Glimpses of Ministry - Haslemere

In this community there are several sick and infirm Sisters who need a lot of help, love and encouragement.This is an apostolate in itself.

Sisters Rosemary, Monica, Kieran Mary and Mary Edmund acompanied by Sisters Clarissa and Jacinta	Just as Christ cares for each of his members, so we will also care for each one of our Sisters, bearing one another's burdens. Constitutions Article 29

Holy Cross Hospital (www.holycross.org.uk/) is a hospital for the neurologically impaired. Many of the Sisters are actively involved in pastoral care by visiting the patients and their relatives, by arranging for Mass to be celebrated regularly in the Hospital, and by bringing Holy Communion to those who cannot attend Mass either in the hospital or in the parish.

Every Sunday two Sisters help a sick priest in the hospital to celebrate Mass which is attended by a few of the patients and their relatives. About five or six Sisters do pastoral visiting both in Holy Cross and in the local general hospital and some nursing homes. Four Sisters take it in turn to broadcast over the tannoy system to the patients and staff in a three minute prayer service each morning at 7.45 a.m.

The Sisters take part and help in parish functions and each Sunday they organise coffee in Shottermill Hall for a number of parishioners who attend the Sunday Mass.

The Selsey Project. Sr Mary Agnes writes:

"We purchased a holiday house by the sea in Selsey West Sussex. It has a beautiful garden and accessibility to the promenade for people in wheelchairs. Our own patients go on a daily basis the first week of each month from March to November. They are joined by a relative and cared for by a member of staff.  They enjoy the smell of home-cooked food, they go for a couple of "walks" by the sea, the relative enjoys buying fresh fish and the staff member enjoys a day out!! It is a great opportunity for the Sisters to accompany them and offer support to the relatives.The bungalow is cared for and the cooking for our patients carried out by a full time housekeeper who lives in Selsey. At other times of the year we are able to share this facility with various other organisations for people with disabilities."

 

Sr Imelda McKenna is a parish catechist, a pastoral visitor in the hospitals and sings in the parish choir