Telephone ministry reconnects homebound

 

With a background in serving both youth and seniors for more than 20 years, Lillian Narvaez has a strong desire for outreach wherever it is needed to keep families and the parish community together.  So when she began noticing that elderly parishioners were not able to attend Mass and church events due to illness or similar reasons, she posed the question, “Who stays in touch with them?”  

Realizing that the homebound’s sole connection with the parish was holy Communion, Narvaez requested and received approval from pastor Msgr. Roger Smith to form a telephone ministry.  

“I wanted to call them to ask if they were OK, so that’s where the idea came from,” Narvaez said.  Beginning in November 2015, with help from volunteers in the parish—including the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion—the I’m OK, You’re OK program was formed.  

Currently serving approximately 20 parishioners, the telephone ministry reaches out to elderly or homebound with weekly phone calls to provide information, pray together and most of all to listen.  Through friendly conversation, ministry members update the homebound on upcoming events in the parish and answer any questions they may have. 

Seeking to lift their spirits, the ministry keeps a written call log on each parishioner with the prior week’s discussions, needs and notes in order to effectively attend to each situation with personal care.  

“They are delightful and just want to talk,” Narvaez said.  “They love to see the parish contacting them, so I make it a point to call from the rectory phone.  In this way they are able to stay connected with the church and they appreciate it very much.”  

Some are well-provided for and just want to know about the parish and to chat, while some are bedridden so their loved ones put them on speaker phone and sometimes interpret for them.  

“I love talking with them, hoping to make a difference, even if just a little. Once you become ill and find yourself having to stay home, you feel disconnected from everyone. Our goal is to keep in contact so that the homebound do not lose touch or hope. The calls provide them with such joy, and it is so satisfying to know that you put a smile on their face that day,” Narvaez said.

Another benefit of this regular communication, is that the homebound feel comfortable in expressing their needs in terms of illnesses, recent or upcoming surgeries and appointments.  Volunteers of the program and the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion help to run errands, facilitate home repairs, and deliver food for the homebound.  

“By speaking with them, we find out where they need help and assist in picking up medication, scheduling bill payments, etc.  Even if it’s a small deed that may seem menial, to the family it is large,” Narvaez said.  “During the recent water boil, they were the first ones we thought of, so we called to inform them, and then through the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and our volunteers, we were able to deliver water to them on Sundays with their holy Communion.”

St. Patrick’s ministries such as the ACTS men and women, CCD program, parish teen volunteers and schoolchildren work together to serve, including the homebound.  

“The Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are a big part of our success,” Narvaez said.  “Every month since our inception, we’ve been able to do something for the homebound, through a combination of good deeds via monetary and food donations in the parish.”

Additionally the ministry acts as a go-between to help communicate the need for priest visits for anointing of the sick and reconciliation for the homebound. St. Patrick’s also has a healing prayer group that includes the homebound in its service, and with prayer being among the greatest needs, those visited receive blessings. 

“They greatly appreciate the prayers at their time of need to help them heal,” Narvaez said. “The majority of them have given so much to the parish, and now it is their turn for us to let them know that we care.  The homebound don’t ask for help, but when you speak to them and become aware of their situation, you feel compassion.”

Narvaez points out that during the Year of Mercy, the faithful should pray and do for those in need. But it should not stop when the Year of Mercy ends, it is an ongoing need.

Some people have a lot of family support, some have none. The basic needs are the same, something as simple as having someone listen to you. It is not that people are asking for a handout, just a hand.    

“Today you called and I feel like I belong again to the church and I’m not forgotten,” a parishioner recently said to Narvaez.  

It starts at the church, where Christ is the center, Narvaez said.  People should not expect to come to church only to receive; they should also come to give.  Helping the parish stay connected is important.