Ministry Material:
Ways to Start and Maintain Care for the
Dying Ministry
Step 1 - Develop a Parish/Cluster
Plan
- Convene
a small planning group or utilize the parish council to discuss parish
or cluster outreach at the end-of-life. Questions to consider:
- How
are we presently involved with people who are critically ill?
- What
other needs might these people have?
- What
ministries can we develop to meet these needs?
- How
can we form a parish community prepared to offer outreach to the
dying and their families?
- Decide
what kinds of outreach will first be developed.
- Identify
a person or team to develop this ministry in the parish or cluster.
- Develop
a strategy for parish formation:
- Present
the theological/faith framework, grounded in Jesus’ ministry.
- Tell
stories of parishioners in need.
- Give practical examples of "living
one’s faith" through outreach ministry.
Step 2 - Identify Persons/Families
in Need of This Ministry
- Develop a network of referral
sources:
- Clergy and Parish Staff
- Pastoral Visitors/Eucharistic
Ministers
- Hospice/Home Care Agencies
- Hospital Chaplain or Discharge
Planners
- Nursing Homes/Assisted Living
Facilities/Elderly Housing
- Inform the parish about the outreach
through bulletin inserts and other forms of communication (e.g.,
post-Communion announcements, newsletter, Internet home page). Request
referrals from
parishioners.
- Inform the community through
an article in the local paper.
- Plan for a parish staff member
or volunteer to assess the needs of each person seeking end-of-life
support. Refer to community services as appropriate.
Step 3 - Plan for Volunteer
Involvement
- Create volunteer role descriptions.
Utilize a volunteer interest sheet.
- Appeal for volunteers:
- parish bulletin
- personal invitations by phone
call or letter or in person
- presentation at Mass
- parish groups (e.g., Sodality,
youth group, Bible study, Moms & Tots, Eucharistic Ministers
etc.)
- word of mouth
- other approaches
- Invite all parishioners to an
open meeting. Personally invite parishioners with certain
skills, (e.g., nurses, social workers, dieticians) or particular
life situations
(e.g.,
new retirees, previously bereaved, daily Mass attendees).
- Consult
with Archdiocesan Office of Volunteer Resources as needed.
Step 4 - Implement Care for
the Dying Ministry
- Create coordinator role descriptions.
- Select/appoint coordinators for
various kinds of outreach (meal preparation, transportation assistance,
visitation, etc.).
- Identify relationship with pastor,
pastoral staff, pastoral council and other ministries.
Step 5 - Provide Special
Training and Support for Visitation Volunteers
- Interview visitation volunteers.
- Participate in Archdiocesan Institute
for Ministry (AIM) courses or request parish training work shops
from the Office of Parish Outreach Ministries/Health Care Ministry.
- Utilize resources of the Pastoral
Visitor Project.
- Provide opportunities for support
and offer information about continuing education and spiritual
renewal.
Step 6 - Provide for Initial
Training and Orientation for All End-of-Life Volunteers
- Develop a specific parish orientation
program which emphasizes the practical, emotional and spiritual components
of this ministry.
- Develop information sheets about components
of each outreach.
- Commission ministry volunteers at a
parish liturgy.
Step 7 - Establish Procedures
- Define procedures regarding emergencies,
absences, reporting abuse, etc.
- Develop procedures for nursing home
and hospital visits.
- Establish simple record-keeping procedures.
Step 8 - Establish Groups
- As Care for the Dying Ministry expands,
consider forming groups such as: cancer support, bereavement
support, Lazarus ministry.
- Refer persons to groups sponsored by
local hospitals, agencies or nearby parishes.
Step 9 - Administer the Care
for the Dying Ministry Program
- Determine reporting structure.
- Develop information about local community
resources, agencies and materials.
- Give feedback to volunteers\;
determine ongoing commitment.
- Review outreach ministry on an annual
basis. Continue to promote it, support it, expand or alter it as
appropriate.
For further information or assistance
in beginning outreach ministry to the dying, contact Office of Parish Outreach Ministries/Health Care Ministry
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