Homebound Ministry

Specially-trained lay extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion bring Communion every week to parishioners who are homebound if they so desire. A priest visits upon request for Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.

Homebound parishioners also receive a weekly phone call and periodic visits.

Hospital Ministry 

Even though the archdiocese has a Catholic Chaplain Corps that provides a Catholic presence in non-Catholic hospitals in the Houston area, our lay ministers are trained to bring Communion and pray with parishioners who are in the hospital.  Priests who are part of the Catholic Chaplain Corps may be requested through the chaplain or spiritual care departments of the various hospitals.

Parishioners also are encouraged to take the year-long training program to join the Catholic Chaplain Corps as lay volunteers. As part of this archdiocesan corps they are assigned to visit patients and pray with Catholics in non-Catholic hospitals in the Texas Medical Center.  Application may be requested through the archdiocesan office by calling 713-526-6438.

Ministry to Parishioners in Residential and Long-Term-Care Facilities

Parishioners in nursing homes are visited once a week either as a group or individually for a liturgical ritual that may include Liturgy of the Word or Morning Prayer with Holy Communion.  Mass is celebrated once a month in those nursing homes that have a substantial number of parishioners.

Training for Lay Pastoral and Communion Ministry

Lay ministers receive special training for visiting parishioners in their homes, residential and long-term-care facilities, and hospitals through a special program offered periodically at St. Vincent de Paul Church.  This three-week program is composed of two-hour classes that meet once a week for three-four weeks.  The course syllabus includes such topics as "The Theological Background for Lay Ministry," "Understanding the Aging Process," " Creating a Climate of Openness and Trust," "Prayer and Scripture," "Active Listening," and "Confidentiality."  Students also are trained as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and are commissioned as such.

Those who are committed to serving in this ministry are assigned to visit one to three parishioners a week.  All are invited to perioic follow-up meetings to share their experiences and to spend time in prayer and reflection.  They learn from each other because of the varied kinds of experiences and issues they face.

What former students have said

Sharon Hahn Pisa-Relli said, as she described the love bond that developed between herself and a resident, "It is forever a gift and blessing."

Gloria Borreca said, "As we gather and pray...it is a time of calmness and peace for bothof us.  The residents always have so much to talk about and it has taught us to be good listeners.  This ministry lets the person being visited know that they are still very much a part of the church.  And they always offer prayers for us."

Anyone who is interested in serving in this ministry may obtain more information from one of these two: 
Deacon Dan Pagnano at 713-663-3540 or dpagnano@svdp-edu.org
Elaine Caldwell at 713-613-3529 or ecaldwell@svdp-edu.org

COMPASSION MINISTRY 

The Compassion Ministry offers help and support at the time of bereavement.  Pastoral staff help families with planning funeral liturgies, and volunteers provide a reception after funerals.  Cards are sent and telephone calls are made after a death in the family.

 The Compassion Ministry also plans and coordinates a "Day of Remembering" in November for all who have lost a loved one during the past year.  The Day of Remembering includes a Mass during which all the deceased for the year are mentioned by name as family members are invited to light candles in their memory.  A luncheon is served after the Mass.

Seminars on pre-arranged funeral services and grieving through the holidays are held periodically. 

PRAYER SUPPORT

Prayer Support is provided by volunteers who pray for intentions requested by fellow parishioners. Once a request is made, the team captain relays the request to all of the team members who have volunteered to prayer for such intentions.

CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME

Catholics Returning Home is a program developed by Sally L. Mews and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, designed to reach out and invite non-practicing/inactive Catholics to return "Home to the Catholic Church" and resume active practice of their faith.  The program consists of six-week series to provide updated information on the basics of Catholicism in a non-threatening, support-group format.  The sessions are informative and formational. 

OPENING DOORS

Opening Doors is for those seeking to find new relationships, peace, and/or healing after experiencing separation in marriage, divorce, loss of a loved one, or other major trauma.  Opportunity is given for learning and sharing in the Parish Library of the Monsignor Jamail Family Center every Wednesday 7-8 p.m. 

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Spiritual direction is a type of spiritual mentoring for anyone who desires to walk with another to explore God's work in his/her soul.  It provides a safe place for someone to give voice to experiences of faith and/or doubt, a place where one can obtain help from another to become more aware of how God's Holy Spirit may be working in one's life.  For more information or to make an appointment, call Elaine Caldwell at 713-663-3564 or you may email her at ecaldwell@svdp-edu.org

PARISH LIBRARY

The SVDP parish library provides written, video, and audio resources for parishioners.  Subject, author, and title indexes are being updated from a manual card catalog to a computer data base of each.  CD's and DVD's contain religious and classical music and topics related to scripture, liturgy, and faith formation.  Written material includes bibles, encyclicals by the popes, and books written by authors ranging from the early Church Fathers to present-day authors.  The library allows open access during business hours and uses the honor system for checking out and returning library materials.