Pastoral Care

PASTORAL CARE
 
MINISTRY TO THE SICK & HOMEBOUND
Pastoral Care ministers regularly visit hospitals and care centers. Due to patient privacy guidelines, the parish is not typically notified of parishioner admissions to hospitals or care centers. If you are hospitalized, or placed in a local care center, please be sure to have someone contact the Pastoral Care office, 251-1102.  We want to have the opportunity to visit you and take care of your spiritual needs if you so desire.
 
ANOINTING OF THE SICK
 The Sacrament of the Sick is available to all who are sick, will soon undergo surgery, or are suffering the effects of aging. The sacrament is administered approximately every three months at local Care Centers and periodically at weekend Masses. The sacrament is also available at any time upon request. Anointing of the Sick is not the Last Rites for the dying but is meant to grant strength and healing to those who are coping with illness. Therefore, request of the sacrament should never be delayed until the point of death. Those who are approaching death receive viaticum— reception of the Eucharist for the final time.
 
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
 Our parish wishes to support all parishioners who experience the loss of a loved one. If you have a death in the family and the funeral is at Presentation Parish, a BeFriender Minister will offer two bereavement visits within the first two months after your loss. If the funeral is not at Presentation Parish, please contact the Pastoral Care Office so that we may offer prayers at Mass and publish a remembrance in our weekly bulletin. Bereavement visits are also available upon request.
 Bereavement Letters: A group of caring, compassionate parish volunteer ministers send periodic letters of care for one year to parishioners whose loved one’s funeral was at Presentation Parish. 
 Mutual Self-help Grief Support Groups: Presentation Parish offers daytime and evening grief support groups in the Fall and Spring. Check the bulletin or call the Pastoral Care office for dates and times. Advance registration is required. 
 Mass of Remembrance: Presentation Parish offers an All Souls Mass of Remembrance for parishioners who wish to commemorate their deceased loved ones. A candlelight procession  honors the deceased.
  
BEFRIENDER MINISTRY 
  BeFriender Ministers offer pastoral care by listening to the concerns of fellow parishioners when they are in times of special need such as job loss, the birth of a child, grieving, loneliness, divorce, or other trying situations. BeFriender Ministers                       participate in 35 hours of training as well as ongoing ministry reflection at the parish. If you would like to have a BeFriender Minister visit you or someone you know in our parish, please call the Pastoral Care office. Confidentiality is assured.
 
COMPANION VISITOR MINISTRY
Companion Visitors provide a ministry of listening presence to persons in need of companionship. To request a Companion Visitor, call the Pastoral Care office, 251-1102.
 
PARISH PRAYER REQUESTS                                                                                           Bulletin Prayer List: Parishioners who are ill, or who have a family member or friend who is ill, may request to have the person remembered on the Prayer Request list published in the weekly bulletin. Names remain on the Prayer Request list for two months but may be resubmitted upon request. Permission must be given by the individual before the name can be published. To add or remove a name from the Prayer Request list, contact the Pastoral Care office, 251-1102.
Prayer Chain: Requests for prayers may be submitted for the parish Prayer Chain ministry. Prayer Chain ministers will pass your prayer request from one to another via telephone or email. To place an intention on the Prayer Chain, or to volunteer as a Prayer Chain minister, call the Pastoral Care office, 251-1102.
 
HEALTH CARE MINISTRY
Blood Pressure Screening: Registered Nurses provide free blood pressure checks after all Masses the first weekend of the month and the third Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m.
AED/CPR Training: Certification classes for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) are offered on an ongoing basis as the need arises. If your parish organization does not have AED/CPR trained members, call the Pastoral Care office, 251-1102.
 

SEPARATED/DIVORCED SUPPORT GROUP
Presentation Parish offers a weekly support group for persons who are separated or divorced. The group meets on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Log House. The group provides a confidential, supportive environment and is led by a professionally-trained facilitator. Participants may come as frequently or seldom as preferred.
 
TRANSPORTATION
Presentation Parish will arrange transportation to and from church or doctor’s appointments for those who need a ride. If you need transportation services, please contact the Pastoral Care office at 251-1102. In addition, bus transportation through John Knox Village Transportation Services for John Knox Village residents is available for the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass and the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, Holy Days of Obligation and also Ash Wednesday. For pick up locations and times, call JKV transportation at 347-2178.
 
WIDOWS GROUP
The Widows Group meets monthly to provide opportunities for community, service and prayer.