"Blessed are they who mourn; they shall be consoled" Mt. 5:3
The spiritual health of a parish is directly proportional to the ways in which it reaches out to those in need. The primary mission of this ministry is to offer compassion and support through the serving of a meal following the funeral Mass to those who grieve a loved one. Members of this committee can serve in numerous ways: provide food for the meal, assist in telephoning for donations, or assist in preparing, serving, and cleaning up after the meal. Teams of 6 to 7 people are called upon to serve at each funeral. Due to the brief period of time between the death of a person and the funeral Mass, people in this ministry should be prepared to serve on short notice. Depending on the number of deaths in a year's time, teams will serve only a few times a year.
We also offer Grief Support groups to help who have suffered the loss of a loved one through this difficult time in their lives.
Phone Callers: Names and phone numbers of willing parishioners are provided to the phone callers who request food donations for the meals.
Team Leaders: Team Leaders are responsible for coordinating the Bereavement meals. They contact the calling team, put together a team from the list of volunteers, purchase non-donated food items, and oversee the preparation, serving and clean up of the meal.
Donating Food: If you would like to contribute towards the meal, your name will be placed on a rotating schedule.
Cooking/Baking: Some items are prepared at home and brought to the church the day of the funeral. Sometimes meals are prepared either in Brennan Auditorium or the PAC the day of the funeral using donated ingredients.
Set-up & Serving the Meal: Prior to the meal, tables are decorated and serving stations set up. Following the Funeral Mass, the Meal is served to the family and friends of the deceased.
Clean Up: After the guests leave, everything must be cleaned and put away.
Support Group: As we carefully expand our grief support network, we will need additional facilitators who have experienced loss in their own lives and can help others through their grieving.
Our parish will be happy to bring communion to those who are homebound. Please notify the church office. All Austin hospitals provide pastoral care for the spiritual needs of their patients. In emergencies when the parish priest is not available, the hospital will assist in contacting a priest for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Our parish always wants to know when one of our parishioners has been hospitalized so that we are able to pray for their needs and to stop in to visit. If appropriate, the sick person, and/or the family, may want to invite a parish staff person to help plan the funeral liturgy. This can be a very healing and loving experience.
"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Words spoken by an angel to Mary Magdalene
Please notify the church as soon as possible. Our parish would like to reach out to you and to your family. Our parish will assist you in planning a beautiful Christian funeral and burial. We will work with the funeral home and your family in setting up dates and times for the funeral Rites and reception of family and friends. Our parish Bereavement ministry will provide a meal for family and friends following the funeral liturgy if requested.
| Contact: | Sue Stremel
258-1161 ext. 225 |