Volunteer
Interested in volunteering with us?
Please email us at sacramentsforseniors@protonmail.com
There are several ways you can help.
- Prayer – Vitally important in this work. There are real spiritual battles going on for the souls of these dear ones. Sign up to receive specific requests for getting the Sacraments into senior facilities.
- Call Parishes – Would you be willing to call just 3 parishes in your area to ask them to include an announcement in their bulletin?
- Call Facilities – We are in need of friendly, caring people to survey facilities to gather information on the Sacramental needs of their residents, then contact the local parish to locate a priest to serve them. Phone scripts are available. Occasionally, in person visits to facilities are warranted.
- Transport Volunteers – Some facilities could use hands on help to transport wheelchair-bound residents to the Mass.
Please reach out to us for more information on volunteer opportunities.
Power of Prayer
A “boots on the ground” prayer warrior employed at an area nursing home had been faithfully praying to get the Sacraments back into the nursing home where she works. During the COVID lockdowns in 2020, all religious activities were curtailed. No more Mass, Rosary prayer, or visits from Eucharistic ministers were happening. In prayer, God revealed to Rachel (not her real name) that He had sent her to this facility to work prior to COVID to be an advocate for the residents to receive the Sacraments. In October of 2020 around the time of the feast day of St. Therese’s she started praying a novena to get the Mass back at the nursing home.
Rachel remembers one Catholic resident in particular who was affected by the absence of the Sacraments. Jeffery (not his real name) liked to share his Catholic faith through sacred images and art on his door. He was prone to depression, especially when challenged about having these objects on his door. He felt persecuted for his faith. Rachel tried to bring encouragement for the residents by doing things like turning the the television to EWTN. She also brought some scapulars to residents who asked for them.
While Rachel patiently kept praying she was encouraged by St. John Bosco who said, “We pray and wait.” During this time she went through her own struggle to keep her job due to her conscientious objection to the COVID vaccine. God preserved her through the ups and downs of the process and enabled her to keep job after having her religious exemption approved.
In the meantime, Sacraments for Seniors volunteers were in contact with the facility. One volunteer had also contacted the local parish to get a priest to come. The parish did not have a priest with time available but were able to find one at another nearby parish. This dear priest submitted to all the volunteer application requirements including providing a religious exemption from obtaining the vaccine and was approved to come offer the Mass but encountered other road blocks with the facility’s requirements. It took prayer, patience, phone calls, a visit when finally, after months of waiting, the priest emailed us and said our prayers had been answered and the facility was again ready to open their doors to him to come in. Praised be Jesus! Prayer is vital to this work.
“Mass Transit” Needed
This story illustrates the need for volunteer advocates to transport wheelchair bound residents to the Mass being offered in facilities, especially in non-Catholic facilities where Mass is infrequently offered. Ed (not his real name) found himself, like so many elderly Americans, in a nursing home. Aging and sickness had made this once independent man dependent on others to even get from one place to another within the facility. Ed missed his former life where he was free to move about as he pleased. He greatly missed being able to practice his Catholic faith. The COVID lockdowns and being in a non-denominational facility may have contributed to his inability to access the Sacraments. Finally, the day came when it had been advertised that a Catholic Mass would be celebrated in the common room. Ed looked forward to once again hearing the familiar words of the priest as he consecrated bread and wine into Christ’s Body and Blood. Unfortunately, on the day of the Mass, Ed waited in his room to be transported to the common room, but no one came. The overworked staff were busy taking care of other residents urgent bodily needs, preventing them from having time to transport Ed to the Mass. The disappointment that he experienced was so great that when staff finally came to get him up, he refused and stayed in bed that whole day. If caring volunteers had been available to check on and transport residents to Mass, Ed could have made it in time.
Please reach out to us for more information on volunteer opportunities.