HEALTH MINISTRY

 

The goal of health ministry at Risen Christ is to enhance the quality of life for all parishioners.  The ministry facilitates holistic health care to assist parishioners to obtain optimal mental, physical, & spiritual health.  The ministry embraces a philosophy which stresses caring for the whole person (body, mind, & spirit) through education & referral to community resources. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between faith & health.

 

As such, Health Ministry provides faith-based care to the community of Risen Christ, either as population groups or on an individual basis.

 

We visit ill parishioners wherever they may be: home, assisted living, nursing facility, or in the hospital. 

 

We welcome new babies to our faith community, & offer support to new parents.

 

We offer community-wide programs & activities which support improved health in all members. 

 

We take blood pressures the 3rd Sunday of each month in the Parish Nurse Office.

 

However, we need help to accomplish our goals.  We ask the help of all parishioners in letting us know-either directly or through the Parish Office-of any parishioner who is ill, living somewhere other than their home, or any time a new baby is born. 

 

Health Ministry Goal for 2005: To help members of our community to make healthy lifestyle changes to improve their health status in body, mind, & spirit.  To that end we are planning the following:

  1. Encourage everyone to daily:
    • Drink 8 glasses of water
    • Walk 10,000 steps
    • Meditate for 15 minutes
  2. Sponsor a “Walk to Rome” via some Marian shrines
  3. Encourage the offering of healthy snacks at Coffee Hour by providing a list of ideas & recipes
  4. Encourage all parishioners to get a baseline blood pressure reading done
  5. Create a sacred space outside the church building, a healing garden

Additional activities planned for 2005:

      1.  Establish the use of the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the parish

2.      Support the Bereavement Ministry

3.      Continue : supporting the Anointing of the Sick, November Memorial Service, once a month blood pressure clinic both at Risen Christ & at Sisters’ Villa in Eagle, weekly bulletin articles

 

The second goal for 2005 is: To support those members of our faith community on an individual basis who struggle with any form of ill health, whether it be in body, mind, or spirit.