Mission Statement
Holy Family Pastoral Care ministers to the elderly and sick members of the community with dignity and respect, offering compassionate care and encouraging a sense of belonging and connection to the Body of Christ through Eucharist and the people of God.
About Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care brings Church to people. It brings a sense of connection and belonging to the elderly and sick, allowing them to make a meaningful contribution to society. Over 70 volunteer Eucharistic Ministers are assigned to the home-bound and hospitalized who are interested in having regular visitors. Senior citizens desire and cherish trusted companions who consistently visit and care about them.
Caring With Faith Resources (end of life)
Christmas Brunch for Seniors
Our ministry hosts annual Christmas Brunch for Seniors. It is a truly wonderful event manifest God’s abundant blessings for all of us. Six grade students from Holy Family Catholic School help out serving the tables, sing Christmas carols and befriend with our senior parishioners. Donations of care items like a sleep apnea pillow and knee scooters are made available for those in need. Surely this event is work of our all devoted volunteers from our community. Prayer For Later Years
“All Gracious God, you have given me all I am and have, and now I give it all back to You to stand under Your will alone. In a special way I give You these later years of my life. I am one of those called by You into old age, a call not given to all, not given to Jesus, not given to most in our world today. I humbly ask You, grace me deeply in each aspect of that struggle. As my physical eyesight weakens, may the eyes of my faith strengthen that I may see you and Your Love in everything. As my hearing fails may the ears of my heart be more attentive to the whisper of Your gentle voice. As my legs weaken and walking becomes more difficult may I walk more truly in Your paths, knowing all the while that I am held in the embrace of Your Love. As my mind becomes less alert and memory fades may I remain peaceful in you, aware that with You there is no need for thought or word. You ask simply that I be there with You. And should sickness overtake me and I be confined to bed, may I know myself as one with Your Son as he offers his life for the salvation of the world. Finally as my heart slows a little after the work of the years may it expand in love for You and all people. May it rest secure and grateful in Your loving Heart until I am lost in You completely and forever. Amen”. Prayer adapted by Ministry of the Arts with permission of the author, Sr. Moya Hanlen, FCNSC (Australia). Art by Mary Southard, CSJ.
What We Do
We take an inter-generational approach, stemming from the idea that “friendship is ageless.” Small groups of grade school students regularly visit local facilities. They participate in art programs and interact with the elderly. Students journal about the special relationships and experiences they share with their aging friends who happily pass down stories of their life wisdom with unconditional love. We coordinate hospital visits by students and volunteers,
and send cards on behalf of the community. The lesson in this approach is that it is not in receiving, but in giving that we find the greatest joy. Here, we find the true meaning of Eucharist – gifts are reborn connecting the young and elderly. Pastoral Care offers seminars for senior citizens and their families throughout the year to discuss topics of importance, such as health and nutrition seminars and support groups. We want to recognize and cultivate the experiences of the elderly to discover and identify areas of concern for them.The Director of Pastoral Care welcomes inquiries from anyone interested in serving in this ministry, as a Eucharistic Minister.
Monthly Mass Schedule
Skilled Nursing Facility Masses are on hold due to COVID
The Elderly and Sick in our Community
To notify us of someone in the parish who is elderly or sick, please follow these procedures: Call the Pastoral Center Monday – Sunday if the person needs to be visited by a priest.You will be asked a few important questions by the staff person answering your call, as a form must be filled out. Hospital? Home? Communion? Person’s home address and phone? Parishioner or not? Elderly? Name on intercessions?Please ask the staff person to notify Mary Schimmoller.
Volunteer Ministry Opportunities
Click the following link for details of purpose of being Eucharistic Minister for Pastoral Care, any requirements, amount of time required, when you can participate, length of commitment, and training required.
Eucharistic Minister for Pastoral Care
Please get in touch with Janet Adriano if you are interested in volunteering for our ministry.
Spirituality In Motion – Inter generational Art Class
We are so honored and blessed to be able to interact with the youth of Holy Family School. We experience many “God Moments” that are such a gift to our Pastoral Care Ministry. We interact weekly with the 5th Grade class to have an inter generational art class with Yvette Rodriguez. This is special to witness…bringing children and seniors together in respect, friendship and love. The 6th grade class hosts our Parish Senior Christmas Brunch. They are so helpful and so respectful to our seniors at this festive holiday event. In 7th Grade, we have our Hospitality Ministry. We are privileged to work weekly with the parents and students at the Giving Bank to provide healthy morning snacks for clients and volunteers. In 8th Grade, we bring the students to visit the home-bound. They make personalized cards and we have a prayer and Eucharist service. Thank you to our Principal, our 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade teachers and the students, for their love, support and compassion for these beautiful groups of people that we serve in our Parish community.
Caring With Faith
The Catholic Perspective on End of Life Decisions. Caring With Faith is for all adults dealing with aging parents, grandparents and one’s own aging process. Take time to reflect and pray over tough decisions about end of life issues. Our Catholic faith gives us the strength to look honestly at all experiences of God’s creation. Illness and death are part of these experiences. We believe that if we take time to prayerfully prepare for these events in our lives and in the lives of those we love, we will be more peaceful and able to respond in a way that celebrates the gift of life given to us by our loving God. Our Holy Family Mission Statement suggests that we connect our faith with life. The purpose of this evening is to help begin a conversation about these very important issues.
Caring With Faith Resources (end of life)
Contact:
Janet Adriano
626-403-61107
jadriano@holyfamily.org