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?

Brookdale @ Northdale ALF - Update

by Jim Plautz on 04/03/17

17 Communions today, including 4 from Memory Unit where 10 - 12 "Christians" prayed together before giving Holy Communion to the 3 Catholics; noisy and chaotic, but very worthwhile.

The Communion Service for the ALF residents went well as we discussed the Homily given by Deacon Jerry at the St. Timothy's 7:30 Mass. (Baptism; water, light and life). One person asked "what ever happened to lazerus?". 13 Communions and blessings to four other Christians.

Good day. Several residents thanked me for coming.

Jim

Several

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Magnolia Manor ALF - Update

 by Jim Plautz on 04/02/17

12 Communions, but only had six at the Communion Service this morning;  Many of the "regulars" are too ill to get out of bed and a couple appear to be nearing the end - barely able to open their eyes. Three expressed sincere gratitude that I came with prayers and  Communion. It was very heartening to relate to them Jesus promises them everlasting life in heaven to those who love God and their neighbor.

A few were simply "too tired" to attend and asked that I bring Communion to them in their rooms. Maybe I should get tougher with them, but I have the time. I'm going to ask the nurses/attendants to try harder to get them to come to the dining room, so we can read scripture and pray together.

Jim


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Six ALFs - summary

 by Jim Plautz on 03/30/17

My Sunday ALF Ministry has grown to four sites, plus two ALFs that I visit on Wednesdays. They are (# of Hosts in parentheses):
1. Magnolia Manor: every Sunday (13, including 4-5 room visits)
2. Brookdale @ Northdale: every Sunday (15, including 4 in Reminisce wing)
3. Manor Care: 2nd Sunday (7)
4. Arden Court: 3rd Sunday (5)
5. Brighton Gardens - Sunrise: Wednesdays (12, including 6 in Alzheimer's wing)
6. Idelwild ALF: Wednesdays (4)


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Brookdale @ Northdale ALF

 by Jim Plautz on 08/12/16

Nettie Martin died, August 6, 2016. Nettie was one of my original group, who I met when I presented her with a small pumpkin from the Saint Timothy's pumpkin-patch in 2014. She was a kind and gentle woman who treasured her relationship to God. One of her Brookdale-neighbors gave a beautiful eulogy. We prayed for her soul at Sunday's (8/7/16) Communion Service.

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Blessing from Lithuania

 by Jim Plautz on 08/12/16

Everyone wanted to know about my 2-week cruise to the Baltic countries and what was my favorite country. I told them that I, as promised, had brought them a "present". It was from a Franciscan Monastery, in Lithuania. A "brother", who has dedicated his life to serving Christ according to the vows of his order, guided our tour group and offered us a blessing that we could take home with us and pass on to our loved ones. I passed the Brother's blessing on to them and told them this was the best present I could think of. I showed them a photograph of the brother and me.

I also told them about how invaders in the 18th century had murdered twenty refugees who sought asylum in the church. The refugees retreated to a small room in the basement of the monastery. The invaders bricked-up the doorway; the refugees suffocated and died. It was 25 years later before their bodies were found.

We prayed for the souls of these martyrs.

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