Healing Ministries are designed for reaching out to parishioners in need. Read below to see the organizations which fall under this ministry.

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is for anyone who is seriously ill (undergoing surgery, chronic or lifethreatening illness, change in health condition). Our priests are available to administer the Sacrament whenever needed. Also, three healing Masses will be scheduled during the year. Please watch the weekly bulletin for those dates. Please contact the parish office at 614-761-3734 for information on the Sacrament.

Bereavement Luncheon Committee

A group of volunteers prepares and serves a hot meal for the families of parishioners whose funeral is celebrated at St. Brigid of Kildare Parish. In addition to those who serve, many volunteers are needed to prepare food, side dishes, salads and desserts and drop them off in Hendricks Hall the morning of the funeral.

Funeral Planning

When a parishioner dies, the priest who will be celebrating the funeral and the Minister to the Sick and Bereaved meet with family members to offer care and support and to plan the funeral liturgy. Family members are encouraged to participate in the liturgy in a variety of ways—placing the pall, doing the readings and bringing up the gifts. Many times parishioners choose to preplan their funerals. Kim VanHuffel, pastoral associate, is available to meet with them and guide them in their planning. If they wish, parishioners’ plans can be filed at the parish office. In addition, if parishioners have questions regarding the Church Rites at the time of death, or if they would like help preparing funerals for relatives who live elsewhere, Kim is available to meet with them and offer advice. For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at 614-761-3734 or kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Ministry to the Bereaved

The Minister to the Sick and Bereaved (Kim VanHuffel), as well as the priests and deacons of the parish, are available to meet with anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. In addition to conversation and prayer support, written materials for moving through the journey of grief will be shared. In the fall and again during the season of Lent, six week grief support groups are offered for parishioners and family members who are grieving. Often in sharing our grief we find God’s healing and peace. For more information, contact Kim VanHuffel at 614-761-3734 or kvanhuffel@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Parish Prayer Book

The Parish Prayer Book is located in the gathering area of the Church. All are invited to ask your parish family to join you in praying for your special intentions by writing them in the Prayer Book, found on the table near the choir entrance.

Prayer Chain

Members of the prayer chain receive e-mails regarding specific intentions that parishioners have asked to have remembered in prayer. Prayer requests can be made by contacting Karen Cremeans at 614-761-3734 or kcremeans@stbrigidofkildare.org. If you wish to become a “pray-er,” please mark it on the Volunteer Commitment Form or contact Karen Cremeans.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Members of this ministry – individually at home, or as a group in Hendricks Hall – knit, crochet, quilt or sew shawls, lap robes or pillows to be given to parishioners who are sick or homebound, as well as those who are grieving the death of a loved one or another significant loss in their lives.

Visitation to Hospitals

The priests and other members of the parish staff are available to visit any parishioners or their family members in local hospitals. Because of current government privacy regulations, the hospital can contact the parish only if the patient and/or family give permission. You may also call the parish office to let us know of the hospitalization. If you would like to receive Holy Communion while you are hospitalized, let your nurse know. Every hospital in Central Ohio has Eucharistic Ministers available.

Visitation to the Sick and Homebound

For those in our parish family who are unable to join us for Mass on Sunday due to an illness or an accident, we have a committed group of volunteers who bring the Eucharist to them. Each homebound parishioner is visited once a week and the visits are scheduled according to each person’s schedule. Please contact Sr. Teresa Tuite, OP at the parish office to make this request.

In addition to visiting the homebound members of our parish, volunteer ministers take Holy Communion to Catholics at the Convalarium, Emerald Crossing and Dublin Retirement Center each Sunday.

Those who minister in this area are commissioned Eucharistic Ministers and make their first visits with an experienced mentor. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact Sr. Teresa at 614-761-3734 or ttuite@stbrigidofkildare.org.

Older Adults Program

The Older Adults Program through Syntero helps parishioners who need services and don’t know where to go. Volunteers can help older adults complete medical forms, advocate to obtain social service benefits, downsize or declutter their homes, find housing based on needs, and can accompany them to help ask questions at appointments with a healthcare professional. The program is looking for volunteers to help serve these older adults, as well as older adults in need of assistance. The volunteer time commitment is set by the volunteer, and the amount and types of jobs they’d like to help with are chosen by the volunteer. This program is made possible by a partnership with Syntero.

Additionally, this program offers support to caregivers of older adults. The services are provided by Syntero and are available at no charge. They are designed to give you a helping hand and to assist you in becoming a more effective caregiver, including the need for your own self-care and stress management.If you would like to sign up to volunteer or learn more, contact Pete & Sue Corcoran 614-832-2762 szcorcoran@gmail.com