Dun Giljan's Blog: Carrying our cross

Dun Giljan's Blog: Carrying our cross: Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,  There will always be sunshine after the rain.  Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall, ...



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Five Hard Truths that will set you free...

Five Hard Truths That Will Set You Free
By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Some years ago I read an essay by a Franciscan Theologian. I will say, (honestly) that I do not share a lot of agreement (no need to detail that here), but I found this particular essay compelling. I do not recall the exact title of that essay but in my mind the title “Five Hard Truths that Will Set You Free” seems the best title. The following five truths from that essay are indeed hard truths. They tend to rock our world and stab at the heart of some of our most cherished modern notions. But if they can be accepted for the truth they convey they bring great peace. We live is a rather self-absorbed, self-focused time and these five truths are not only good medicine for that but they also help us to have more realistic expectations as we live in an imperfect and limited world. Study these truths well. If they irritate you a bit, good, they’re supposed to. They are meant to provoke thought and reassessment. The principles are Richard Rohr’s the comments are mine.

1. Life is hard -We live in rather comfortable times. These are times of convenience and central air conditioning. Medicine has removed a lot of pain and suffering, and consumer goods are in abundance and variety. Entertainment comes in many varieties and is often inexpensive. Hard labor is something few of us know, obesity is common due to over abundance.

Because of all these creature comforts we have tended to expect that life should always be peachy. We are rather outraged at suffering, inconvenience and delay.

Our ancestors lived lives that were far more brutal and short, and they often spoke of life as a “vale of tears,” and understood that suffering was just a part of life. But when we suffer we start to think in terms of lawsuits. Suffering seems obnoxious to us, hard work, unreasonable! We are often easily angered and flung into anxiety at the mere threat of suffering.

This principle reminds us that suffering and difficulty are part of life, something that should be expected. Accepting suffering does not mean we have to like it. But acceptance of the fact that life can be hard at times means we get less angry and anxious when it does come. We do not lose serenity. Accepting that suffering is inevitable, brings a strange sort of peace. We are freed from unrealistic expectations that merely breed resentments. We also become more grateful for the joys we do experience. Accepting that life can be hard is a truth that sets us free.

2. Your life is not about you- If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans. If you really want to give him a belly laugh, tell Him, His plans! We often like to think that we should just be able to do what ever pleases us and maximizes our “self-actualization.” However, we do not decide alone what course our life will take.

In this age of “nobody tells me what to do” it is important to be reminded that our true happiness comes not from getting what we want, but what God wants. Our destiny isn’t to follow our star but to follow God. True peace comes from careful discernment of God’s will for us.

It is sad how few people today ever really speak with God about important things like careers, entering into a marriage, pondering a large project. We just go off and do what we please, and expect God to bail us out if it doesn’t go well. You and I do not exist merely for our own whims, we have a place in God’s plan. Our serenity is greater when we prayerfully discern that place and humbly seek God’s will. Accepting the fact that we are not merely masters of our own destiny, and captains of our own ship, gives us greater peace and usually saves us a lot of mileage.

Humbly accepting the truth that my life is not simply about me and what I want is a truth that sets me free. This is true because we often don’t get what we want. If we can allow life to unfold more and not demand that everything be simply what I want I am more serene and free.

3. You are not in control- Control is something of an illusion. You and I may have plans for tomorrow but there are many things between now and tomorrow over which I have no control. For example, I cannot even control or guarantee the next beat of my heart. Hence I may think I have tomorrow under control, but tomorrow is not promised and may never come.

Because we think we control a few things, we think we can control many things. Not really. Our attempts to control and manipulate outcomes are comical, if not hurtful.

Thinking that we can control many things leads us to think that we must control them. This in turn leads to great anxiety, and often anger.

We usually think that if we are in control we will be less anxious. This is not true, we are more anxious. The more we think we can control, the more we try to control, and thus, the greater our burdens and anxiety. In the end we get angry because we discover that there many things and people we cannot control after all. This causes frustration and fear.

We would be freer and less anxious if we would simply accept the fact that there are many things, most things, over which I have no control. Our expectation of everything being under control is unrealistic. Life comes at you fast and brooding over unpredictable things and uncontrollable matters is bondage. Simply accepting that I am often not in control is freeing.

4. You are not that important- Uh Oh! Now this one hurts. I thought the whole world should revolve around me. I thought it was only my feelings that mattered, and my well- being that was important. Truth be told, we are loved by God in a very particular way, but that does not over rule the fact that I must often yield to others who are also loved by God in a very special way.

The truth is sometimes that other people are more important than me. I might even be called on to give my life so that others may live. I must often yield to others whose needs are more crucial than mine. The world doesn’t exist just for me, and what I want.

There is great peace and freedom in coming to accept this. We are often made so anxious if we are not recognized, and others are, or if our feelings and preferences are not everyone’s priority. Accepting the truth that I am not that important allows us to relax and enjoy caring about other people and celebrating their importance too.

5. You are going to die. - Yes, it is a hard truth but it is very freeing. We get all worked up about what this world dishes out. But take a walk in a cemetery. Those folks were all worked up too. Now their struggles are over and, if they were faithful they are with God, they now experience that “trouble don’t last always.”

This truth also helps us to do the most important thing: get ready to meet God. So many people spend their lives clowning around and goofing off. Yet our most urgent priority is to prepare to meet God. In the end, this is freeing because we are loosed from the many, excessive and contrary demands of the world and we concentrate on doing the one thing necessary. Our life simplifies and we don’t take this world too seriously, it is passing away. There is peace and freedom in coming to accept this.

So there you have them. Five hard truths that will set you free. Think about them. Memorize them too and pull them out when life comes at you fast and hard with it’s agenda of control, self importance and empty promises of perfect comfort here on earth. A simple, sober, humble and focused life brings great serenity.

To Walk with Christ - be a Minister of the Eucharist

SCMC Minister of the Eucharist Reference Guide

Welcome Dear Servant

Thank you greatly for your willingness to share your love and compassion with our sick and injured. This is, I believe, nothing less than an answer to God’s love in your life.

As ministers we remind ourselves daily that we are servant to those in need of God’s healing. We bring the Sacred Host into a room where Christ already resides as patient, “When I was sick you came to visit me”. How important for us to remember and live out of the truth that Christ resides within everyone we meet, including ourselves. We are as St. John, not worthy to “un-strap your sandal,” yet Christ gifts us with the soul enriching experience of service.

God’s grace and blessings for you always,

St. Charles Spiritual Care Services

Copyright: Robert K. Smith, SFO

The primary responsibility of an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist is to respect the patient as God’s child and the host to God within them. You should also protect the Eucharist and show reverence at all times to the body of Christ - when at rest within the Tabernacle and when in motion while carried within the Pyx. Not only are you following Jesus, you are bringing Him. You are a Servant Leader to the Catholic Community – God, the Parish Priests, and the Catholic community trusts you.

Protection and reverence of the Eucharist is shown in the following activities:

1. Tabernacle and Ciborium

· When accessing the key and returning the key for the Tabernacle to its assigned place

· Genuflect toward the Tabernacle when opening and closing it

· When transferring consecrated hosts from Ciborium to Pyx and back to Ciborium

· Ensure the Tabernacle door is closed and locked before closing the outer door

2. Pyx

· Eucharist must always be carried in a Pyx within a burse, ideally around the neck.

· Purifying the Pyx after administration of Eucharist: Use a small amount of water

(making sure not to over fill the Pyx) to dissolve any small particles remaining in

the Pyx. Drink the water from the Pyx. Repeat as needed until no particles remain.

Dry the Pyx using a small cloth.

· When breaking the Eucharist into small pieces, be careful to hold the consecrated host

over the Pyx so no particles fall on the bed or floor.

· If the Pyx is borrowed and belongs to the Parish or SCMC, return it to its appropriate

location for use by the next Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.

· Ensure the patient has consumed the Eucharist. Offer a sip of water, if authorized.

Procedures

1. Helpful Hints:

• Lock purse in car. There is no secure, locked place at SCMC to leave it.

• Wear comfortable shoes (walking shoes, cushioned sole shoes are good).

• Know the meaning of the hospital emergency codes, e.g. “Doctor Strong.”

(Carry the 3x4” laminated card or refer to the SCMC Volunteer Services Handbook

received at Orientation.)

• Read the Volunteer Services Position Description by Diane Kutcher dated 10/03/2006.

A copy will be available in the Spiritual Care Department and in Volunteer Services

Department.

• If needed early in your ministry, obtain a glossy “Visitor Guide & Map” at the

Information Desk near front entrance. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

2. Items to Bring With You to the Hospital

· Hospital identification badge

· A pen (for writing notations / codes / special requests, etc.)

· Bible, or print readings from http://www.usccb.org/nab/, prayer booklets, rosary, etc.

· Pyx - a container in which consecrated hosts are kept

· Burse - a flexible material, leather, velour, or cloth case to carry the Pyx

· Purificator - a small linen cloth to place beneath the sacred vessels when transferring Eucharist, from the Ciborium to the Pyx and from the Pyx back to the Ciborium. (*)

(*) With permission, these can be borrowed from the Sacristy (Room PC24)

at the Catholic Center or from the cabinet above the Tabernacle at SCMC.

Hand wash as appropriate.

3. Sign In

· Upon entering the hospital, sign in at the Information Desk computer station.

This ensures that you are covered under the accident, liability, and property damage

insurance during your assigned hours of duty in the hospital. Notify the Emergency

Department if an insurance claim is being filed by you; also notify Volunteer Services

as soon as possible.

· If you forget, fill out one of the forms (kept in a tray next to the computer station)

as you leave, or do this on your next visit.

4. Spiritual Care Office

· This office is located near the Medical Library on the 1^st floor.

· The office is not accessible after 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday,

nor is it accessible on Saturdays and Sundays (unless you call ‘Security’).

· Monday thru Friday: Check top tray for previous day’s Patient List (for notations / codes).

Saturday and Sunday: Obtain the Patient List from the Emergency Room Operations Desk.

Be sure to show your ID Badge and ask for the Catholic Patient List.

· Confirm the list reflects “Denomination: Catholic” at the top of the page.

· You are restricted to visit Catholics only.

· You will be entrusted with the location of the Tabernacle key during your training.

In order to protect the Eucharist, the location of the Tabernacle key is not to be

divulged to unauthorized inquirers. You will receive verbal instructions of the process.

Note: You will be instructed in the backup process to obtain a spare Tabernacle key.

Again, you are not to divulge this information to unauthorized inquirers.

· IMPORTANT: Always return the Tabernacle key to its assigned place when you

finish your visits. If you forget to return the key, notify the Chaplain on call and

make arrangements to return the Tabernacle key as soon as possible.

5. Second Floor Chapel

· Approach slowly and genuflect before the Tabernacle located behind the altar.

· Open outer door; then Tabernacle door (using key).

· Place a Purificator (fully opened) on the flat surface to the left of the Tabernacle.

Note: A supply of Purificators should be next to the Tabernacle.

· Remove the Ciborium containing the consecrated hosts from the Tabernacle and

place it on the Purificator. This precaution is necessary to prevent any particles

of the consecrated hosts from falling to the floor.

· After you remove the number of Eucharist needed for your visits, please note the

number remaining in the Ciborium.

· Place the Ciborium back inside the Tabernacle.

· Fold the Purificator top to middle, bottom to middle. Return the folded Purificator

next to the Tabernacle.

· Genuflect

· Turn the key to close the Tabernacle door, remove the key, and keep it safe.

(It must be returned to its assigned place at the end of your visit.)

· Close the outer door.

· When you finish your administration of Eucharist to the patients, return any Eucharist

remaining in the Pyx to the Ciborium. Because the Ciborium is replenished on Mondays

(during 11:30 a.m. Mass at the 2^nd floor Chapel), check the count of Eucharist in the

Ciborium. If it is late in the week and the count is below 25, inform the Chaplain

(via a note on his desk, email, or phone message).

6. Important Reminders

· If possible, identify yourself to a nurse before entering a patient’s room.

Explain that you are a Eucharistic Minister delivering Holy Communion to

patients in the rooms noted on your Patient List.

· Every day, Note “lock out” for the following:

o Intensive Care Unit (ICU) – Room Numbers 101 to 130

Note: Lock out times: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For patients in ICU, you must request access at the volunteer

station located outside the main ICU double door, or on weekends, use the phone located outside the double doors and speak to a nurse.

o Family Birthing Unit – Room Numbers 150 to 179,

o Note: two digit room numbers, e.g. 04a, 06b designate new borns.

Note: These two Units are at opposite ends of the hospital 1st floor.

· The 1^st floor Psychiatric Unit (You may only visit in this area with a nurse’s permission and you must be invited by the patient through the nurse) and the 5^th floor Pediatric Unit

(Room Numbers 508 to 516) have access phones x6500 - located just outside the doors.

· Patients in the 190 series of rooms are not available for visits due to restrictions

(surgical areas).

· Patients in Room Numbers 701 to 710 are in the Rehabilitation Center located in the

Lower Level (LL).

o Although there is open access, the patient may be in the large therapy room.

o If the patient is in therapy, permission to visit must be authorized by a nurse.

7. Plan your route based on the locations of patients and the time of day.

Suggested Route:

· Intensive Care Unit (Rooms 101 to 130) and Rehabilitation Center 701 – 710

(located in the Lower Level)

· Family Birthing Unit (Rooms 150 to 179) – Located at south/opposite end of hospital

· 5^th through 2^nd floors

· Return Eucharist to Tabernacle at the 2^nd floor Chapel

· Return borrowed Pyx to the parish or SCMC as appropriate

8. Visiting Patients

· Self care - Ministry can be very contagious. Loving the person God created (us) is just as important as service to others. In fact without self care we are open to spiritual illness (depression, blame, guilt, etc.). If you have a contagious illness (a cold, sore throat, cold-sore, Flu, etc.) Contact a substitute Minister of the Eucharist rather than expose patients (who may have low white blood cell count).

· Always attempt to identify yourself to a nurse before entering a patient’s room. Explain that you are a Eucharistic Minister delivering Communion to the patients in the rooms noted on your Patient List.

· Before entering, check each door:

o If a colored strip is visible or a note of any kind is posted on the outside door of a patient’s room, check with the nurse (nearest each patient) for permission to enter.

o NPO = Nothing by mouth (ask patient if he/she wants to pray with you)

o Yellow Strip = Caution. There is a danger to either you or the patient by you entering the room. Check with a nurse.

· Gently knock; or if the door is open, quietly announce that you are from

Saint Francis of Assisi Church, bringing Eucharist. (Always ask permission

to enter the patient’s room after you have indentified yourself.)

· Check near the head of each patient’s bed for a:

o NPO = Nothing by mouth (ask patient if he/she wants to pray with you)

o Posted 8x10 Pink Form = Aspiration Precaution

(Even a small piece of host could cause choking. Offer prayers instead.)

· IMPORTANT: Be respectful of the fact that the patient is in control of your visit into

his/her sacred space (hospital room). Ask permission in all things: prayer, preference

for receiving in hands or on tongue, holding of hands, and ask if entrance-way curtains

should be pulled shut, or if the door be closed when you leave.

· If you sense a patient is in ‘spiritual pain,’ ask if he/she would like to talk to a

priest or chaplain. If so, relay the message to the chaplain and leave a message

on the phone recording at the Catholic Center (Phone Number: 382-3631).

8. Visiting Patients (Continued)

· If a patient is not available at the time of your visit, leave an “I Came By Today” card

in a visible place in their room (bedside table, etc), not on the bed or pillow. These cards are available in the Spiritual Care Office.

· Frequently use hand-sanitizer spray tubes (near entrance to each patient’s room), or wash your hands after visiting each patient.

· Handling Rejection

It is possible that in your ministry, you will encounter a patient who is angry and

abusive. Do not take this personally. The patient does not know you well enough

to be angry with you. In some cases, the patient is angry at God and the world

in general. Politely excuse yourself and leave the room; and if need be, go to the

2^nd floor Chapel to center yourself and refocus on your ministry.

Inform the Spiritual Care Office of your encounter, giving the patient’s name

and room number.

These are the minimal words that a Minister of the Eucharist must say in

administering the Eucharist. It is preferable to have prayer before administering

the Eucharist, but in some cases a weakened patient may not be able to tolerate

a prolonged interruption of their rest.

HOLY COMMUNION

Minister says: (if the patient has the physical stamina and mental acuity)

Now let us pray together to the Father in the words given us by

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister says:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Happy are those who are called to His supper.

Recipient says: (Minister should say the words if the patient is not able)

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I

shall be healed.

Minister says:

The Body of Christ.

Recipient says: (Minister may say this alone or with the patient,

and make the sign of the cross)

Amen.

9. After Visiting Each Patient

· Enter appropriate code on Patient List (See list of codes on page 12).

10. Before Leaving the Hospital

· Return Eucharist to the Tabernacle, genuflect, and lock the door.

· Refer to instructions on page 2 for purifying the Pyx.

· Return Tabernacle key to its assigned place.

· Return the list of patients visited (to include new notations / codes) to the

Spiritual Care Office.

Note: On weekends, put the list in a messenger envelope addressed to

Spiritual Care Office, and slip it under the Medical Library door

(near the Spiritual Care Office).

· For patients in ‘spiritual pain,’ who may want the Sacrament of the Sick,

relay a message to the chaplain and leave a message on the phone recording

at the Catholic Center (Phone Number: 382-3631).

· Sign out on the computer as you leave the hospital.

11. Suggestions, Recommendations, and Thoughts?

· How can the Spiritual Care Department improve its sense of community to all of the

staff and volunteers? http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1481/build/g1481.pdf

· Twice a year the hospital provides a “Volunteer Luncheon” for all its volunteers,

usually held on a week day. Perhaps Ministers of the Eucharist and Pastoral Care

Volunteers could sit together (if possible, select tables that are close together and

seat 8 persons per table). In so doing, participants can associate names with faces

and share experiences – a good start.

Note. Being a Minister of the Eucharist is an awesome responsibility because it squarely places you in the role of not just a volunteer, but more to the point, you are a servant leader who by the power of the Holy Spirit, animates religion and spirituality – you are the bridge, the messenger, perhaps some would say the angel without wings or halo.

When administering Eucharist to a patient, your spiritual eyes will allow a glimpse into the Divine - some call eternity. You make spirituality a here-and-now practicality that connects you more to others on this part of your Earthly journey – some call life. Remember - it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. You will be better positioned to make the transition because you walked with Christ.

Thank you for your time, effort, and good will

in devotion to Ministry of the Eucharist

Eucharistic Minister Codes

(to be noted on the Patient List page, next to each patient’s line item)

C Communion (patient received)

NC No Communion

NPO Nothing By Mouth. This is a medical requirement.

(Usually you will be notified by patient, family, or ask nurse if unsure.)

A/C Affiliated Catholic. Patient is not Catholic, but member of family is.

BL Blessing

NAV Not Able to Visit

N/P Not Practicing Catholic

NT Not at this Time

V Visit

DIS Discharged

P Prayer