Oct./Nov. Newsletter: Fall Events, Pastoral Care Week, New Resources, & More!

October/November 2019

Pastoral Care Ministry Newsletter

Directors Reflection

I saw a quote recently that said “ Autumn trees teach us how to let go ”.

Recently I heard the sad news of the death of a loved one, someone I deeply cared about, yet over time the relationship changed and our ability to communicate became strained and distant. The fond memories came rushing back and I realized that those memories were the ones I wished to always keep and it was okay if I let go of everything else. Read more.

Visit the Pastoral Care Ministry W e bsite

Pastoral Care Week/Spiritual Care Week 2019: October 20-26

October 20-26 is a week that we highlight the ministries of Pastoral/Spiritual Care in our diocese.

“Spiritual care takes seriously the meaningful nature of the space in which we live - its physical realities and its metaphorical meaning. Thus, there is value in providing space where one can feel safe and sheltered, space that allows dignity and creativity and spaces where reflection and worship enrich well-being and humanity.”

Reverence for All Souls – All Souls Committal Service

On November 1, in a special service before All Souls Day, Historic St. Agnes Cemetery will provide free entombment of cremated remains for Catholic families who have remains they wish to entomb.

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries offers a wide range of options for the final disposition of cremated remains: cremation gardens and columbariums, as well as regular graves and mausoleums. However, often families just don’t know what to do when the urn containing the cremated remains is returned by the funeral director.

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries provides this service to assure that the proper care and reverential disposition of cremated remains is available to all Catholics.

Memorial butterflies (as pictured above) are available to be installed near the crypt.

If you have the cremated remains of a loved one that you would like to entomb, please contact us before November 1st at (518) 463-0134, info@rcdacemeteries.org.

Read more about the service here .

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 5:

Emmaus Ministry For Grieving Parents-One Day Retreat

Oct. 19:

Open House , Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery

Oct. 20-26, 2019:

Pastoral Care Week

Hospitality: Cultivating Space

Oct. 23:

Visitation Ministers Evening of Reflection –Who Will I Visit Today?

Oct. 26:

Open House , St. Agnes Cemetery

November 1:

Reverence for All Souls- All Souls Day Committal Service , St. Agnes Cemetery

November 1:

Fall Clean Up begins in all Albany Diocesan Cemeteries

January 11, 2020:

Save the Date: Pastoral Care Ministry Winter Workshop- Mental Health First Aid for Adults , more info TBA

June 11, 2020:

Save the Date: Pastoral Care 10 ^th Annual Day of Spiritual Renewal, more info TBA

Like us on Facebook !

Caregiver Resources

Pastoral Care Ministry Resources

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries and the Catholic Monument Design Center

Catholic Charities Senior & Caregiver Support Services

Capital Region Caregiver Coalition Newsletter

Family Caregiver Alliance

Caregiver's Fact Sheets from Family Caregiver Alliance

Resources for Lay Ministry Leaders including Parish Pastoral Care Coordinators

Being in a leadership position in a parish brings both challenges and joys. How to take care of yourself to help maintain the joy that brought you into this ministry is paramount to maintain a healthy parish ministry. I would like to share with you some free resources to help you to make sure you are taking care of yourself before trying to give to others.

The Catholic Apostolic Center in conjunction with SLiconnect offers various webinars to address self-care in ministry.

Some of the offerings include: Understanding the Charism of Lay Ministry; Ministering to Difficult Personalities; Grace Under Pressure: Increasing Your Stress Tolerance; Spiritual Self Care: A Foundation for Healthy Ministry. View resources .

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries

O pen House Events

October 19: Niskayuna

Most Holy Redeemer

October 26: Menands

St. Agnes Cemetery

Enjoy light refreshments and l earn about how pre-planning can give you and your family peace of mind.

Learn about your options:

New sections available

Special discounts

Pre-planning your needs

Options for burial, interment and cremation

Designing a custom memorial with our new Catholic Monument Design Center

Albany Diocesan Cemeteries staff will be on hand to answer your questions about all of 19 of our cemeteries. Read More .

Albany/Troy: (518) 463-0134

Schenectady/Colonie: (518) 374-5319

Email: Info@rcdacemeteries.org

Reflections On Grief Ten Years Later

centering.org

Grief has its own timeline. It’s different for each person and circumstance. Linda Campenella shares her personal journey with grief after the death of her mother. Read more .

Cultivating the Practice of Pearls

chriskoellhofferihm.org

Chris Kiellhoffer , IHM, shares her reflection on injury, pain and the journey of recovery. Read more .

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!