Help me brainstorm this thing

[damooster]

OK, let me give you the background first.

I’m a sponsor for a candidate at a very “progressive” parish. The Social Justice Committee at this parish is very active in, well, social justice issues. I attended a few of their meetings last year and was added to their email list. Now I get bombarded with all these emails talking about all these things that they are doing, where they need help, how the last protest went etc. They’re doing great things, but well…hold that thought…

A few months ago, the RCIA director told us about a parishioner that recently suffered a heart attack and lost a lot of movement capabilities on one side of his body. His family found a therapeutic center in Pennsylvania that showed the family how to do these exercises called “patterning.” These exercises have been very successful with other patients with the same condition, so the family decided to try it. The problem is, it takes 5 people to perform the therapy, and there are only 4 people that can do it every day. So, on behalf of the family, the priest mentioned this during the announcements at every Mass one weekend because the goal was to find 30 people that could help with the exercises for just one hour a month. When only one person stepped up to help, the RCIA director asked the class if any of us could help. I’m the only one that offered to help. So, for about 4 months now, I’ve been helping this family every Monday with their patterning exercises. For the other days of the week, the poor guy either doesn’t get his treatment, or they are able to get their 80 year old neighbor to help. I’m not going to give up because the treatments really work (he can now walk without a cane).

Which brings me back to the SJ activities of the parish. Yeah, I think what they do is great. Sending jackets to needy children in Haiti is awesome. Going to protest the local townhall meeting because of low minimum wage is awesome. But what about taking care of people at home too? The parish has all sorts of SJ outreach ministries, but not one is dedicated to helping their own parishioners and I think that’s a crime.

So, I thought about creating a ministry within this parish (and my home parish) that focuses on helping our fellow parishioners because there are no groups like this. There’s no group that the elderly can go to if the snow on their sidewalk needs to be shoveled, or if a parishioners car is in the shop and needs help getting to the grocery store.

The problem is, I’m not very smart and don’t know where to begin. So, I was hoping that some of you who may be involved in this type of ministry, or have a group like this in your parish, could bounce some ideas my way. I’d like to have a solid foundation before I go to the pastor with this proposal.

Thanks for your help.

(And, I know I unfairly blasted the SJ committee at this parish, but I’m ticked. It amazes me that they can find the time to go sit-in and protest something, but they can’t help their own parishioner for one hour a month).

 

[mfj]

How much greater would Christ look to others?
Sorry I haven’t the ideas you seek. I just thought I’d say I symphathize with your thoughts.
But if you look close, it seems different parishes have different (gifts)priorities. St Ferdinands in Flourisant, Mo. USA has a great care ministry, yet like 99% of the rest does very very little evangelization or SJ.
My one suggestion is look into the KCs they do Social Ministries.

 

[momor]

OK, let me give you the background first.

I’m a sponsor for a candidate at a very “progressive” parish. The Social Justice Committee at this parish is very active in, well, social justice issues. I attended a few of their meetings last year and was added to their email list. Now I get bombarded with all these emails talking about all these things that they are doing, where they need help, how the last protest went etc. They’re doing great things, but well…hold that thought…

A few months ago, the RCIA director told us about a parishioner that recently suffered a heart attack and lost a lot of movement capabilities on one side of his body. His family found a therapeutic center in Pennsylvania that showed the family how to do these exercises called “patterning.” These exercises have been very successful with other patients with the same condition, so the family decided to try it. The problem is, it takes 5 people to perform the therapy, and there are only 4 people that can do it every day. So, on behalf of the family, the priest mentioned this during the announcements at every Mass one weekend because the goal was to find 30 people that could help with the exercises for just one hour a month. When only one person stepped up to help, the RCIA director asked the class if any of us could help. I’m the only one that offered to help. So, for about 4 months now, I’ve been helping this family every Monday with their patterning exercises. For the other days of the week, the poor guy either doesn’t get his treatment, or they are able to get their 80 year old neighbor to help. I’m not going to give up because the treatments really work (he can now walk without a cane).

Which brings me back to the SJ activities of the parish. Yeah, I think what they do is great. Sending jackets to needy children in Haiti is awesome. Going to protest the local townhall meeting because of low minimum wage is awesome. But what about taking care of people at home too? The parish has all sorts of SJ outreach ministries, but not one is dedicated to helping their own parishioners and I think that’s a crime.

So, I thought about creating a ministry within this parish (and my home parish) that focuses on helping our fellow parishioners because there are no groups like this. There’s no group that the elderly can go to if the snow on their sidewalk needs to be shoveled, or if a parishioners car is in the shop and needs help getting to the grocery store.

The problem is, I’m not very smart and don’t know where to begin. So, I was hoping that some of you who may be involved in this type of ministry, or have a group like this in your parish, could bounce some ideas my way. I’d like to have a solid foundation before I go to the pastor with this proposal.

Thanks for your help.

(And, I know I unfairly blasted the SJ committee at this parish, but I’m ticked. It amazes me that they can find the time to go sit-in and protest something, but they can’t help their own parishioner for one hour a month).

Does your parish have a health ministry (often headed by an RN) or a ministry to the homebound as a place to start? It might be easier than trying to start something completely new.

As an RN I am wondering why there is no insurance coverage to provide for this therapy?

 

[lizaanne]

Is anyone there concerned about saving SOULS? What sort of spiritual activity do they have? How many times to these groups get together to pray? Do you have just as active a group of Adoration people? Do you have a team of EMHCs taking the Eucharist to the homebound? How about visiting those in hospital or nursing homes and reading the Bible to them?

It’s all wonderful and great and needed to do the social justice thang - but ONLY if you have a strong spiritual foundation FIRST. We are all called to corporal acts of mercy - absolutely. But never ever at the expense of our souls or the souls of others.

If we are not spiritually health - having warm coats and food on the table will only get us out the door and down the street. It won’t get us to heaven.

Just make sure you have a balance - that’s all I’m saying.

~Liza

 

[aspirant]

Which brings me back to the SJ activities of the parish. Yeah, I think what they do is great. Sending jackets to needy children in Haiti is awesome. Going to protest the local townhall meeting because of low minimum wage is awesome. But what about taking care of people at home too? The parish has all sorts of SJ outreach ministries, but not one is dedicated to helping their own parishioners and I think that’s a crime.

So, I thought about creating a ministry within this parish (and my home parish) that focuses on helping our fellow parishioners because there are no groups like this.

I think that if you take this to the right people and describe what you have in mind, especially providing the therapy example, you’ll probably find folks happy to help!

 

[damooster]

Does your parish have a health ministry (often headed by an RN) or a ministry to the homebound as a place to start? It might be easier than trying to start something completely new.

This parish does not have a group like that.

As an RN I am wondering why there is no insurance coverage to provide for this therapy?

They were told that he had no chance of recovery and therefore rehabilitation would not be covered or something like that. They pay for the treatments in Philly out of pocket.

 

[damooster]

Is anyone there concerned about saving SOULS? What sort of spiritual activity do they have? How many times to these groups get together to pray? Do you have just as active a group of Adoration people? Do you have a team of EMHCs taking the Eucharist to the homebound? How about visiting those in hospital or nursing homes and reading the Bible to them?

It’s all wonderful and great and needed to do the social justice thang - but ONLY if you have a strong spiritual foundation FIRST. We are all called to corporal acts of mercy - absolutely. But never ever at the expense of our souls or the souls of others.

If we are not spiritually health - having warm coats and food on the table will only get us out the door and down the street. It won’t get us to heaven.

Just make sure you have a balance - that’s all I’m saying.

~Liza

I could not agree with you more. Unfortunately, this parish does not have anything remotely like this. Like I said, it is an extremely liberal/progressive parish and they spend all of their time watching films/documentaries and protesting.

 

[damooster]

I think that if you take this to the right people and describe what you have in mind, especially providing the therapy example, you’ll probably find folks happy to help!

I hope you’re right!

 

[lizaanne]

I could not agree with you more. Unfortunately, this parish does not have anything remotely like this. Like I said, it is an extremely liberal/progressive parish and they spend all of their time watching films/documentaries and protesting.

Then maybe THAT is where you need to focus your time - trying to bring souls to Christ. It seems like all the other stuff is pretty much covered.

~Liza

 

[damooster]

Then maybe THAT is where you need to focus your time - trying to bring souls to Christ. It seems like all the other stuff is pretty much covered.

~Liza

Liza, I really, truly appreciate where you’re coming from but I’m asking for help with a specific ministry that I’m feeling called to. I didn’t ask you guys for (name removed by moderator)ut on how I should spend my time, I’m looking for ideas about this specific ministry.

Leading souls to Christ is most important, and I do invite people to join me in Eucharistic Adoration, Respect Life Masses, praying the Rosary in front of the abortion clinic etc. But I am looking for ideas for a specific ministry that is not “pretty much covered.” There are no committee’s or groups that are doing what I’m talking about.

Again, I see where you’re coming from but you’re detracting from the original point of my thread.

 

[kage_ar]

At my parish, these things would fall to the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The SSVDP requires that we balance the spiritual side with the corporal works of mercy.

You may want to look at starting a Society!

 

[damooster]

At my parish, these things would fall to the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The SSVDP requires that we balance the spiritual side with the corporal works of mercy.

You may want to look at starting a Society!

Cool, I will look in to this. Thanks!

 

[catholic-rcia]

I do not have time to read all of the postings, so forgive me if I repeat a thought or a good deed…

You need to start helping one person with yourself through Christ. When the selfishness starts to enter in, when you look behind your back for help, pray for this to go away. When no one else seems interested in your worthy cause pray for helpers, pray for patience. . If this does not occur immediately pray not to get bitter and continue helping this one person. When you want to look for a way out pray for compassion. Pray, pray and pray more and if your still around helping this one person, all the demands etc… Your Ministry has become one of the most meaningful and successful ministries within the whole church, if you have any doubts at all, just ask that one person.

In Christ
Rich
www.utahmission.com

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

In my parish we had a family that had triplets. The mother was on total bed rest before the babies were born, and after they came (and after her husband had to return to work) she needed help in caring for three babies at once.

We were able to get a lot of help from parishioners but it also took a certain amount of effort. We had announcements at Mass (and not just one Sunday), there were announcements in the bulletin, and we had information on the parish web site. All of those things attracted some people. I think what attracted many more people was having the people who had signed up and were dedicated to helping this family talk to others in the parish and recruit them. In some cases people signed up for a regular slot once a week and in other cases they said they could come one time.

Some people may have considered this a social justice ministry and others may have considered it pro-life. But mostly I think people felt good that the parish could come together to help a family in need.

In terms of helping your particular person, have you talked with young adults in the parish (assuming you have a young adult group)? They’re often idealistic and willing to help. Do high school students in the confirmation program need to do service activities? How about recruiting them to help an individual rather than an organization?

 

[Catholic1954]

This sounds like the kind of service projects the High School Confirmation Class or maybe the Boy Scouts (if your parish has a troop) would be interested in performing. You could get a list of other organizations in your parish and contact some other groups. You might have some luck in combining resources with nearby parishes

 

[Arianna09]

We actually have something like this at our parish. It is geared towards driving the elderly without cars to doctor appointments (mainly elderly with low incomes that cannot hire someone to drive them). What happens is the lady who runs it gets a list of phone numbers from anyone interested. You don’t sign up for times. She calls down the list when she gets a request from someone…until she finds someone to do it, or she does it herself.
Maybe you should talk with the priest…see if he can weave it into a homily or something. Let him know your concerns (and if he is elderly, he may really see how this could benefit others).
I think the lady at our parish started it up herself. She was the only one and gradually it grew. Patience and prayer!
Oh, and helping them spiritually…when you are with them (helping the physically) you can either try and talk to them about religion, pray with them…or just pray for them! Some people just are not open to talking/praying with others…but you still can ask God to help them!

 

[danlaupat]

This parish does not have a group like that.

They were told that he had no chance of recovery and therefore rehabilitation would not be covered or something like that. They pay for the treatments in Philly out of pocket.

As a Director of Rehabilitation at a hospital , I wanted to comment on this, keeping in mind we know little about this person. There is no research to support the effectiveness of patterning, and I would not waste people’s time doing such a procedure on anyone. Patterning was developed, I believe, in the 50’s, and never went anywhere because of it’s lack of efficacy. My mom and aunt used to do patterning in the 60’s with a teenager with cerebral palsy, back when it was in vogue. You hear about it once in a while now, but it has fallen out of favor. There are far better, scientifically sound treatment methods nowadays.

Instead, I would contact the local public health department’s home health agency and see if they provide free home-based physical and occupational therapy. Usually county public health agencies will provide home therapy services free of charge for people who cannot afford to pay, provided the person is homebound. Another option to get this person better care is to contact the local hospital and apply for financial assistance. This person may be able to come as an outpatient for free or low-cost physical therapy. Also, if this person is permanently disabled, they may be able to apply for Medicare (if under age 65).

 

[qui_est_ce]

Does your parish have a health ministry (often headed by an RN) or a ministry to the homebound as a place to start? It might be easier than trying to start something completely new.

As an RN I am wondering why there is no insurance coverage to provide for this therapy?

Parish Health Ministry is the way to go. We just started won a few years ago and it is very successful. It is head by an RN. The Archdiocese will help train the RN as to how to accomplish this ministry. They also get grants to run the program.

 

[damooster]

As a Director of Rehabilitation at a hospital , I wanted to comment on this, keeping in mind we know little about this person. There is no research to support the effectiveness of patterning, and I would not waste people’s time doing such a procedure on anyone. Patterning was developed, I believe, in the 50’s, and never went anywhere because of it’s lack of efficacy. My mom and aunt used to do patterning in the 60’s with a teenager with cerebral palsy, back when it was in vogue. You hear about it once in a while now, but it has fallen out of favor. There are far better, scientifically sound treatment methods nowadays.

Instead, I would contact the local public health department’s home health agency and see if they provide free home-based physical and occupational therapy. Usually county public health agencies will provide home therapy services free of charge for people who cannot afford to pay, provided the person is homebound. Another option to get this person better care is to contact the local hospital and apply for financial assistance. This person may be able to come as an outpatient for free or low-cost physical therapy. Also, if this person is permanently disabled, they may be able to apply for Medicare (if under age 65).

I sincerely appreciate your professional opinion, but the family swears by it and there have been noticeable improvements. When he first started, he could not walk without the assistance of another person and a cane. Now he’s walking on his own. There are other improvements, but you get the idea.

The other volunteer happens to be a physical therapist and she also swears by it. I think she’s going to accompany them to Philly next month.

 

[momor]

I sincerely appreciate your professional opinion, but the family swears by it and there have been noticeable improvements. When he first started, he could not walk without the assistance of another person and a cane. Now he’s walking on his own. There are other improvements, but you get the idea.

The other volunteer happens to be a physical therapist and she also swears by it. I think she’s going to accompany them to Philly next month.

Let me add a comment as someone who has a lot of professional experience with Medicare and other health insurance benefits. The fact that he is making progress with his physical abilities should qualify him for insurance coverage for standard physical therapy which would take a lot of pressure off of the family and reduce the need for volunteers. I believe you stated earlier that he was denied insurance coverage for rehab because they didn’t think he was able to be helped. Perhaps the family should contact his insurance co. again.