SACRAMENTS - SICK AND HOMEBOUND
The Church has always had a special mission to the sick, from visiting and giving Communion to a sick person at home, to building hospitals and clinics to care for those who are seriously ill. The very early Church followed the words of St. James by anointing the sick with blessed oil, as is done today in this Sacrament (James 5:14-15).
Our faith tells us that, indeed, God suffers with us. Through Jesus' suffering and death, God joins His suffering to the suffering of human beings. And by doing this, He transforms and gives it a new meaning. To say this is not meant to trivialize anybody's suffering in any way, nor does it make it any easier. Yet, by joining ourselves with the suffering of Christ, our pain, our sense of isolation and loss, can become part of the saving work of Christ, who endured agony and died for us all. Through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick we are assured that God will raise us up, like Jesus, from our bed of pain and sickness and lead us to eternal life. Through it we are comforted when we feel most abandoned.
Card Writing Ministry
Volunteers support the homebound and seriously ill through card-writing. Each participant receives a small list of names for regular correspondence.
Contact: Marisa Scala-Foley – (703) 765-1936, mscalafoley@cox.net.
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.
Contact: Katie Esser, Director of Social Justice – (703) 780-4055, katie@gs-cc.org.
First Friday Eucharist
Extraordinary Ministers bring Communion to homebound parishioners on the first Friday of each month, upon request.
Contact: Jean Larson – (703) 360-2111, JMLtwinmama@aol.com.
Daily Hospital Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
Extraordinary Ministers bring Holy Communion to Catholic patients in Mount Vernon Hospital upon request.
Recipient confidentiality is guarded with care.
Contact: Mary Rice – (703) 780-4791, nanarice2@aol.com.
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. A Communion Service is held each Wednesday at 4:00pm.
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 include necessary follow-ups.
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 Sunday Mass.
Contact: Pat Connor – (703) 780-6022.