The Roman Catholic
ARCHDIOCESE OF KINGSTON
390 Palace Road, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 4T3
613-548-4461, fax 613-548-4744
email
last updated: April 27, 2012 03:52 PM
|
Sr. Lucy is a graduate from Athens District High School, Toronto Teachers College and Ottawa University. She has provided in-service and updating for school related subjects and participated in Religion Courses and Renewal Programs at University of Ottawa, Retreats International, Notre Dame, Indiana, Manresa, Pickering, ON, St. F.X. University, Nova Scotia. Sr. Lucy taught for 35 years including all grades from kindergarten through grade 10 within the Archdiocese and Brantford. She has been active in Archdiocesan and parish activities such as Diocesan Liturgical Commission, Western Commission of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Parish Councils and C.W.L. and Congregational Committees. Contact the Family Ministry Office at: ore@romancatholic.kingston.on.ca |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The role of the Coordinator of Family Ministry:
"Whatever the time in history, and whatever the challenges they face, families remain the foundation of society. If we lose sight of the family as our richest resource then our entire society is weakened." Vanier Institute of the Family |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
What is Family Ministry? Family Ministry is:
It is imitating a process of education which will enable the laity of the Archdiocese to minister to families. "The future of humanity passes by way of the family." "It is therefore, indispensable and urgent that every person of good will should endeavor to save and foster the values and requirements of the family." John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Development of Family Ministry The 1990 Archdiocesan Seminar on Vision and Planning established Family Ministry and Ministry to Youth as top priorities for the Archdiocese. In response to this challenge, weekend seminars and workshops relative to Family Ministry were organized. Included in these seminars were workshops in: Communication Skills, Parenting Skills, Family Prayer, Ministry to the Elderly, to Separated and Divorced, to Grieving Families, in Household Management, Coping with Unemployment and Sacramental Preparation. The diocesan campaign Together In Faith provided additional support from the Archdiocese and enabled workshops and seminars to be expanded to several localities. In May, 1993, His Grace Archbishop Spence granted permission for the forming of an Ad Hoc Committee for Family Ministry. Under the guidance and participation of this committee and the sponsorship of the Office of Religious Education, further diocesan and deanery workshops were developed. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
How Do We Serve? By Programs and Workshops
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ST. MARY'S REFUGEFamily Time Weekends The Refuge is a place where ordinary people come together in a beautiful, natural setting for respite and support. Throughout the course of your stay you'll have a chance to experience the extraordinary through the people you'll meet, the new things you'll try and by coming in contact with something infinitely larger than yourself. Are you ready for it? Contact Info:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Lifeline for Troubled Marriages
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M.O.M.S.
|
 | WOMEN who devote their time to the spiritual and physical upbringing of their children. |
| WOMEN who live with many demands on their time and energy. |
| WOMEN who need a place to receive personal and spiritual nurturing. |
M.O.M.S. IS:
| A Peer Ministry Program |
| Learn to share with other mothers the stress, concerns and positive experiences that have influenced your personal growth. |
| Experience the support of other women as you discover the depth of your spirituality. |
Are YOU:
| able to make a commitment of 2 hours/week for a 6-8 week period? |
| able to keep confidentiality? |
| able to support other mothers in their personal growth? |
| Do you have a desire for self-growth? |
OBJECTIVES:
| To gather mothers together to form a network of mutual support |
| To provide a group experience of learning, praying and ministering to each other |
| To increase awareness of community resources and provide opportunities for ministry. |
MINISTRY OF MOTHER SHARING will be led by a team
| of facilitators and topics will include... |
| Self Esteem and Self-Acceptance |
| What influences me at this time in my life? |
| Stress, Worries and Anxiety |
| Learning to deal with stress productively |
| Everyday Spirituality |
| Relationship with Self; Relationship with God |
| Feelings |
| Constructive self-expression |
| Personal Growth |
| Who am I? |
| Where do I give and receive support? |
| Expressing Values in Friendship |
| Defining Christian values, examining relationships |
| Celebration of New Beginnings |
| An evening of celebration |
| Postscript: Continuing the Journey |
| How will I continue my personal growth? |
For information on how to start this program in your parish or if you would like to receive a brochure, contact Sr. Lucy Kearney, SP, or Gorett DaSilva at the Diocesan Centre.
Parish Nursing
The role of the current parish nurse may help Christians to appreciate the role as an extension of the Church's healing ministry.
A historical perspective
The concept of Parish Nursing began in Europe. The role of a Christian deaconess in the early nineteenth century Germany from various congregations met the physical needs of the local Christians. Their role provides important historical roles for the Parish Nurse today. In the 1960’’s Rev. Granger Westburg, a Lutheran minister, in Chicago, introduced the term Parish Nursing, when he started opening holistic health centers in the churches in the mid-western area of the United States. These centers offered a whole-person approach to health through a team of a physician, pastor and nurse. The nurse served as an interpreter between the physician and the pastor. They had the knowledge from the humanities and sciences and could speak the language of both faith and medicine. They were the glue of keeping the body and soul together.Parish Nursing began spreading in Canada as early as 1992. Many nurses are currently active in this ministry. In 1998, the Salvation Army and the Catholic Health Association of Canada organized a conference call. The discussion focused on how to further parish nursing nationally as a way for the church to be involved in developing healthier communities. There have been annual conventions held in Canada since that time. At the last annual convention in May 2003, in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Ministry was given charitable status and is now a registered charity. Also, a draft for the Standards of Practice for Parish Nurses was received by the membership at this convention.
The members of Ad Hoc Committee for Parish Nursing have outlined the qualifications of a Parish Nurse. These qualifications include:
| A current certificate of competence from the College of Nurses of Ontario. |
| A Registered Nurse with 10 years nursing experience and preferably 5years of recent experience in direct patient care. |
| A course in Parish Nursing or Pastoral Health Care |
| A baptized member of the faith community who feels called to this ministry. |
OUR STORY: PARISH NURSING: A RURAL EXPERIENCE
By: Pauline Hogan
I have been employed at Kingston General Hospital as a full time Registered Nurse since 1982 where I worked as a staff nurse on a general surgery floor until 1998. During my last year on this unit I held a charge nurse position. When I became interested in Parish Nursing, I transferred to the Surgical Resource Pool to gain more experience in the different nursing specialties. My responsibilities include caring for patients in cardiology, general surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, and on occasion in Emergency and the Medical and Surgical step-down units.
In the summer of 1998, I read a notice in the Journey, from St. Francis Xavier University offering a course called "Parish Nursing." I, like many, had never heard of parish nursing. When I received the information from the University, I discovered that this was a part of the post R.N. BScN, Distance Education Program. I enrolled in the 12-week course under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Kingston.
After successfully completing the course in December 1998, I approached Fr. Ken Stitt, then Pastor of St. Patrick’s in Railton and St. Mary’s in Odessa, about starting a Parish Nurse Program for these parishes. He was very supportive and suggested I give a presentation on parish nursing at the Knights of Columbus meeting in January, 1999. As a result of the presentation, the Parish Health Council was formed. The members of the Council were a group of seven people who were already members of the health field or were just interested in the health of the parishioners. The Parish Health Council and the Parish Nurse Program came to an end following the sudden death of Fr. Stitt in June 2001.What was my role as a Parish Nurse?
Before initiating a Parish Nurse program, I had to consider the characteristics of this rural community. A small portion of its parishioners had been affiliated with the parish for generations. The community ranges from young families to the elderly. Employment opportunities were located in Kingston, business in the surrounding area, and farming. The number of parishioners increases during the summer months due to the number of summer residents located on the lakes in the area. We are privileged to have family physicians and nurse practitioners in the area, and the nearest health-care facility located in Kingston.
As a parish nurse, during this time, I had the privilege to be with people during many different events and situations. I got to know some of the parishioners well, which was a source of joy for me. The parish truly became a closer community and I truly felt the presence of God.
Besides visiting the sick of the parish, other projects of the Parish Nurse were:
| Providing monthly newsletters on health related topics |
| Holding blood pressure clinics after Mass |
| Organizing a CPR course for the parishioners |
| Initiating a walking program |
| Working closely with the Home Care Coordinators when necessary |
| Assisting the Nurse Practitioner from the Medical Clinic of Sydenham and Verona at the Flu-shot clinics. Our role at these clinics was to assist with registration. A Parish Nurse is not allowed to do any hands on nursing or do any invasive procedures; so at these clinics this is how we helped our community. During these clinics, the CWL joined the Women’s Institute in providing refreshments, and the Knights of Columbus provided transportation for the parishioners if required. |
| Collaboration with the Parish Nursing Team of Saint Mary’s Cathedral and with Sr. Lucy Kearney in the Family Ministry and the Family Life Office.The role of the Parish Health Council was to work as a team under the guidance of the Parish Nurse in these projects. They helped to organize these functions and collaborated with the CWL and the Knights of Columbus when required for these projects. |
| The Parish Health Council, along with the Parish Nurse and the parish priest held monthly meetings to discuss these projects. Any project that was to be undertaken by the Council was approved first by the parish priest. |
PARISH NURSING IN THE CITY
By: Cathy Allen
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF PARISH NURSING FOR OUR DIOCESE?
The time seems right for promoting the concept of health promotion in our faith community. There are many nurses in Ontario and across Canada who are currently active in this ministry. Focus is shifting from high-tech tertiary care to preventive care. Greater attention is being given to ways people can take charge of their own well being as individuals and in communities. Professional nursing organizations are encouraging independent and expanded roles for nurses. Lack of funding from the government has lead to new development projects in the community and new partnerships between health care institutions, agencies, and community organizations. Churches are beginning to reclaim their heritage for providing people’s health related needs- spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social and cultural.Our goals, with your support, for Parish Nursing in our diocese are:
| To educate the people of our diocese about Parish Nursing Ministry. |
| To look at ways to financially support a Parish Nurse Program in our churches. |
| To research and develop ways to educate Registered Nurses for the Parish Nursing Ministry |
PARISH NURSE PRAYER
O Thou in whose great arms
All the children of earth are embraced,
Here in Thy presence
we remember our kinship with all human kind.
We rejoice for those who are in full health and strength,
Whose ways are ways of pleasantness and peace.
Our hearts reach out toward those whose ways are ways of
suffering of body, mind or soul.
May it be that thou shall find in us reaching out to them
Not only with our hearts but with our hands also,
To help them in the bearing of their burdens,
To help them in the lifting of their burdens.
Robert French Leavens