Homebound Ministry
Specially-trained lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion bring Communion every week to parishioners who are homebound if they so desire. A priest visits upon request for Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
A quarterly meditation booklet, Living Faith, is sent to each of the homebound, and seasonal booklets are sent with daily religious reflections for Advent and Lent. Each mailing is accompanied by a letter from the pastoral administrator.
Homebound parishioners also receive a weekly phone call and periodic visits from a pastoral assistant.
Contact: John Russo at 713-663-3525 or at jrusso@svdp-edu.org
Hospital Ministry
Even though the archdiocese has a Catholic Chaplain Corps that provides a Catholic presence in non-Catholic hospitals in the Houston area, our pastoral administrator makes weekly visits, brings Communion, and prays with parishioners who are in the hospital. Priests who are part of the Catholic Chaplain Corps may be requested through the chaplain or spiritual care departments of the various hospitals.
Several parishioners have gone through the year-long training program to join the Catholic Chaplain Corps as lay volunteers. They are then assigned to visit patients and pray with Catholics in non-Catholic hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. Others who wish to join the Corps may apply upon recommendation of their pastor or pastoral administrator. Application may be requested through the archdiocesan office by calling 713-526-6438.
Contact: Sister Virginia at 713-663-3546 or at vodonnell@svdp-edu.org
Ministry to Parishioners in Residential and Long-Term-Care
Facilities
Parishioners in nursing homes are visited once a week either as a group or individually for a liturgical ritual that may include Liturgy of the Word or Morning Prayer with Holy Communion. Mass is celebrated once a month in those nursing homes that have a substantial number of parishioners. The quarterly booklet, Living Faith, that has spiritual reflections for every day and special booklets with reflections for Advent and Lent, are made available to them.
Training for Nursing Home Ministry
Lay ministers receive special training for visiting parishioners in residential and long-term-care facilities through a special program offered periodically at St. Vincent de Paul Church. This six-week program is composed of two-hour classes that meet once a week for six weeks. The course syllabus includes such topics as "The Theological Background for Lay Ministry," "Understanding the Aging Process," " Creating a Climate of Openness and Trust," "Prayer and Scripture," "Active Listening," and "Confidentiality." Students also are trained as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and are commissioned as such.
Those who are committed to serving in this ministry are assigned to visit one to three parishioners in a specific facility. Although they are expected to visit at least every two weeks, most of them visit every week. All are invited to perioic follow-up meetings to share their experiences and to spend some time in prayer and reflection. They learn from each other because of the varied kinds of experiences and issues they face.
What former students have said
Sharon Hahn Pisa-Relli said, as she described the love bond that developed between herself and a resident, "It is forever a gift and blessing."
Gloria Borreca said, "As we gather and pray...it is a time of calmness and peace for bothof us. The residents always have so much to talk about and it has taught us to be good listeners. This ministry lets the person being visited know that they are still very much a part of the church. And they always offer prayers for us."
Anyone who is interested in serving in this ministry may obtain more information from one of these two:
Deacon Dan Pagnano at 713-663-3540 or dpagnano@svdp-edu.org
Elaine Caldwell at 713-613-3529 or ecaldwell@svdp-edu.org