Health & Bereavement

Jean Marie Carey, Chair
Dr. Rudolf Utzschneider
Dr. Robert Blute, Sr.
Joyce Bellerose
Pam Cawley
Terry Lunt

The Health and Bereavement Ministry provides a link between the needs of the whole person, body, mind, and spirit, with resources of the church and entire community, supported by a core of all-important volunteers. The Parish Health Advisory Council, made up of parishioners with a focus or interest in health, provides support to the Parish Nurse and assistance in developing new programs.

Ministry Programs

Parish Nurse Program

The program links the needs of the whole person and the resources of the church and the community. Click here for more information.

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341

St. Mary's Telephone Connection

Parishioners who may be homebound or feel somewhat isolated from the parish are called once or twice a month by a parish volunteer to engage in uplifting conversation. Discussions may include personal, parish and town happenings, and offer a way to replace lonliness with healthy connections springing from our common interests. Usually, the same person will be calling participants each month, resulting in new friendships based in our shared faith in Jesus Christ. Any parishioner who would like to receive these personal calls should contact our Parish Nurse in the Health Ministry office.

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341

Bereavement Aftercare & Support

Supporting those experiencing the loss of a loved one through:

• Mailings. Customized letters and inspirational insertions to families of deceased parishioners over the first year following death @ 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 & 12 month anniversaries, as well as special mailings for dealing with grief during the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year) as well as Lenten/Easter messages.
• Annual Mass of Remembrance. In November, commemorates those who died since last November 1, followed by breakfast sponsored by Britton Funeral Homes and served by volunteers who decorate the church, the hall, and produce beautiful worship aids and commemorative altar cards with the names of deceased parishioners. (Liturgy Committee involvement).
• One-on-One Grief Consultation. Consultation is available to any parishioner experiencing loss of loved one, or families of parishioners, and even those in the greater community. Not infrequently, the parish nurse communicates by phone with family members living in states all over the country.

Bereavement Support Groups

St. Mary’s offers a 12-week “closed” support group for grieving individuals from within and outside our parish boundaries, following the model known as “companioning” and texts developed by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, renowned author, educator and grief counselor. Participants are guided through a specific agenda providing insights into understanding their grief in order to guide them toward healing and acceptance, as well as encouraging the development of “grief buddies” resulting from relationships forged within the “closed” group.

Note: A “closed” support group limits participants to the group that develops within the first two sessions in order to facilitate a logical progression in moving onward toward healing. Anyone wishing to join the group after the 2nd session are managed in a number of ways - one-on-one meetings with parish nurse and/or priests until the next group is formed, referrals to other support groups, counselors, psychologists/ psychiatrists as needed. “Open” support groups provide another option, but differ from a “closed” group by continually adding and dropping participants. Anyone interested in learning more about our Bereavement Support Groups should contact Viola Jefferson, Parish Nurse, in the Health Ministry office.

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341 
Corinne Hetzler: 508.842.2449

Education Programs

Development of education on a variety of health issues, including:

• CPR classes for health professionals and non-medical persons (Heartsavers)
• End-of-life issues within the context of our faith – health care proxy; what I’d like my family and physicians to know; how I want to be treated if I can’t speak for myself, etc.
• Cancer prevention health tips
• Heart health
• Diabetes education
• Alzheimer’s and other dementias

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341

Health Ministers

Health ministers may provide brief breaks (less than 2 hours) for caregivers as well as perform errands.  They do not, however, perform any personal physical care.   Health ministers may also drive parishioners to church services or local appointments. Volunteers are needed.    

Vi Jefferson: 508.925.7647

St. Mary Prayer Shawl Ministry

St. Mary's Prayer Shawl Ministry meets monthly to knit and pray over our shawls.  Shawls are distributed by request to bring comfort to those who are ill or bereaved. Shawls may be requested by calling Deborah Koziara. New members are always welcome to join us. We meet on the first Saturday of the month @ 10:30 AM in Mary's Room of the Pastoral Center.

Deborah Koziara:   508.842.8653

Pastoral Communion Calls & Visits to Homebound, Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities

Pastoral visits by the parish priests and parish nurse to bring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to parishioners no longer able to worship with us at St. Mary’s and maintain the connection between them and their parish family. In addition, St. Mary’s serves all Catholic residents @ Shrewsbury Nursing Home with 1 Mass and 2 Communion Services per month, and with a monthly Mass at Shrewsbury Crossings. A parish volunteer also leads a monthly recitation of the Rosary at both facilities, as well. Service offering Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) is also offered by the parish priests, assisted by the parish nurse, both at SNH and at St. Mary’s. On Ash Wednesday, the Parish Nurse distributes ashes to those a Shrewsbury Nursing Home, as well.

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341

Outreach to Parish Homebound, those in Nursing Homes & Assisted Living & Family Caregivers

Taking our call from Mathew 25, we reach out to fill the needs for parishioners’ special needs:

• Friendly visitors to bring God’s love through presence and words
• Eucharistic Ministers to bring Communion
• Establishing caring relationships
• Running errands/shopping/picking up prescriptions/driving to appointments
• Reading to sight impaired
• Preparing and/or delivering a meal for a special need
• Offering support and/or respite for family care-givers
• Spring or fall yard work/minor home repairs
• Other needs shown to us by God.

Note: Autumn leaf raking coordinated between parish nurse who identifies those needing assistance and available volunteers.

Tea & Mother Teresa

Based on the Christian call to see Jesus in one another and to be Jesus to one another, and using Mother Teresa of Calcutta as our model, we invite the nearly-homebound parishioners together to renew old friendships, make new friendships, enjoy fellowship and a light lunch, hear inspirational messages from the example of Mother Teresa’s life and writings, all within the comfortable setting of their parish. Using seasonal decorations, we serve tea sandwiches and pastries, with a variety of teas coffee, and cold drinks, and provide transportation by way of many volunteers.

Note: Our guests arrive “dressed to the nines” wearing their finest fashions crowned by a big smile!

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341

St. Mary’s Angels

Our “Angels” who are students from our Religious Education Program, support and encourage parishioners who are homebound, in nursing homes or assisted living facilities by sending a hand-written message. As the “Angels” write each note, they pray for the recipient and form a true spiritual bond. The monthly message is developed by the parish nurse, who also provides a monthly updated list of recipients.

Vi Jefferson: 508.845.6341