There is no division in the body .... If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. - 1 Corinthians 12:25-26

The homebound/hospital ministry is a vital part of our parish community. Volunteers can help our community to follow Christ’s insistent teaching to care the infirm. The willingness to visit and/or share the Eucharist will bring a ray of hope and warmth to them and to their family. This is also a great way for them to feel the love and support of their parish family most especially in their time of need.

Here are some examples of what volunteers to the sick and the homebound/hospitalized can do:
1. Visit and pray with them. Sometimes all they need is a friend.
2. Bring them Holy Communion. Volunteers must be trained Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion)
3. Drive them to their doctor’s appointments.
4. Run errands for them such as grocery shopping and etc.
5. Mowing their lawn.

Parish and Diocesan Requirements

1. Must be a registered parishioner
2. Safe Environment Training for adults who work with vulnerable adults - This training needs to be repeated every five (5) years.

At his May 17, 2006 meeting with pastors, Bishop Robert Lynch announced that according to Florida law, the safe environment program is to be extended to those persons who minister to vulnerable adults. This includes all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) who visit the homebound and hospitalized.

This program has been designed specifically for the EMHC and/or Pastoral Care Provider (PCP) who has “unsupervised” access to people in the home, nursing home, hospital, or assisted living facility. Unlike the SEP training for those who work with children this program has as its focus those who bring communion to vulnerable adults. Those EMHCs who assist with communion only at Mass do not need to attend this program.

The content of this workshop will include the following:

• Safe environment training focusing on recognizing the various abuses to which vulnerable adults may be susceptible.
• Catechesis on Standard Health precautions.
• Catechesis on the “do” and “don’t” when bringing communion to the sick.
• Formation on the two liturgical rites of ministering communion outside of Mass: Rite 1 – Communion in Ordinary Circumstances and Rite 2 – Communion in a Hospital or Institution.

This workshop does NOT count for those who wish to minister to children! They would need to attend a separate SEP that focuses on children and youth.

3. Fingerprinting – you can register online or make an appointment with Lorna Carter in the parish office at 645-1714 to help you register online (most especially if you don’t have home internet). We have a fingerprinting machine in the parish office and other location of the machine can be found in the website when you register. Fingerprinting needs to be repeated every five (5) years.

You may visit the Diocese of Saint Petersburg website or call André Glaudé, Diocesan Safe Environment Manager at 727-344-1611 if you have any question on any of the diocesan requirements.