I go with a group that weekly visits a nursing home and prays the rosary. We usually get about 20 residents joining us. And they can be in all states of mental awareness. Someone brings the eucharist and distributes communion. Several of the people who pray the rosary with us are nonCatholics. We don’t give them communion. I almost always agree to not give communion to nonCatholics. But in this case I wish we could.
Have you ever been to a nursing home? Two hours is draining for me. I admire those people who work there 8 hours a day. Even if it is the only job they can get. I don’t know how they can handle it. Keep them in your prayers.
I work in a nursing home, and have volunteered for my parish to lead Communion services at a local nursing home. I understand exactly what you are talking about, sometimes I really wish I could allow “all” to receive- I just think of the grace that these poor tortured souls are missing out on, and it makes me sad. I know I can’t, so I just make sure I pray an extra prayer for the non-Catholics.
We have nearly 100 care facilities in my county alone, and the need is great. Thank you so much for sharing your time with these often forgotten people. For most of the people in my facility, the lay people who come to bring Communion are the only contact they have with the Church.
It’s so sad, these people were very active when they were younger and the parishes were vibrant, and now they are lucky if we can get a priest for an Annointing before they die.
Forget about ever having a Mass!
Saint Francis Acadamy is about a half mile away. I would think it might be a good experience for priests and students to go there. On the other hand, Misericordia (Francican Sisters) is next door to the Acadamy and maybe they visit there. It has crossed my mind but I never inquired about it.
While the town of Wheaton is know for Wheaton College the town was founded by Franciscans.
Thanks for your work at the nursing home. Don’t know how you do it.
Wondrousgnat: I am confused about which set of people you would like to be able to give Communion to the patients or the workers? I am just wondering.
Even before I became a Catholic I was shocked that the Catholic residents in my mother’s “retirement community” wouldn’t be able to go to Mass. The “community” has a Protestant affiliation and at times they would have a Mass held there but the staff and some of the residents made it difficult to have one. It is a sad situation.
I think it is a good thing that some of us are giving communion to the residents. But I also would like to see the priests and Catholics from the high school around the corner to visit. I think it would be a good experience for them. For that matter they might actually come at some other time that I don’t know about.
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