SOCIAL JUSTICE - HEALING, COMFORT AND SUPPORT
Good Shepherd parishioners support one another through a number of ongoing ministries of healing, comfort, and support. Our Circle of Caring programs provide integrated, coordinated support to the homebound, seriously ill, bereaved, and their families. Good Shepherd also offers support programs for parishioners who live with a mental or physical disability, and our parish health program focuses on preventive care.
The Circle of Caring
The Circle of Caring Ministry includes programs and services for the homebound, seriously ill, and bereaved.
Contact: Ann Hyland: (703)704-5285, annhyland@cox.net.
Programs for The Homebound and Seriously Ill
Card Writing Ministry
Participants support the homebound and seriously ill through card-writing. Each regular participant receives a small list of names for regular correspondence. Commitment: Regularly about one hour per month.
Contact: Marisa Scala-Foley – (703) 765-1936, mscalafoley@cox.net.
Daily Hospital Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
Extraordinary Ministers bring Holy Communion to Catholic patients in Mount Vernon Hospital upon request. Participants must be trained.
Recipient confidentiality must be guarded with care. Commitment: Volunteers serve once every three to four months and are scheduled for a week each time.
Contact: Mary Rice – (703) 780-4791, nanarice2@aol.com.
First Friday Eucharist
Extraordinary Ministers bring Communion to homebound parishioners on the first Friday of each month, upon request. Participants must be trained. Commitment: One or two hours per month.
Contact: Jean Larson – (703)360-2111, JMLtwinmama@aol.com.
Friendly Visitors
Volunteers make a weekly visit to one or two homebound or seriously ill parishioners at a time that fits their personal schedule. The willingness to bring understanding and a smile is the only requirement. Commitment: Between one and two hours per week.
Contact: Katie Esser, Director of Social Justice – (703) 780-4055, katie@gs-cc.org.
Mount Vernon Nursing Center Communion Service
Volunteers celebrate Communion Services at Mount Vernon Nursing Center with residents by bringing them to the solarium and accompanying them back to their rooms following the service. Commitment: A Communion Service is held each Wednesday at 4:00pm. Total time commitment is less than two hours per week.
Contact: Kathleen Russell – (703) 780-8992, kathleenrussell@yahoo.com.
Outreach to the Ill
Volunteers telephone the ill, especially those on our parish weekly prayer list, to inquire whether they are in need of additional services, and to let them know they are in our thoughts and prayers. Calls are made on a one-time basis and may included necessary follow-ups. Commitment: Up to half an hour per week.
Contact: Doris Wielga – (703) 765-6526, sweilga@cox.net.
Transportation
Volunteers drive those in need to and from medical appointments, usually in the local area, and to church activities such as weekend Mass. Volunteers use their personal vehicles. Commitment: Volunteers assist as their schedule and location permit them to fulfill individual needs as they arise. Volunteers usually assist on a one-time or temporary basis, but regular needs do exist.
Contact: Pat Connor – (703) 780-6022.
Programs for the Bereaved and their Families
Bereavement Outreach
Throughout the year following the death of a parishioner, volunteers support grieving families by sending out four supportive booklets on the grief process. The volunteer writes a personal note to accompany each booklet. Commitment: Three to four hours per month.
Contact: Barbara Rufe – (703) 780-1180, Brufe@aol.com.
Funeral Reception
Volunteers help bereaved families by offering a reception in Creedon Hall following a funeral liturgy. They donate desserts or salads, set up the room, serve at the reception, and clean up afterwards. Commitment: Volunteers are contacted on a rotating basis, Although the scheduling of receptions is irregular, they routinely occur on weekdays in the daytime. Bringing in a dish requires no time on site, while up to four hours could be necessary for setup, the reception, and cleanup.
Contact: Emma Niemiec – (703) 780-8425, miemiec@weichert.com
and Ruth Lescher – (703) 780-7433, rslescher@mac.com.
Holiday Grief Program
Volunteers organize an annual discussion-centered workshop, hosted by a professional facilitator, for parishioners who have lost a loved one and may be having difficulty facing the holidays. This program always occurs in November.
Volunteers provide refreshments.
Contact: Judy White – (703) 768-2087.
Mass of Remembrance and Reception
Volunteers hold a special liturgy on All Souls Day to remember the departed, especially those who have died during that year. Volunteers are needed for several duties involving the Mass: liturgy planners, greeters, lectors, and assistance for guests during the candle-lighting service. Volunteers also assist with planning, decoration, and refreshments for the reception.
Contact: Carol Coyle – (703) 780-7955, carolcoyle@cox.net (Mass)
and Irene Pippin – (703) 619-1292, dpippin169@aol.com (reception).
Support and Community Life Programs at Good Shepherd
Alzheimer's Support Group
This support group meets in cooperation with the Alzheimer's Association of the National Capital area. Members share experiences of life with persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Commitment: The group meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm.
Contact: Joan Sutton – (202) 285-6486, joanmillersutton@gmail.com.
Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT)
This team reaches out to educate, to fight stigmas, and to bring hope to those with mental illness, their families, and the community. Volunteers plan and host three or four speaker events per year, which require about six planning meetings per year, usually held Sundays after a Mass.
Contact: Bill Zaccagnino – (703) 360-5517, wzaccagnino@cox.net.
Parish Health
This developing ministry hosts one or two health-related events a year, such as a flu shots drive. Volunteers have opportunities to serve as liaisons to different parish populations (youth and senior communities, etc.), disseminating health and wellness information and assisting with events. Serving as a liaison requires several hours each month.
Contact: Jane Gallagher – (703) 360-4543, janegallagher@verizon.net.
Prayers and Squares
A group of volunteers dedicate their time, talent, and prayers while making quilts for parishioners within the Good Shepherd Community. This ministry combines the gift of a hand-tied quilt with the gift of prayer for someone in need. You don’t have to know how to quilt in order to be part of this new effort, although some basic quilting background is helpful. Volunteers quilt on an as-needed basis a few times a year. The group meets once a month to plan and share.
Request a Quilt: Do you know someone that would benefit from a prayer quilt? Download our request form and either drop it off at the Parish Office or email it to Lisa at the address below.
Contact: Lisa Shannon – (703) 619-0440, jimlisshan@cox.net
Pro-life
This ministry focuses on the dignity and quality of life of all individuals, from conception to natural death. Volunteers will collaborate to design appropriate activities.
Contact: Stacy Austin – (703) 980-8367, stacyj309@yahoo.com.
Senior Social
Senior parishioners and community members gather on the third Tuesday of the month September through April for lunch and bingo. The Paul Springs Retirement Community staff orchestrates the events, and their residents comprise most of the participants. Volunteers are needed to assist with setup, preparation of lunch, hosting the event, and takedown. If assisting with all efforts, volunteers spend about three hours per event.
Contact: Ruth Lescher – (703) 780-7433, rslescher@mac.com
or Barbara Sullivan, Paul Springs Staff – (703) 768-0234.
WINGS
WINGS serves as a support group, information resource, and outreach for families who have a member with a disability. The group meets monthly; dates are noted in the bulletin. WINGS also hosts family social events and speakers of interest throughout the year.
Contact: Kathy Andrus – (703) 780-8856, ANDRUS13@aol.com.