family member, friend or neighbor. If you are aware of someone who could benefit from a pastoral visit, you should discuss the situation with the Coordinator of Lay Ministry.
   
• Pastoral Visitors acting as Eucharistic Ministers may be asked to bring Eucharist, weekly, to parishioners temporarily homebound.
   
• Family members of a homebound parishioner may be trained specifically to bring Eucharist on a weekly basis to a homebound loved one.
   

Application Process (Back to the Table of Contents)

• All persons serving in this Ministry must complete a formal application, which includes a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Inquiry), an interview with the Coordinator of Lay Ministry and formal training before starting service in the Ministry.
   
• During the interview, discussion will occur about the current needs of the Parish and the areas in which you believe you would be the most effective, (e.g. visiting the homebound or visiting in a nursing center). When training is completed, you will then be assigned to the area which best matches you with the Parish needs.
   
• The expectation for training is that all parish pastoral visitors will complete the 6 week, 15 hour Pastoral Visitation to the Sick and the Homebound Course offered through the Archdiocesan Institute of Ministry (A.I.M.) The Coordinator of Lay Ministry will arrange the training.
   
• When training is completed, the Pastoral Visitor must also complete a Confidentiality Statement agreeing to honor and maintain confidentiality in all matters pertaining to the role of Parish Pastoral Visitor. The form is self-explanatory and clearly articulates with whom information may be shared and how that information is to be shared.
   

Guidelines for Pastoral Visiting (Back to the Table of Contents)

• If a person is in a hospital or nursing center and is requesting food or water or some type of physical assistance, ALWAYS check with a staff person before assisting.
   
• The question of accepting money from the homebound person(s) you are visiting may arise. When you are visiting a homebound person for the purposes of pastoral visiting or to bring Eucharist, you are doing so as a VOLUNTEER, representing St. Patrick Parish and therefore, you should never accept money for yourself. ( If the person is insistent, let the person know you are going to give it to the Church. )
   
• Be sure to notify the coordinator of Lay Ministry if stopping your ministry for any reason; vacation, sickness or permanent "retirement". The Parish would want to ensure that a replacement, whether permanent or temporary, be found for the person(s) or institution you are visiting.
   
• Believe in the value of what you are doing! It does make a difference!
   

Bringing Eucharist to Sick or Homebound Parishioners (Back to the Table of Contents)

• The Blessed Sacrament is conveyed in a small closed container called a pyx. You may secure your own pyx and have it blessed or you may use one from the Parish. You will find a pyx for use in this Ministry in the lower sacristy in the middle cupboard above the vesting drawers.
   
• Never bring the Host home or to work to save time before going to a visit later in the day or in the week.
   

Bringing Eucharist from Mass

• Put the pyx, open on the apron of the tabernacle before Mass. (If you need more than one host, put a small piece of paper with the pyx indicating the number of hosts desired). After Communion, one of the Ministers will place the host(s) in the pyx, close it and leave it on the apron for you to pick up at the conclusion of Mass. Do not take the Host(s) from the tabernacle before attending Mass to save time!
   

During the day other than at Mass

• You will find a pyx for use as described above.
   
• Eucharist for the sick and the homebound is in the tall ciborium in the tabernacle in the Lower Sacristy. During your training, you will be shown the specific key to use to open the tabernacle.
   
• Go to the tabernacle, unlock and open it, genuflect or bow deeply, take the ciborium containing the Eucharist for the sick and homebound and place the desired number in your pyx. Return the ciborium to the tabernacle, close and lock the Tabernacle door. Put your pyx in a safe place and always check to be sure the tabernacle door is closed and locked before you leave. Be sure to return the key to where you found it before heading to your visit(s)!
   
• Remember you are carrying the Blessed Sacrament and attending to the business of the Lord so if you meet someone, you want to smile and greet your neighbor, but be careful about stopping and engaging in a long conversation. Use your good judgement!
   
• ï Bring any unused Hosts back to the tabernacle after you have finished your visit(s).
   

Protocol

• The protocol for offering Eucharist to the homebound consists of: a greeting; penitential rite; a short reading from Scripture; intercessory prayers; the Lord's Prayer; reception of Communion; a prayer after Communion and a blessing. The Coordinator of Lay Ministry will provide you with the pamphlet currently used by St. Patrick Parish and instruct you in its proper use.
   
• Pastoral Visitors who distribute Eucharist in the home, or in a hospital or nursing center should follow appropriate hand washing procedures. If washing your hands before distributing Eucharist is not possible, you might want to carry a small bottle of Purell, an instant hand sanitizer. Available in most drug stores, it fits in a pocket or purse for easy access when necessary.
   

On-Going Support Information. (Back to the Table of Contents)

• This Ministry is primarily supported by the Parish Coordinator of Lay Ministry.
   
• Each month, Pastoral Visitors receive a copy of a publication entitled The Caring Community, a Sunday Gospel based resource offering inspiration to the visitor and the homebound person(s) they visit. Visitors are encouraged to read this resource before passing it on to the person(s) visited. With the publication is a cover letter from the Coordinator of Lay Ministry, highlighting information about upcoming opportunities for prayer, Spiritual and / or Ministry development, additional resources for reading or reflection, copies of pertinent articles, and tips on how to ensure continued effectiveness in the Ministry.
   
• The Coordinator of Lay ministry conducts meetings at least 2 times a year for all members of the Ministry for the purposes of prayer, socialization, ministry updates, and discussion of pertinent issues.
   

Pastoral Links Between the Sick and the Homebound Information. (Back to the Table of Contents)

Sacrament of the Sick

• The Parish hosts an annual Celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick. All ill and/or elderly persons of the Parish are invited to the Celebration held in the Upper Church. A light luncheon reception follows offering an opportunity for all guests to socialize and receive nourishment, not only of the body, but of the spirit! Pastoral Visitors are encouraged to assist in this event by ensuring that, whenever possible, the person whom they visit has the opportunity to participate. Other opportunities to be a part of the day for the pastoral visitors are available as well, such as greeting the guests, assisting in the serving of the food or just being present with the person they visit.
   
• One of the St. Patrick Parish parochial vicars visits annually (usually Spring/Summer) all the residents in the congregate living centers within the Parish boundaries, as well as the homebound unable to attend the annual celebration to provide them with the Sacrament of the Sick.
   
• Pastoral Visitors are asked to do whatever is necessary to ensure easy access to our homebound parishioners to this Sacrament including informing the person(s) they visit of the purpose of the priest's visit and/or accompanying him when he makes the visit.
   

Ash Wednesday

• You may bring ashes to the person(s) you visit. The ashes will be in the lower sacristy and are available after the 1st service in the morning. To carry the amount of ashes you will need, you may use a small jar (like a baby food jar).
   
• You mark the person's forehead with the sign of the cross with your thumb while saying either, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel" or "Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return". Be sure to wash your hands after administering the ashes.
   

Palm Sunday

• Blessed palm is put aside for distribution to the homebound. You may pick it up, in the rectory or the lower sacristy after the Mass you attend on Palm Sunday.
   

Transportation to Mass

• The Parish wishes to provide, to those unable to drive to Sunday Mass but who otherwise could join with the Parish at Mass, an opportunity to be transported to Sunday Mass on a regular basis. Parishioners willing to provide this opportunity have a protocol to follow and are screened and trained appropriately for service in this Ministry.
   

Religious Education

• The children in grades 1 & 2 of the Religious Education Program periodically throughout the year send homemade cards to homebound parishioners. In turn, the homebound person prays for the children and the children's family during the course of the child's preparation for receiving Eucharist, giving genuine meaning / understanding to the concept of "Parish Family".
   

Pastoral Visitor's Prayer. (Back to the Table of Contents)

   Lord, Let me do my visits with joy and with
compassion.
   Let me bring your light Lord, to those who
may be experiencing darkness and despair today.
   Help me to be fully present to each person I
visit; listening with care and concern and offering
openness, and humor when appropriate.
   Let me speak words of comfort and
encouragement and may my actions be thoughtful and
loving.
   May my hands, my feet, my heart and my lips
be used in total service to those I visit today and
may I bring to them, the same care and concern that
I would want if I were in their place.
   Thank you for allowing me to serve You and
bring You praise through these visits.

Resources. (Back to the Table of Contents)

Handbook for Ministers of Care, 2nd Ed.
Genevieve Glen, OSB, Marilyn Kofler, SP and Kevin O'Connor
Liturgy Training Publications 1997
 

Visiting the Sick Patti Normille
St. Anthony Messenger Press 1991
 

The Joy of Being a Eucharistic Minister
Mitch Finley
Resurrection Press 1998
 

Compassionate Caring for the Sick and Dying
Sara Arline Thrash
Twenty-third Publications 2000
 

A Caregiver's Companion: Ministering to Older Adults
J. Daniel Dymski
Ave Maria Press 1997
 

A Thoughtful Word, A Healing Touch
Joseph M. Champlin and Susan Champlin Taylor
Twenty-Third Publications 1995
 

Praying With the Sick
Sandra DeGidio, OSM
Twenty-Third Publications 1998
 

Hope-filled Prayers
Rev. Joe Coleman and Catherine Edgar
Pauline books and Media, 2000