Bringing the Body of
Christ to Your Care-receiver
Dear Friends:
Next Sunday (June 10) is the
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus
Christi). This powerful sacrament of the Eucharist
can
bring tremendous grace, blessing and peace to your
care-receiver. (And, of course, to you, too!) If
your loved one is not receiving Holy Communion on a
regular basis we suggest you ask if this is something he
or she would like.
Most parishes have
extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist (laypeople) who
can bring Communion to your care-receiver if he or she
is unable to attend Mass. We encourage you to check with
the local parish. Truly, the folks there would be happy
to do that. (We speak from experience. It's a role we've
played, taking Communion to nursing homes and to the
homebound.)
If that person is coming, don't worry about
how the house or apartment looks. Don't be concerned
about candles or prayer books or Bibles or such. (In
years gone by a "sick call crucifix" included candles
and holy water. You may have seen one. Again, don't
worry about that.) What matters is making Christ, in
the Eucharist, available to your loved one.
And if your care-receiver is able to get
out and about with some help but you're not able to take
him or her to Sunday Mass there may be volunteers at the
local parish who can offer a ride.
"When you look at the Crucifix, you understand
how much Jesus loved you then.
When you look at the Sacred Host
you understand how much Jesus loves you now."
—Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
- - -
This
week we're so pleased to welcome Danielle P. of Ohio as the newest member of the Friends of St. John the
Caregiver. Please keep her and her intentions in your
prayers. She has promised to pray for you and
yours.
And we
cordially invite you to join
the Friends of St. John
the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include
YourAgingParent.com and
CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about
becoming a member
here.
No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that
you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include
caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both
(including quite a few former caregivers).
You can:
sign up on-line here
or call us toll-free at
1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
or
print and mail an application form.
God
bless you!
Monica and Bill
To
contact us
To
join
FSJC
To make a
donation
To view or make
prayer
requests
Materials
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Past
"Dear Friends"
letters
"Among Friends" quarterly newsletter
country
but are trying to monitor an aging parent's health and well-being in
another. Most sons and daughters who do this experience worry, frustration
and guilt. How do you know if Mom is eating right? Why didn't she tell
you she was going in for that test? Why did you take this job so far
away? How many voice-mail messages do you have to leave before her
doctor calls you back? What's going on there? The urge is to hop on a
plane and go find out. The reality in most cases is commitments to
spouse, children and a job, not to mention the expense of airfares,
make that impossible. . . .