The ministry of helping the Parish Visitors
is a most rewarding one. The homebound, sick, and elderly benefit
greatly from a friendly smile, an interested ear, and a connection with
their parish. Volunteers may also help with set-up (and clean-up)
and refreshments for the special programs for the seniors.
As you can expect, in a parish the size of Holy Cross, we have many parishioners who are either living alone or in nursing homes. Because of this large number it is difficult to stay in contact with all of them via visits. We would like to be able to continue bringing Holy Cross’ presence to them. We have several people who already are visiting but we have about 25 more people with whom we would like to stay in touch. In order to do this we need the help of a few more volunteers who would “adopt” two, three or even four people and visit them maybe three or four times a year (more, if you like) and stay in touch with them. Each person would be notified that you would be visiting them.
Also, if you know someone who is alone, in a nursing or assisted living home, and would like a visit, please let Sister Kathy know as soon as possible so they can be added to our list of names.
If you've been hoping someone would stop by "just to say hi" or to give you a lift somewhere, give Sr. Kathy a call. There's always a cheery smile just around the corner.
The Parish Visitors of Holy Cross lead Communion services and Bible
Studies in the Lakeview and Riverview high-rises and the Shorewinds nursing home. They also attend wakes and
funerals and follow-up on the bereaved. Spiritual, informational, and
social programs for seniors
are also provided through the Parish Visitor in the parish center.
Sick Calls
The Parish Priests, the Parish Ministry Coordinator, or the Parish Visitors try to visit any parishioner who is ill in the hospital or nursing home. If a member of your family should be ill, please call the parish office to inform the parish staff. If a parishioner is confined to home and would like a priest or Minister of Communion to bring the Eucharist, again, a call to the parish office is all that is needed.
Due to the recent passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, (HIPAA), obtaining information from hospitals and nursing homes is very limited. The Parish Visitors must rely on the family to contact the parish office when a family member has been admitted to a hospital or nursing home.
Weekly Communion Services are celebrated at both high-rises; Lakeview onTuesdays at 11:00 AM and Riverview on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM. Once a month, at these same times, there is a celebration of Mass. The spiritual needs of Shore Winds Nursing Home are also provided through a Wednesday morning distribution of Communion, a monthly Mass, a First Friday Communion Service and Bible Study every Sunday.