Sunday - 7/10 Sunday Highlights - 50+ : 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 Facilitywith 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 - 7/10 Sunday Highlights - 50+

by Jim Plautz on 07/12/16

Magnolia Manor residents gave me a hard time because I was "at the beach" for the July 4th weekend; they said they didn't know I was gone, but wanted me to tell them all about it. I told them Father Malley was taking a 3-month sebatical  and we said a prayer for him.

I visited the "reminisce (Alzheimer's) unit at Brookdale and visited Cliff and Jim 's room because they usually cannot make it to the activity room where we have a 5-minute service. Jim, who has been there since I started almost 2 years ago, was gone; Cliff didn't know where. I gave Cliff communion. He grasped my arm and told me how grateful he is that 'people like me' come to visit him. Very touching.

The service to the Brookdale' ALF residents went smoothly and after the service was over, I told them a joke (about the man painting the ceiling of the chapel who decided to have fun with the lady praying the Rosary).  We usually have 3 or 4 Protestants in attendance so I had prefaced the story about how some Protestants believe Catholics pray to Mary rather than praying to God. The story was well received and I believe, a good way to remind everyone we are Christians

I left my home at 7:00 AM (to attend 7:30 Mass) and was home by noon. I five hours I gave about 35 communions and blessings to another 15 Christians. 5 or 6 nurses-attendants normally listen in. In 5 hours, I touched the lives of more than 50 senior citizens, all of them God's children. This was a rewarding day.

 

Comments (0)


Leave a comment


See Blog @ bottom of page!.