Responding with compassion to those who are sick is a universal Gospel mandate. We hear a Gospel passage from Mark this weekend in which the disciples are given authority, by Jesus, to address evil, be compassionate to (anoint) the sick and to cure. From this mandate and many other scripture stories, we hear of and are inspired by the healing aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ. In the spirit of His compassion, our Catholic Church all over the world trains and commissions ministers to visit the sick, bring them Communion, pray with them. Then, in cases of serious Illness, they notify priests who may help people heal through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and anoint them with the Oil of the Infirmed (one of the three oils housed in the ambry in a central place in EVERY Catholic Church in the world) in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Here at Holy Family the ambry is located in the center aisle near the Baptismal Font, opposite the large Paschal Candle.
Each parish has slightly different procedures to reach out to the sick, but all are designed to prayerfully and reverently pray with and assist people who are sick and, often, their loved ones. We here at Holy Family are blessed many Ministers of Care who are well trained and prayerfully visit hospitals, nursing homes, senior living centers, assisted living facilities and individual homes where people may be living who cannot come to church.
As we say at the beginning of each Mass, “We are in this TOGETHER.” When THIS is ministering to the sick, please consider how we can work together. First of all, if any loved one, family member or friend is ill and needs a pastoral visit, please call Mimi Ferlita at 847-907-3425 and let us know the details of your loved one’s situation. In order to minister to those who can’t attend church in the MOST compassionate way, friends of someone who is ill or homebound can also call us with the same information. Often illness brings on some anxiety and stress, so immediate family members may overlook the importance of notifying us.
Often a time of illness can bring on a desire to return or reconnect with the church or with one’s faith. Sharing basic information about the sick can help us to help others. In addition, regular visits with Communion often facilitate some basic information sharing about other parish resources and programs that may be of assistance.
Please call us when a loved one is sick so we can send a Minister of Care to visit. Please let us know of someone you know who is sick and may need a visit, but perhaps has limited or no family to help.
RCIA
We often refer to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) ministry here at Holy Family “Footsteps,” because it certainly is a journey for Candidates (those baptized in another Christian denomination besides Catholicism, or those baptized as Catholics who have not received First Communion or Confirmation) and Catechumens (those never baptized). The RCIA is the oldest form of teaching in all of Christianity and it is, in many ways, the best of adult education. These Candidates and Catechumens meet regularly, along with their sponsors and our Footsteps Team to learn about the Catholic Church. At the same time, a bond of unity always forms as these people share their stories and learn about their faith in an adult manner.
The first phase of the RCIA process, which begins in September, always involves basic learning about Catholicism. Once adults get more basic information about our faith, they are free to continue or not, based on what they have learned. In other words, with more information about the Catholic Church they can make an informed adult decision about whether they wish to continue and ultimately be welcomed into the Church in an official capacity. During the Easter Vigil, they complete their initiation by receiving, either that night or prior to it, Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.
I invite all of you to encourage any family member, friend, acquaintance or loved one who may be interested in learning more about and perhaps becoming Catholic to please contact Bonnie Rooney at 847-977-4715.
There will be an information gathering at the Knights Café for anyone interested in becoming Catholic following the 9:00am Mass on Sunday, August 26. Start thinking now of someone who you want to invite to that gathering.
Don’t forget the Illinois Tax Credit incentive as a way to donate to Catholic Education. Six Holy Family Catholic Academy students received assistance last year. 25 of our students are eligible to receive assistance this coming year. Please go to mytax.illinois.gov for more information.