Buy something on the Internet and Support Saint Valentine School
Buy something at your local store and Support Saint Valentine School
|
Saint Valentine ChurchBethany Health Ministry
Health Ministry Information: Bethany is our parish organization made up of women and men who visit or call shut-ins and parishioners in nursing homes monthly. Volunteers also provide transportation to doctors' appointments and other local errands. Special visits are made at Christmas and Easter with volunteers delivering flowers. Out of Bethany has grown the Bethany Health Ministry. This group has both health professionals and other non-medical volunteers. Nurses have taken blood pressures after Masses. We had two flu vaccine clinics in the fall of 1999 during which we also gave out health information. We are currently in the planning stages for our next event. Stay posted. Message from Connie McCormick, coordinator for Bethany Health Ministry: There have been several articles about the need for parish based health ministries in the Pittsburgh Catholic over the past several months. The diocese is attempting to meet the needs of Catholics who have been left out of the ever-changing field of healthcare. Now parishes are being called upon to meet those needs. The realities of health care today are challenging faith communities to become actively involved in meeting the needs of those affected by shorter hospital stays and more outpatient surgeries. Parishes are being called upon more and more to help the elderly and others living alone with transportation, personal care, respite care, grocery shopping and other supportive measures. One aspect of a health ministry is a parish nurse group. Parish nurses can aid our parishioners by talking with them, determining their needs, being good listeners, instructing them in some aspects of their care and putting them in touch with available resources. But many hands are needed to support those at home not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Volunteers are needed in every aspect of care. If you have a few hours and would like to help, please call Connie McCormick, St. Val.'s Bethany Health Ministry 412-854-5766. Mercy Hospital's Healthbag exercise program: We currently have 12 volunteers who were trained as part of Mercy Hospital's Healthbag strengthening exercise and stress reduction program for the homebound. These volunteers have been matched up with parishioners who are homebound because of frailty, illness, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, stroke etc. A nurse from Mercy's program does a preliminary visit to evaluate and explain the program to the person who expresses an interest in receiving an exercise visit. A doctor's permission is also obtained. This is a fun way to get to know a neighbor. A shut-in gets a weekly visit that lasts about an hour. The exercise program gives a structure to the visit that includes strengthening resistance exercises, deep breathing and relaxation techniques along with scripture, prayer and conversation. This re-enforces the belief that health encompasses body, mind and soul. We are always looking for more volunteers for any of these programs. Now we are looking for summer volunteers to substitute for vacationers! We have parishioners who are currently waiting for someone to visit and exercise with them! Here are other opportunities for service: Provide a Meal Program This is a new program that provides a meal to a parishioner recently home from the hospital, an elderly person in need of a home-cooked meal or other similar situations. If you would like to help or if you know someone who would benefit from a home-cooked meal call the Parish Social Ministry office 831-8312. Respite Care through Catholic Charities Catholic Charities provides training and placement of volunteers who want to relieve full-time caregivers in their own communities, so they can have some much needed time to themselves. Time commitment is 2-4 hours per week, days or evenings. Initial commitment is for 6 months after training. St. Valentine's hosted respite training by Catholic Charities on two Thursdays, March 9th and 16th, at Newman House. Volunteers included 3 from St. Val.'s. 4 other area churches were also represented. Other opportunities for training are being planned. For more information contact John Bobinski at Catholic Charities 412-456-6974 or Mimi Darragh at St. Valentine's 831-8312.
"If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 1James 2:15-16 For more information about (or to volunteer for) any of these Health Ministry programs, please Contact Saint Valentine Parish John and Connie McCormick 412-854-5766 or 412-825-2457
Page groundbreaking on Apr 05 2000 Page Count |
