February, 2019
Pastoral Care Ministry Newsletter
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Changing an Office Space into Sacred
"About a month ago I found myself in a situation where the office space which I shared with 2 other women, was changing hands, since one of the women was retiring from private practice. Most of my clients are coming to find support and healing from loss and grief issues"...
continue
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Program Recap Reflection-
Ministering In Times of Spiritual Distress
A free Pastoral Care mini-presentation was held at the Pastoral Center on January 12 with Fr. Joseph Mali (photo below) and Sr. Katherine (Kitty) Hanley (photo left) as presenters.
After a beautiful opening prayer led by Marie Woodward, Fr. Mali started the morning off laying the ground work for spiritual distress. He said “Spiritual distress occurs when a person is unable to find meaning, purpose, peace, comfort, strength, or connection to God".
Fr. Mali and Sister Kitty's full presentations can be read
here
.
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XXIVII Annual
World Day of the Sick
February 11, 2019
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Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the twenty-seventh World Day of the Sick (2019)
...
"Caring for the sick requires professionalism, tenderness, straightforward and simple gestures freely given, like a caress that makes others feel loved."
Read the Pope's full message here
.
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The
National Association of Catholic Chaplains
(NACC) provides resources for celebrating this day as well as Prayer Cards which can be found
here
.
The
Catholic Health Association
(CHA) offers resources including prayers for families and caregivers which can be found
here
.
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Pastoral Visitation to the Sick, Elderly & Homebound Formation and Skill Building Workshops
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Whether you are discerning volunteering as a visitor to the sick, elderly, homebound, or refreshing these skills; or are currently involved in Pastoral Care Ministry as a Coordinator, Parish Visitor, Faith Community Nurse or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, this training may be of interest to you.
March 11 - 30, 2019
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6th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert
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This is a fundraiser that is near and dear to our staff.
Proceeds support three organizations — the
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(AFSP), the
National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI), and our diocesan friends the
Catholic Charities CoNSERNS-U Program
.
In 2013, our local community lost a bright light. Dustin was kind-hearted, happy and a joy to be around. He was full of positive energy and always encouraging others. Proof that anyone can be lost to suicide in an instant.
Dustin's family and friends believe that advocating for suicide prevention programs that help erase the stigma of depression and making proper mental health care and assistance programs more easily available, lives can be saved.
More Information.
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Jan. 11 - May 17:
March 9:
March 9:
March 11 - 30:
March 23:
April 27:
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Emmaus Ministry
for Grieving Parents
One Day Retreat
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April 27
St. Clement’s Church, Saratoga
Losing a child under any circumstances is horrendous. Focusing on the spirituality of the grieving process can help tremendously. Just as He comforted His grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus comforts us and we comfort each other in this very special ministry.
Join other Emmaus Parent Companions and our St. Clement’s Church Emmaus Ministry Retreat Team in a warm and loving place—
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Don’t Sing Songs to a
Heavy Heart
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How to Relate to Those Who Are Suffering
by Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D
.
“... an essential guide on how to care for and relate to people as they encounter difficult times in life. Forged from author Kenneth C. Haugk’s own experiences of suffering, the book draws on extensive research with more than 4,200 people who have experienced various kinds of suffering in their lives, offering key insights and suggestions of what to say and do—and what not to say or do—when people are hurting.
With its biblical foundation, compassionate approach, and concrete ideas,
Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart
will help you bring God’s loving presence to hurting people when they need it most.
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For the Dying, Music Can be Magic
-Article from Next Avenue,
By Jennifer L. Hollis
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How music can transform the dying experience for patients and their caregivers
“At a time when health care costs are soaring and health providers are strained for time, arts-based innovations can offer excellent patient care at the end of life. Music thanatology, a professional field within palliative care that began surfacing in the 1980s, is one such innovation. Its practitioners use live harp and vocal music to address the needs of dying patients and their loved ones. (Thanatology is the scientific study of death.)”
Continue
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Caregiver 12-Week Telephone Support Group
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Recognizing Depression
In Elders
-Article from Today's Caregiver,
By Jennifer Buckley
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“Depression in elderly people is a widespread and serious public health concern,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It has been estimated that 15% of older Americans experience depression at some point in their golden years. In nursing homes, around 20% of the residents are depressed, especially those living with a serious medical condition, like cancer or heart disease.
Unfortunately, depression goes under-diagnosed and under-treated in older Americans and this can seriously affect the worth of their life and their overall functioning. If ignored long enough, or, if the severity increases, depression could lead to suicide. In fact, America’s older population is responsible for 25% of completed suicides. There are complicating factors, which may mask signs of depression in the elderly
”.
Continue
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Chaplains can let mentally ill know they don’t walk alone
-Article from The National Association of Chaplains,
By Elaine Chan, MSW, MDiv, BCC
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“On Good Friday I got a referral to see a Roman Catholic patient whose adult son had died recently. The woman was lying in bed and spoke very softly, almost inaudibly. As I listened carefully I learned that she was upset about her son’s death and that the staff would not give her medication to dull her emotional pain. She said she did not really want to talk, just to get her medication. A few days later I saw her again but she repeated her request for medication. The doctor had requested “spiritual care” because he did not see the need for more psychotropic drugs. But unfortunately the woman was adamant about receiving medication and was not receptive to spiritual care.”
Read more.
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Making Nursing Home Visits Meaningful
-Article from Today's Caregiver,
By Sandra Stimson
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“Oftentimes, as nursing home residents decline, they lose the ability to communicate. Sadly, this is a time when families stop visiting as often because they don’t know what to say or how to make the visits meaningful for the family, as well as their loved one. Sometimes, just being present can be satisfying".
Click here
to read the full article which includes tips for families.
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Pastoral Care Ministry is a program of Albany Diocesan Cemeteries
If the Pastoral Care Coordinator at your parish changes, please notify
Harley McDevitt
. Thank you!
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