Parish Caring
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Ministry Programs
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: 508.842.8653Pastoral Communion Calls & Visits to Homebound, Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities
Pastoral visits by the parish priests 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 2 Masses 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, both at SNH and at St. Mary’s.
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.
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.
Kathy Canfield