JOY Ministry
St. Bede's JOY Ministry's mission is to bring the grace and healing power of the Holy Eucharist to any sick or homebound member of our parish who cannot attend Mass, either regularly or on a temporary basis. We visit weekly at private homes, the hospital and all the local retirement and nursing facilities.
Our parish is blessed with more than 65 generous, dedicated members of the JOY Ministry who attend to this task. Communicants receive the sacrament, along with prayers and a comforting short visit by the Eucharistic Minister. All ministers have been commissioned by one of our parish priests and trained to handle and distribute the Holy Eucharist with the utmost respect and within the guidelines of the church. The JOY Ministry has monthly meetings to answer questions, solve problems, and update our lists of recipients.
HOW TO RECEIVE THIS SERVICE
We have no way of knowing if we are meeting all the parish's needs, since the retirement and nursing facilities do not contact St. Bede's when a Catholic moves there or becomes homebound. It is necessary for the resident or another interested party to call and request a visit by a JOY Minister.
If you are shut in, or know of a neighbor, relative, or friend who would like to receive the blessings of the Holy Eucharist weekly, please call the Church Office at 229-3631, or Jack and Suzanne Ruff at 258-3109 (JSRUFF2@aol.com) to make quick and easy arrangements.
HOSPITAL VISITS
Our large Hospital Ministry Team visits Williamsburg Community Hospital daily Monday through Friday bringing the Holy Eucharist to the Catholics who are there.
The team member responsible for the day's visit checks with our Church Office for the status of current patients and for any recently admitted patients. The amount of time spent with each person depends on the patient's health status, but we like to chat and pray for a short time if possible.
Because the hospital does not provide the office a list of Catholic patients, relatives, or friends; the patients themselves must call the Church Office to request that the Sacrament be brought to the hospital. Call 229-3631 as soon as you are aware that someone needs this service.
HOSPICE VISITS
When Catholics are at Williamsburg Hospice House, our Hospice Team will bring the Holy Eucharist to them on a regular basis. The team member will also spend a short time visiting and praying with the patient. Call the Church Office at 229-3631 to make arrangements for this service.
HOW TO JOIN THE JOY MINISTRY
The JOY Ministry Group often needs additional people to help bring the Holy Eucharist to members of our faith community. Our Parish is growing and our current JOY Ministers are working to keep up with the demand -- but we need YOU, too.
We will train you, commission you as a Eucharist Minister, give you only as much work as you would like, and you set the hours and days of your visits to the sick and elderly. You will be surprised at how spiritually fulfilled you will feel when you become the bearer of this wonderful comfort to the homebound.
For more information, contact Jack and Suzanne Ruff at 258-3109 (JSRUFF2@aol.com)
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