Brighton Gardens (Wednesdays) : 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!
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Brighton Gardens (Wednesdays)

by Jim Plautz on 05/04/16

This is my weekday ministry, probably typical of what is done by Catholic parishes throughout the country. I attend 9:00 AM Mass to get the Pyx/Eucharist blessed and to pray that I will be a worthy messenger of God's Word.

Brighton Gardens has a large ALF section, Skilled Nursing and a Memory unit. Another Eucharistic minister does the ALF residents, I do skilled nursing and the memory unit.

The skilled nursing is a one-on-one ministry with new people every week.  I found 4-5 in their rooms, but nost are in the activity room or re-hab. There are two women, Susan and Betty,  that have been there for 18 months; neither can speak and sometimes they don't open their eyes, but they hear me.  They stir when I say the Lords Prayer, ask them to stay close to the Lord and pray, and give them a blessing. Sometimes I believe they are the primary reason I'm there.

I hear it all. Some are so thankful that I visited; others could care less. One man today was playing dominoes and didn't want to be bothered. Three women, Christians, but not Catholic, were happy to pray with me and receive a blessing and tell me that they pray to the Lord every day. I offered a blessing to the 5-6 physical therapists in the re-hab room and one man agreed they needed it. It's surprising how many nurses-assistants and therapists pray along, or listen, when we say the Lords Prayer.

Today was a very sad day, and a happy day, for me in the Alzheimer's unit. Bob Goodman passed away Sunday. This is what I told the 15 or so residents gathered in the music room. My father, and brother, are named Bob Goodman, so this man was special to me. We mourned his passing and prayed that he has been accepted into God's Kingdom, and is now in a better place, praying for us as we pray for his soul. Most of the people did not remember Bob, but almost all of them have faith and understood that Bob went to a better place, at least I believe they did.

I gave Communion to about 10 Catholics and blessings to 40 or more residents, most of them Christians.

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