Sunday ALF Ministry - What's Happening?
Sunday Ministry @ ALF
Many Senior Citizens @ Assisted Living Facilities want to attend a Church Service on Sundays!

HomeWhy SundayHow-ToExamplesManpower

Seniors like worshiping in a group on Sundays!
Who needs this? 
Mrs: Caputo (85) - I've attended church for 75 years. I appreciate your coming here Sunday mornings.
Every Catholic Parish should consider offering a Sunday Service to Assisted Living Facilities. Eucharistic Ministers currently visit the sick and homebound (including nursing homes) on Wednesdays or Fridays. Why not Sundays and, why not include a brief  Service so that ALF residents can pray together and experience the ritual of the Liturgy. This is NOT equivalent to a mass performed by a Priest or Deacon, and it's not a replacement for attending Mass. It is better than nothing when transportation to church is not available or the health issues make it difficult to attend church. See "Procedures Page" for details.


Bill (92) - My son takes me to church every so often. It's nice that I can come here when he doesn't have time. Thank you.
Betty (78) - It's almost like being in church. This is my family now.
John C (81) - Going to church is best, but this is better than nothing. 
Mrs: Sanusky (88) - I know he isn't a Priest or Deacon, but I like to receive Holy Communion.
Every Assisted Living Facility, with 10 or more Catholics, should consider making suitable space available, and offering this Service to residents. Contact your local Catholic Church or email us questions.
Hospitals, Mental Health Facilities, prisons and other institutions should also consider providing a Catholic Communion Service on Sundays!

Why Not?

Manpower, is the primary reason Mass is not offered on Sundays at Assisted Living Facilities. Priests and Deacons are busy. We are suggesting that Eucharistic Ministers can partially fill this void by offering Communion Services. This allows 'ALF residents' to attend church in a community environment on the Lord's Day. It's not ideal, going to Mass is better, but is much better than nothing.

I repeat; ALF residents should try to go to church on Sundays and attend Mass conducted by a Priest. ALFs should provide transportation if possible. Deacons and retired Priests are better qualified to conduct a Mass or  Service at an ALF, but when they are not available, Eucharistic Ministers can fill the void.
Comments from Residents 
Adrienne (68) - I'm Christian, but not Catholic. I like the service and receive a blessing rather than Communion.
ALF:

Ask your Pastor
for it!
Catholic
Churches:

Offer it!
Residents &
Families:

Demand it!

Sunday ALF Ministry - What's Happening?

New ALF book (November, 2018)

 by Jim Plautz on 11/14/18

ALFs - Doorways to Heaven: The original "Doorways To Heave" has been edited, proofed and some of the stories rewritten. I like it! Soon, in a matter of days, it will be available for purchase on Amazon.Com ($15.95) or directly from the author ($8.00) in quantities of 10 or more. It will also be available as an Ebook  for $9.95.

There are 3 Sections:
1. 21 poignant stories describing how seniors cope and adapt in an ALF environment. It's amazing!
2. The Sunday Communion Service when offered by Eucharistic Ministers including suggested dos, and don'ts for EMs.
3. Common Christian prayers - a handbook for EMs and ALF residents.

More information to follow!

We should do more for ALF residents!!!!

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New Home - St. Mary's

 by Jim Plautz on 05/10/18

In early January (2018) I moved my "home base" to St. Mary's, the parish in which I have resided for almost two years. I had been hanging on at St. Timothy's because that is where most of the ALFs I visited are located (one is in Saint Paul's Parish).

The "Doorway to Heaven" book issued as a "draft" is currently being professionally edited and "sanitized" to remove all names, dates and places to protect the privacy of ALF residents. The book will be "published" in it's new format, soon and will be available in both hard copy and digital formats.

Wish me luck!

Jim

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ALFs - Doorways to Heaven

 by Jim Plautz on 12/15/17

I'm waiting for UPS to deliver my 72-page mini-book (4 1/4" x 7"); "ALFs - Highways to Heaven". ALFs =s Assisted Living Facilities.

There are 22 stories about different groups of ALF residents, e.g. "She Can Hear Me" (people that can't open their eyes, but still can pray with you); 'Trapped" (people whose minds are good, but their bodies aren't working); etc. Senior citizens in ALFs, church' Eucharistic Ministers and ALF management should read these stories.

This is also a handbook for EMs ("Eucharistic Ministers"); e.g. how to conduct Sunday Communion Services. Section 3 includes commonly used prayers used in a Communion Service (e.g. Lord's Prayer & The Nicene Creed).

It's also a plea (to ALF Managers and Catholic Church Bishops and Pastors) to provide ALFs with 10 or more Catholics, to have access to a Sunday Communion Service.

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It's been awhile - my bad!

 by Jim Plautz on 10/30/17

I haven't posted for a few months, but I continue my Sunday "Communion Services" to Magnolia Manor ALF (9:30 AM) and Brookdale - Northdale (11:00 AM "weekly" and Arden Courts and Manor Care once a month. I missed a couple weeks in Sept. for vacation. Still do not have a back-up, although Fr.  Kevin visited MM once, (in addition to our once-a-month Masses on Thursdays).

I do "Communion Services" on Sundays (click on the How-to tab above for procedures). Yesterday I gave approximately 35 "communions" to Catholics and another 15 "blessings" to other Christians that attend these services.

Al Pereira (Protestant) passed away last week. We said a prayer for Mr. Pereira with his Mela, his wife. We also took the time to remember Mary Rosello and others of our little congregation, who had passed recently. I believe this "you will not be forgotten" aspect of our Sunday services, is important.

Jim (EM)

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Sunday 7-9-17 Highlights

 by Jim Plautz on 07/09/17

40+ Communions and approximately 15 blessings at 4 locations:

Magnolia Manor's Catholics are aging and am forced to visit several in their rooms before our 9:30 AM Communion Service. Also am reaching out to non-Catholic Christians.

Quick visit to Manor Care (ALF that I visit the 2nd Sunday each month; 5 Communions and 5 blessings. Two are very appreciative.

Brookdale "memory care" unit; 5 Communions, 3 blessings. Especially tough morning in that several residents were acting-up. "it makes a person realize how lucky we are".

Brookdale ALF group (15) included a new woman who thanked me profusely after the service ended. Others did  too. It feels good to get an at-a-boy once in awhile. They liked my synopsis of Deacon Glenn's Homily re. Mathew 11: 25-30 (let your burden be Jesus...."

A good day!

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