St. Benedict Cathedral Visiting Ministry: Bringing Christ to Others

It can be easy to take things for granted when you have your health. Most of us don’t give a second thought to the ease and freedom that exists in our daily choices — or at least we didn’t until this past year. And while this was a new experience for many of us, there are members of our community who have felt this loss for a long time. When someone is homebound due to age or illness, they lose much of their independence. In turn, for those who are unable to travel to Mass, they often lose their ability to be united with Christ in the Eucharist, and with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

However, here at St. Benedict Cathedral, there is a dedicated group of parishioners who serve as part of our Visiting Ministry, caring for those members of our community who are homebound or in other types of care facilities. Some group members are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, bringing the Eucharist to those unable to leave their residences, while others plan visits with our homebound parishioners just to stop in and chat. These dedicated members work hard to ensure that during their isolation, our homebound parishioners know that they are not forgotten by the Lord or their parish family.

“The Visiting Ministry is reaching out to those people who are homebound, in a nursing home, or assisted living or independent living facility — people who are not typically able to get out or are very limited in getting out,” says Sister Pat McGuire, OSB, who coordinates the ministry.

For those who are unable to connect with the parish and regularly receive the Eucharist, these visits are invaluable. Many of these parishioners attended Mass weekly — or even daily — for much of their lives.

“We say that the Eucharist is the center of our lives — the ‘Source and Summit’ — and it is very important to them,” Sr. Pat says. “Their desire to receive the Eucharist is very inspiring to see that. And I think it’s also strengthening for them, to help them deal with their situation.”

The visits help to remind our homebound parishioners that even when they are not physically present with our community, they are not alone or forgotten.

“With taking Communion to them, there is that unity, it connects them with the parish,” Sr. Pat says. “We are sent out from the parish, to let them know the parish cares about them.”

Sr. Pat has found that serving in this way has been as much a blessing in her life as she hopes it has been to those she visits.

“I’m not sure the people that we visit realize how they, too, are ministers of Christ’s presence,” Sr. Pat says. “Seeing their deep faith and wisdom, and listening to their stories — I always find their stories very inspiring and enjoyable and I think it helps them to feel recognized. In terms of the human relationship, they feed us as well.”

Sr. Pat encourages parishioners to consider serving in this ministry, ensuring that no one in our parish family is forgotten or unnecessarily isolated. Although the ministry was on pause for several months at the beginning of the pandemic, there are now occasional situations wherein the ministry can continue in a limited capacity and with precautions.

“If you have that desire to reach out to others and to be a good listener and to try to put the other person at ease, contact the parish office,” Sr. Pat says. “I hope those we visit experience a feeling of peacefulness, hopefulness or more connectedness with the parish — a feeling that they’re not alone, and a deepening of their faith.”

Melinda Sloan takes Communion to Tim Buehner, as part of the Visiting Ministry.