Health Ministry
PARISH HEALTH MINISTER:
The
concept of parish nursing is rooted in the early work of monks, deacons
and deaconess's, church nurses, traditional healers and the nursing profession
itself. Parish nursing can be understood as a health-promotion, disease
prevention ministry based on care of the whole person. The parish nurses
role is that of integrator of faith and health, health educator, referral
agent, developer of support groups, and health advocate. Parish nursing
offers both the invitation and a challenge to the traditional nursing
profession to reclaim the spiritual dimension of nursing care and compassion.
Parish nursing also invites the faith community to embrace and restore
the healing mission of the church. If you would like to assist in any
of these areas contact
Parish Health Minister-
Tania
McClain
PARISH
HEALTH COUNCIL:
The parish nurse often forms a parish health ministry team called a health
cabinet or a health council. This group of parishioners is most often
composed of volunteer nurses, physicians, social workers, and members
of the community. We strive to make the health council representative
of the diverse makeup of our parish. The team is committed to meeting
the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of members of the community.
Current members of the Health Council include:
Rudy & Joan Bellmann, Charlotte Halverson, Dr. Joseph Jenkins,
Patrice Johnson, Dr. Bryan Pechous, Ray Ronek, Kathy Runde, Dolores Ryan,
Ruth Turnis, Tania McClain, and Fr. Mark Ressler.
HOSPITAL
VISITATION:
Members of the Parish Staff make daily visitations to our parishioners
who are hospitalized. In addition to staff visits, there is a group of
parishioners who volunteer to share their gift of prayer and presence
and visit those hospitalized on a weekly basis.
Coordinator - Joan Sampson
If you are going to be hospitalized or have surgery and want to receive
the sacrament of the sick call the parish office. We would like to be
notified if you are receiving medical care outside the city.
NURSING HOME VISITATION:
There are a number of parishioners
who volunteer to share their presence and caring concern with those who
are confined to the nursing care facilities in the area. We have approximately
40 parishioners who are in a care facility. We mail bulletins to these
parishioners weekly. If you know of someone who is confined to a nursing
care facility and would like a visitor or a bulletin mailed to them please
contact the Parish
Office or call 563-588-1433.
VISITATION
OF HOMEBOUND PARISHIONERS:
A group of parishioners do in-home visitation for our homebound parishioners.
We have approximately 30 parishioners who are homebound. In addition to
doing home visits, we mail bulletins to these parishioners each week.
If you know of a parishioner who is homebound and needs someone to visit
please contact the Parish
Office or call 563-588-1433.
MEALS FOR
THE HOMEBOUND:
Parish Health Ministry and Social Concerns Committee work together and
provide a meal a month to some of our homebound parishioners. These meals
are frozen and are delivered throughout the month depending on need. This
program provides a healthy meal for those who are either unable to cook
due to a surgery that leaves them temporarily disabled or to some of our
parishioners who need assistance in meal preparation.
CARD
MINISTRY FOR THE HOMEBOUND:
What a thrill it is for our homebound parishioners to get mail from their
community!! There are a group of volunteers who mail a card a month to
those who are homebound. There is special emphasis put on their birthdays,
their anniversaries, and special holidays. If you would like to help,
please contact Tania
McClain.
BLOOD PRESSURE
SCREENING:
There are nurses in the parish who volunteer to do blood pressure checks
after the 8:00 a.m. Mass on the second Tuesday of the month. This blood
pressure screening is done in the Bride's Room.
ADOPT-A-PARISHIONER
PROGRAM:
Parish Health Ministry and the students at St. Joseph the Worker School
work together to minister to some of our homebound parishioners. Classrooms
'adopt' a parishioner who can correspond with them throughout the school
year. The bond that forms between these elders and the children brings
a new dimension to community involvement.
For more information about any of these ministries, contact Tania
McClain
or call 563-588-1433.
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