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The Parish Nursing Ministry: Caring for Our Bodies as a Temple of the Lord
If there is something to be learned from this time of COVID-19, it is that our health is not something to take for granted and that wellness is never a guarantee. The call to be good stewards of ourselves not only includes the spiritual aspect of our beings, but the physical as well. After all, as St. Augustine said, “Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever, and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.”
“God gave us these bodies and we have to treat them appropriately,” says Kathy Brazytis, head of the Parish Nursing Ministry. “Fr. Troha reached out to me to start offering wellness checks for our parishioners. He feels very strongly about making sure our parishioners are not only caring for their spiritual side, but their physical side as well.”
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This ministry is not entirely new to the parish, having offered wellness checks several years ago — parishioners found this to be very helpful. Presently, wellness checks will be offered one weekend a month, following Sunday Masses, in St. Joseph’s Hall.
“The checks will consist of taking blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respirations,” Kathy says. “This information will be given to the parishioners along with any literature they may need for further information. They can bring this to their doctor to discuss any further care that is needed.”
St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Kathy’s dedication to her long nursing career and helping others is an example of this in action. Her many years spent as a nurse dedicated to helping others has given her experience in hospice and palliative care, as well as psychiatric care.
“When Father first reached out to me, I was retired and had a lot of time to dedicate to this,” she says. “Since then, I have accepted a position as the Director of Nursing at a new substance abuse facility. But I am committed to getting this important ministry going within our parish.”
Kathy does not hesitate to devote her time and energy to the parish.
“This is one way for me to give back and help others,” she says. “My son passed away in July of 2020, and Father and the parish really supported me through that.”
It is the ministry’s hope to eventually extend its efforts into support and education groups. “Especially with the holidays coming up, we are wanting to have these supports available,” Kathy says.
The ministry also hopes to offer grief support, as well as support for those with substance abuse issues. More may be added as needs arise.
As this important ministry is getting started, more volunteers are needed.
“We could use more nurses or health care professions to help do the wellness checks themselves,” Kathy says. “We would like to be efficient and not make parishioners wait too long.”
But even if someone is not in health care, there is still a need to be filled.
“We could use help with organizing, setting up, having someone record information as we do the checks,” Kathy says. “We could use all types of volunteers.”
Giving of one’s time and abilities in this capacity is a great way to not only promote health and wellness within the parish, but to also serve others by doing those “small things with great love.”
