By Jessica Able, Record Staff Writer
St. Stephen Martyr Church’s health ministry initiative was recognized at the national convention of the Health Ministries Association earlier this month.
The association recognized the parish’s grief ministry program, which is one part of the parish’s larger health outreach.
Kathy Gardner, a co-coordinator of the ministry, described the experience at the national convention as amazing and said it was “a little intimidating.”
“It was amazing because everyone was so supportive of our ministry. We’ve been mentoring, regionally, other faith communities, both Catholic and non-Catholic, to help them start similar programs,” she said.
Grief ministry at St. Stephen Martyr offers the traditional bereavement meal after the death of a parishioner, but it also reaches beyond that traditional service.
Members of the ministry care for folks who experience all sorts of loss, including: loss of a loved one, loss of health or independence and loss of employment.
The grief ministry team, which is led by someone trained in bereavement care, reaches out in a variety of ways.
Some members write cards at one month, six months and one year after someone loses a loved one. Other team members send care packages with cards, a rosary, prayer blanket and care notes. Another team member focuses on praying for the individual experiencing loss. A team of people visit family members at the funeral home and give them a special candle.
While the grief program reaches people at times of loss, it’s part of a larger program that also helps people maintain or improve their health.
The foundation of the parish’s health ministry is its faith-community nurse, said Gardner, who is a registered nurse. A faith-community nurse is a registered nurse — whose license is active — and serves in a leadership role of a faith community, Gardner said.
Three such nurses serve at St. Stephen Martyr — Debbie White, Mary Beth Wright and Gardner. Their ministry focuses on the promotion of wellness through prayer, education, referrals and health screenings, Gardner said.
The health and wellness ministry is vital because of the today’s health care system, Gardner noted. Faith-community nurses sometimes attend medical appointments with parishioners.
“There is a huge disconnect a patient experiences from a hospital or doctor’s office and when they get home,” Gardner said. “They come out of the hospital and out of the doctor’s office with a lot of confusion.”
Gardner said it’s only logical for the parish to help connect a doctor and patient.
“Parishes have always been the center of neighborhoods. It only seems to reason to have nurses right there in your own church community helping fill in the gap. It’s just amazing the number of people we’ve helped,” she said.
The health ministry program at St. Stephen Martyr and other Catholic parishes in the archdiocese receive support from Norton Healthcare’s Faith & Health Ministry Office. St. Stephen Martyr’s team is led by White, Wright and Gardner, all board certified registered nurses, and Terry Steinmetz, who serves as the lay ministry coordinator.
The parish, located at 2931 Pindell Avenue, will host its 13th annual Community Health & Safety Fair on Oct. 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.
There will be free massages, screenings and refreshments. Mammograms will be available by appointment. To register for a mammogram, call 899-6842.
Donations of new and used shoes, hearing aids, eyeglasses and canned goods will be accepted at the fair. There will also be an opportunity to dispose of old medication.
