"Continue to give your time, your smile and your love to brothers and sisters in need. May every sick and fragile person see the face of Jesus in your face, and may you recognize the body of Christ in those who are suffering." --POPE FRANCIS
This is the first in a six-part series in The Michigan Catholic highlighting the impact of Pope Francis on various aspects of Catholic life and ministry. For others in the series, visit the links below.
Pope Francis encourages caregivers to “give our lives for the brethren” as part of his message for the 22nd World Day of the Sick on Feb. 9. An Alzheimer’s special care center, Clausen Manor in Waterford, makes a goal to respect the dignity and needs of its residents, no matter the situation. The Michigan Catholic was invited to see a few of the activities enjoyed by Clausen residents, led by activities director Melissa Sexton on Feb. 3.Caring for sick inseparable from Christian mission, say caregivers across archdiocese
Detroit — Pope Francis has spoken frequently of the Catholic Church’s obligation to care for the sick and suffering.
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In his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel), he encouraged the faithful to go forth in service “without exception.”
“But to whom should she go first?” he asks in the exhortation. “When we read the Gospel we find a clear indication: not so much our friends and wealthy neighbors, but above all the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked, ‘those who cannot repay you,’ (Luke 14:14)” he wrote.
The Michigan Catholic spoke with a number of caregivers and health care providers around the Archdiocese of Detroit who are working to serve the often-overlooked members of society.
From the leaders of parish Christian service organizations to the staff of a memory care facility, their mission is constant: to follow in Christ’s footsteps by placing the needs of others above their own.
The needs of the parish
Judy Pettrele, director of Christian service at St. Cyprian Parish in Riverview, works to make sure the many and varied health-related needs of parishioners are addressed.
She said the parish puts on a large health fair in the fall, offers a dementia ministry and holds blood drives, among other activities. Keeping those with physical disabilities in mind, the parish installed an automatic door on the church so that when people approach, it automatically slides open.
“I think it’s our basic mission,” said Pettrele. “We’re here to serve our community and the sick are a large section of our community.”
Pettrele explained that two members of the Christian service committee are a couple from the parish. The wife has diabetes and is legally blind, and her husband cares for her. Together, the couple gives a personal perspective of a person with a disability as well as their caregiver.
“We’re looking at it from one side; they’re living it,” Pettrele said. “They’re also able to critique things, such as whether we have places in the church that are convenient for people to place wheelchairs and then sit with their loved ones.”
Low-cost care with heart
The St. Vincent DePaul Health Center in Southfield, a program of St. John Providence Health System, was started with the special goal of helping those who do not have health insurance.
“A patient has to be uninsured and denied Medicaid,” explained Karen Beger, director of community health at St. John Providence.
The health center, staffed by physicians volunteering their time, offers primary care by appointment from Tuesday through Friday, with Mondays available for people to enroll. Beger said the patient age range is generally 19 to 64, as individuals under the age of 19 can qualify for MIChild coverage, and at age 65 Medicare is available.
Beger said diabetes is a major diagnosis for patients, and the second most common diagnosis is high blood pressure.
“We get them the medication they need, the tests they need, to educate them to take better care of themselves and get in better control of their health,” she said, explaining that they offer education for some illnesses, such as diabetes.
The health center also has referrals for programs they do not offer, such as mental health care and cardiac issues.
“It’s been a real gift, watching some of the changes in people, and how we can get them to a healthier lifestyle makes St. Vincent DePaul Health Center a wonderful place to be,” Beger said.
Intercessory healing
But spiritual health is just as crucial as physical health, according to Tom Murphy, one of the leaders in the Joy of Jesus prayer community at St. Athanasius Parish in Roseville.
St. Athanasius is one of the several parishes across the archdiocese that offers what are commonly known as “healing Masses.”
Murphy explained, however, that the Masses “are regular Masses and we don’t call it a ‘healing Mass’ because all Masses really are ‘healing Masses.’”
These special Masses, started more than 20 years ago, are often attended by those seeking healing, whether physical, spiritual or emotional. Members of the prayer community meet with those in need after Mass and pray with them.
He said the intercessory prayer component is a large aspect of these Masses.
“I know a lot of people pray for their own personal needs, and I’m sure the Lord answers their prayers, but I also feel that they like the idea of having somebody else also pray for their needs,” Murphy said.
The face of Christ
Clausen Manor at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford cares for those whom Melissa Sexton describes as “a lost part of our society.”
Clausen Manor specializes in memory care, serving residents with memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, following the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, who sponsor Lourdes Senior Community.
Sexton, activities director at Clausen, works to serve the residents holistically, such as having ball toss exercises, planting vegetables in the summer, and spending one-on-one time with those who dislike group settings.
She said serving the residents “improves our lives too — they make us better people.”
Salli Sovey, resident care coordinator at Clausen, said working there “opened my eyes to a disease that not many people knew about. But just because you don’t remember what happened yesterday doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve to feel that you still contribute, that you’re still important.”
“Seeing the face of Christ” in the residents is how Deacon Bill Jamieson, communications specialist at Lourdes, describes his experience.
“Pope Francis says we have an obligation to minister to these people,” said Deacon Jamieson, who serves at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Alzheimer’s is an extremely difficult process for both family and residents, said Cori Sharrard, director of Clausen Manor and Mendelson Home, an assisted living facility on the Lourdes campus.
“When you say you’re going to retire, you never say that you want to be a resident at Clausen Manor,” she said, explaining that the staff tries to get to know each resident “as an individual … they all have a history, all have a background, all have a family.”
“We try to help them feel safe, cared for, and loved,” she said.
Sr. Maureen Comer, OP, chief executive officer of Lourdes, said she is happy the pope has been speaking so strongly about the need to care for the sick.
“When you think about the Gospel, Jesus came to heal us, both physically and through the forgiveness of sins,” she said. “It has been a personal inspiration for me to be able to share in the legacy that we have, and also a personal experience of excitement to continue that legacy well into the future.”
World Day of the Sick
World Day of the Sick is Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In recognition of this day, attend the annual archdiocesan Mass to Anoint the Sick on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. The 11 a.m. Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, and there will be a special blessing for caregivers and health care providers. The cathedral is handicap accessible, and medical and emergency personnel will be on the premises. For more information, contact Parish Life and Services at (313) 237-5934.
