Pastoral Care of the Sick

We take the Gospel and the Bread of Life to those who are isolated by illness, age or infirmity of any kind.

Pastoral Visitation

We reach out to each other because God has first reached out to us.

The ministry of pastoral visitation is an act of compassionate service to those in need in our communities.  It is the role of the visitor to express the care and concern of Christ to those who mourn, to evangelise those who have moved away from the Church.  In turn, this ministry renews and revitalises parish life for those involved in this ministry.

Here in New Zealand, pastoral concern for the elderly has its own priority; caregivers have particular pastoral needs as well as adults and children who suffer the effects of severe or terminal illness.  The needs of those in prison or those recovering from addiction as well as the bereaved, all lay claim to the gift of pastoral care.  

It is necessary therefore to keep in mind the need to prepare, resource and refresh those who undertake pastoral visitation on behalf of the parish, community or chaplaincy through which they minister. 

To the Visitor

In his book, You Visited Me, a Pastoral Care Companion, Fr James Lyons  shares the advice given to him on the first day of his ministry: “When you visit the sick, leave while they still want you to stay, a piece of advice that remains a key principle of his for all pastoral visitation. Below is a summary of the key guidelines that have helped him along the way.

  • Be yourself…with no other agenda than the purpose of your visit to represent the peope of God – and to bring Jesus, present as Eucharist
  • Come when you say you will come
  • Come as a listener
  • If you bring the Blessed Sacrament, remember you come as a Tabernacle
  • As you enter the house, greet it – peace to this house and all who live in it
  • As a visitor, you are a guest.  Remember that.

Resources

You Visited Me, A Pastoral Care Companion, James B Lyons, Pleroma Press NZ
Ministry of Pastoral Visitation and Ministry of Communion to the Sick, leaflets from the Office for Evangelisation, Melbourne.  Available from the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland
The Liturgical Ministry Series, Pastoral Care of the Sick and Funerals, published by Liturgy Training Publications and available from Pleroma Christian Supplies and Catholic Book Shops in each diocese.

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Communion of the Sick

"I am the living bread."

(John 6:51)

The Parish Community

Members of our parish community who become ill, are not “to be deprived of their rightful and accustomed place in the Eucharistic community” (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #73.)

Therefore, at the end of Mass each Sunday, certain ministers are sent, with a blessing, to take Holy Communion to those members too ill to attend. On behalf of the parish community they become a sign of the support and concern of Christ to those who are ill. In turn, the sick witness to their visitors by reaching out for strength and healing through their participation in the sacrament they are privileged to receive.

Ministers of Communion of the Sick

Minsters to the sick are chosen and prepared for ministry because of their particular attributes. These women and men will be faithful and active in the life of their parish, and blessed with compassion for the sick and infirm. It is important that they are able to adapt to specific requirements or changing circumstances of the sick.

Preparation

In addition to the requirements for Pastoral Visitation, those who minister communion of the sick will need:

  • to attend the Mass from where they will be sent, with
  • a pyx for the host/s and a copy of the rite of communion of the sick

It is desirable that a white cloth and candle be made available by the minister or family of the sick.

In the event of Holy Communion being taken at a different time, arrangements will need to be made with the parish priest or deputed staff for access to the tabernacle and host/s for communion.

Ministering Communion

It is important that ministers prepare beforehand, so they may lead the service in a manner that is faithful to the rite, respectful of the sick and those who have gathered to pray with them.

There are two forms to the rite, one for use at home and the other for use in institutional settings such as rest homes or hospitals. These rites are laid out in the prayer books specially prepared for use in this ministry. As with the ministry of Pastoral Visitation, fruitful celebration will depend on the ability of the minister to

  • establish warmth and rapport with the sick person and those who are present with them
  • help those present participate in preparation and celebration of the ritual 
  • adapt to the sick person’s needs for rest, meals, medication and current level of concentration

At all times, ministers are to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries of care. They are to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to avoid any danger of infection.

Resources

You Visited Me, A Pastoral Care Companion, James B Lyons, Pleroma Press NZ
Ministry of Pastoral Visitation and Ministry of Communion to the Sick, leaflets from the Office for Evangelisation, Melbourne. Available from the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland
The Liturgical Ministry Series, Pastoral Care of the Sick and Funerals, published by Liturgy Training Publications and available from Pleroma Christian Supplies and Catholic Book Shops in each diocese

Find resources from Pleroma here.

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Bereavement Support

Among the variety of ministers and ministries involved in the funeral and its preparation is that of pastoral visitation to the bereaved. The priest and members of the parish community familiar with the Christian meaning of death and the Church’s funeral rites assist the family as they grieve and make the many decisions which are needed after the death of a loved one.

Choice of Rites

The Catholic Church’s celebration of the Order of Christian Funerals is a dignified journey of days, each day with its own character and rituals.

Those who mourn are accompanied by the community and by the priest as they move through the stages immediately after death, The Prayers after Death, Prayers for Gathering in the Presence of the Body and Prayers for the transfer of the Body are stages which precede the 3-fold rite of Christian Burial – the Vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and the Rite of Committal.

Conversation which takes place with families may reflect on the way birth and death, baptisms and funerals illuminate one another and how families members may use the symbols of initiation at the funeral liturgy. This is also the time to address questions about the use of other personal symbols and requests that arise out of understandable emotions or practices in vogue at civil funeral celebrations. The Order of Christian Funerals is sensitive to “family traditions and local customs” (OCF Appendix 1, Ordo Exsequiarium 1969 Article 2), as well as signs and symbols in accord with the culture of the people. Care is taken to ensure key cultural and personal requests will find their place at appropriate places in the Funeral Liturgy or at the graveside. However not every request may be suitable for inclusion in the Catholic funeral.

The focus for pastoral care around these requests is fidelity to the Church’s desire “that funeral ceremonies for Christians will both manifest paschal faith and be true examples of the Gospel” (OCF Appendix 1 OE , 1969 article 2).

From time to time family pressure may be exerted to provide a ‘less religious’ or ‘more informal’ style of funeral. The ministry team may help the family to consider:

  • the option of the Funeral Liturgy outside Mass
  • the offering of a Mass in the parish on the same or alternative date of the funeral of the person who has died, if the funeral liturgy is held in another place
  • that priests, deacons, catechists or parish leaders be approached to take part in or lead a service in a place other than the parish church.

Careful pastoral use of the Order of Christian Funerals and the fullest possible engagement of parish and family members in the various forms of ministry, called for by the Church, surround the death of a Christian in prayerful celebration. They meet the human need to turn to God in times of crisis and assist the mourners to reaffirm their faith in Jesus, who has died and risen to new life (OCF 7).

Taken from: For Those Who Believe: Life is Changed, Not Ended National Liturgcal Policy on the Order of Christian Funerals and Guidelines for Tangihanga, New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference 2017. Copies available from the National Liturgy Office.

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