FROM THE DESK OF ANITA M. HERRON
Coordinator, Ministry of Care and Bereavement Ministry
MISSION OF MINISTERS OF CARE: To bring God’s Word and the Body of Christ to our sick, homebound, aged and grieving members of our Parish Family.
We presently have sixteen (16) active Ministers of Care: Mrs. Estelle C. Baker, Ms. JoAnn Ball, Ms. Patricia Baylock, Ms. Evalyn Cleggs, Ms. Anita M. Herron, Coordinator, Mrs. Carolyn Hicks, Mrs. Janice King, Mrs. Sallie Lewis, Mrs. Angela Roberts, Mr. Benjamin Smith, Mrs. Gladys M. Smith, Mrs. Opal Easter Smith, Mrs. Shirley Talton, and Mrs. Dolores White.
Our goal is to visit those who have requested Communion on the fourth Sunday of each month. However, some Ministers of Care visit on third Sunday, or bi-weekly, or weekly. We also visit those who are hospitalized or in a nursing home.
We are Blessed to have Special Angels: Sallie Lewis, Janice King, and Clifford Hodges who visit Belhaven Nursing Home on Wednesdays and pray the Rosary with the residents. Father Flynn and Nellie Cannon visit two or three of our homebound every Wednesday. On occasion, Catherine Marshall and Dorothy Wilson join them.
In addition to receiving Communion, our Homebound receive Sunday readings from the Word Among Us each month, and any other spiritual readings or booklets, and the Daily Bread quarterly. They also receive cards and special tokens on holidays, i.e., Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Anita Herron prepares the Sick and Homebound Parish Listing at the end of each month and places it in the Bulletin. She also prepares the address listing of our sick and homebound at least three times a year, especially around the Holidays.
In the month of November, generally around All Souls Day, the Ministers of Care conduct a Memorial Service for those who have died within the past year.
Care Notes of various topics are provided for our parish family. The Care Notes are located in the vestibule of our church on the wall near the water cooler, Care Notes Care Center, The Ministry Center and in The OSP Community Center (OSP Diner).
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY: This Ministry is an extension of the Ministry of Care.
This Ministry contains many steps: Anita Herron is notified by the Liturgy Coordinator when a member or family member of our Parish Family dies. Anita Herron also coordinates the planning of the funeral for a member of the Knights and or Ladies Auxiliary of Peter Claver.
A. Herron developed the Planning Funeral Service Guide and Order of Service several years ago to assist families. She remains available to the family through the entire planning process, and after the service.
She also sends the Special Care Series (4 booklets) to our parish family and others, whom she feels will benefit from these booklets. The first booklet is sent three weeks after the funeral; the second one is sent three months after the funeral; the third – six months later; and the fourth is sent eleven months after the funeral (the month before the anniversary of death). She maintains a file box for all deceased so that she can send the Special Care Series booklets, and any other literature that will help them through their time of grief. And, of course, each person’s grieving period is different. She also sends the family an Anniversary Card titled: The First Anniversary of Your Loss. They are always surprised and pleased that someone remembered. The bereaved also receive special Christmas cards; and included is a Care Note – Getting Through the Holidays When You Have Lost a Loved One or perhaps a new Care Note for the year.