Long Parish Pulpit Announcement
Sacraments for Seniors
While the social distancing and isolation of the pandemic of 2020-21 have been hard on everyone, the consequences have been especially devastating for seniors in long term care. Many seniors are struggling with emotional distress, anxiety, loneliness, depression, and other mental health issues. Worst than that–many of our seniors have been living without the Sacraments. Catholics who are denied the Sacraments of the Church have also been denied Sanctifying Grace which comes from Jesus Christ to comfort, heal, and sanctify.
The vast and deadly effects of isolation on care facility residents have been documented by studies, articles and outcries from residents, families and senior advocacy groups across America. This has led the CDC to put forth guidelines for the facilities to open their doors to visitors, and even the CDC has made the clergy part of the health care team in their guidelines. The right to practice faith is a right protected by law.
How can you make a difference? There are three concrete actions you can take.
- Request clergy offer in-house Masses or religious services at a care facility near you;
- Ask facilities to allow open door policies for clergy and pastoral care providers;
- Invite church members to visit and pray with residents.
Our challenge to each of you: reach out to one care facility in the Twin Cities to convince them to once again have Mass and the Sacraments . Imagine the impact if each of you took up this challenge. You could be saving someone’s life and, most importantly, someone’s eternal soul.
Where can you get more information?
- See the announcement in this week-end’s bulletin.
- Send an email to sacramentsforseniors@protonmail.com
If you contact a facility about the status of their spiritual practices, we would appreciate the feedback from you for our records. Together we can make a difference and be a voice for the voiceless.