MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND Brings the Eucharist to Fellow Parishioners

We often pray as a community for the sick and the homebound, and here at Annunciation, we give those individuals the opportunity to receive Jesus even though they are unable to attend Mass. Through the Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, we share the spirit of Christ with them as well as the Body of Christ, ensuring that they are able to participate in the life of the Church.

While this ministry was active several years ago, over the past couple of years the ministry’s activity faded, primarily because ministers had difficulty getting authorization to see Catholic patients in the hospital. Although Fr. Tony still brings Communion to patients in the hospital, and parishioners who are Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist do bring Communion to the homebound, the ministry has not been officially reinstituted until now.

“Fr. Tony would like to see all that are homebound and unable to come to church be able to receive the Eucharist, and be visited by the parish,” says Mary Erickson. “That’s the goal.”

Mary, who is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, has been serving as a minister for over 10 years and has been bringing Communion to a homebound parishioner for the past two. She enjoys serving in the ministry because it allows her to help homebound parishioners stay connected with the parish and the Church.

“It helps them to know that their church cares about them and that God cares about them,” Mary says. “It’s important for them to be nourished by the Eucharist, especially when they are down and out. It keeps them connected with the parish and connected with God.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ministries like these are more important now than ever. Many parishioners don’t yet feel safe attending Mass in person or have disabilities or other reasons that do not allow them to attend. Now that the ministry is active again, it can better meet the needs of the sick and homebound.

The ministry is open to any current Extraordinary Minister, and volunteers will be trained for the job by Fr. Tony — for more information, please contact him at the parish office at 808-887-1220, or approach him at Mass. Homebound and sick parishioners are also encouraged to reach out to the parish office if they would like a visit from the pastor or a minister, and to have Communion brought to them.