

Clergy Staff Ministries School Bulletin Home

Nov 19, 2008

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Bereavement Ministry

Vigil Presiders:
A deacon or lay minister will contact the grieving family members to help them plan a funeral vigil. A short vigil service is facilitated by the presider at the funeral home or in the church (when an exceptionally large attendance is anticipated). This usually takes place the evening before the funeral. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Funeral Planners:
A bereavement minister will contact the grieving family members to help them plan the liturgy for the funeral Mass. Family participation in funeral preparation, as well as in the liturgy, is encouraged as it helps in the recovery process. Communication, either by phone or mail, is made with a family member during the first year after their loved one’s death. A reminder is made about our Grief Recovery Program if they find they are having difficulty working through their grief. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Ministry of Praise:
The Ministry of Praise is a group of persons, many of whom are homebound, who pray for the parish in a special way. A prayer aide is compiled and mailed bi-monthly to this group of persons in order to bring to mind any special feast days to be celebrated during a particular month, information about the parish, light-hearted stories in order to raise their spirits, notation of the birthdays to be celebrated among those who participate in the ministry, and special prayers they can pray. Each month a short letter from different parishioners, our parish priests or other staff members is included. The hope is that those individuals who receive this prayer aide will continue to strengthen the prayer life of the parish, continue to feel connected with Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish and be reminded that they are not forgotten. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Home Eucharistic Ministry:
This ministry is compiled of specially trained volunteers from the parish who bring the Eucharist to the homebound or infirm on a weekly basis. They rotate according to the particular needs of the parish. At the two largest extended care facilities within our parish boundaries, a Eucharistic service, which brings the residents together as a group, is provided by one of our deacons on a monthly basis. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Parish Nurse Ministry:
This ministry is compiled of a group of volunteer registered nurses who are dedicated to a wholistic approach to health which promotes spiritual, physical and emotional well-being. Their role is to provide assessments, health counseling, health education and screenings, referrals to community resources and praying with those they assist. The program is Christ-centered and committed to the healing ministry of Jesus. The coordinators have received special training and are certified to organize a program. All nurses participating in the ministry must be currently licensed in the state of Arizona. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Anointing of the Sick:
If a parishioner is gravely ill, a request for an anointing can be made anytime of the day or night. Contact the parish office with a request at 602-954-9089.

Hospitals:
Hospitals or extended care facilities are served by the parish within whose boundaries the facility is located in order to receive the quickest response as possible, especially if there is eminent danger of death. If the situation is not urgent, we request that you contact the parish office to schedule an anointing with a priest either in the office or in a home or care facility. For more information, please contact the Parish office.

Communal Anointing of the Sick:
Each year, during all the Masses on a designated weekend, we offer a Communal Anointing of the Sick. Anyone wishing to be anointed is requested to pre-register and will be anointed at the particular Mass they usually attend. Transportation will be provided for those in need. For more information, please contact the Parish office.