Cure for isolation could be at your doorstep thanks to volunteers

Greg Egan was reading the newsletter of the Catholic Health Association of B.C. last year, when he spotted something that intrigued him.

It was an article about the CHABC’s Pastoral Care Outreach Program.

Egan, who was the Culture of Life Coordinator at Star of the Sea Parish in Surrey, called the association to get more information from executive director Bob Breen, who was keen to launch the program in a parish in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

Father Glenn Dion, pastor of Star of the Sea, gave his blessing to Egan to set the wheels in motion, and with the help of Mario Ylanan, the parish’s administrator, it came to fruition earlier this year.

Forty interested parishioners attended an information session that mapped out the ministry’s mission and its benefits to those experiencing isolation, loneliness, and disconnection from their parish community. They learned about the volunteer commitment that would be required.

Two dozen volunteers subsequently signed up for the training that took place over four Saturdays in March and April. Breen oversaw the program and invited experts to instruct and engage the volunteers, among them Cecilia Moore (pastoral care), David Chapin (spiritual care), Jo-Ann Tait (elder and palliative care), and Terry Androsky (palliative and bereavement). They wove inspirational lessons from bioethicist Sister Nuala Kenny, Catholic ethicist Father Mark Miller, CSSR, bioethicist Sister Nuala Kenny, and the writings of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, Pope Francis, and St. Teresa of Avila.

All volunteers took part in the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Safe Environment Program and underwent screening through a police records check. They had a personal interview, submitted character references, and signed a code of conduct agreement

Using the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:29-37) as the foundational truth of Catholic pastoral care outreach, the volunteers were steered through instruction on the love and healing ministry of Christ. They learned listening and communication skills, how to minister to those with mental health issues, facts and myths relating to the grieving process and its stages, and, finally, they were given practical tips for the sacred moments spent with parishioners in care homes, hospitals, or homes.

A parish mission statement was developed, stating: “The Pastoral Care Visitation Ministry supports those who experience loneliness who are in their home or a residential care facility, isolated and disconnected from the parish community.”

The volunteers work toward strengthening the parishioners’ connections with the Star of the Sea Parish community and encourage believers in their walk with Jesus, said Egan. “All who serve in the parish ministry seek to embody Gospel values of empathy, understanding, forgiveness, mercy, dignity, compassion, humility, gentleness, service, and sacrifice.”

The ministry volunteers were mandated June 23 by Father Ajin George, and a large promotional ad was placed in the bulletin to let parishioners know volunteers were eager to respond to requests for visits. 

Two coordinators were appointed to manage the program and prepared resource binders with registration and reporting forms, that include registration and reporting forms for tracking, helpful materials, a promotional postcard to distribute, and a seniors directory. The coordinators keep track of visits and follow-ups with parishioners and family members and make sure the ministry operates at a high level.

The coordinators are developing a more targeted communication plan that includes pulpit presentations at Mass, promotion in the parish bulletin, encouraging access through the parish office, a request to Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist who visit care homes to help promote the ministry, postcards at the three parish churches, and appeals to the CWL, Legion of Mary, and Knights of Columbus to spread the word.

After an intake meeting with a coordinator, parishioners are visited by a pair of volunteers who also book their next meeting and leave a reminder card with their contact information and date of the next meeting.

Egan said parish response has been encouraging and he expects the ministry to grow as people find out more about it. 

National Catholic Health Care Week is Oct. 6-12, 2019.

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