Sunday ALF Ministry - What's Happening?
New ALF book (November, 2018)
by Jim Plautz on 11/14/18
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
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.
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)
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!