"Yes, Pastoral Care is alive and well at St. Joseph’s and St. Paul's!"

Cathy Burch, Coordinator

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Our Mission

“Our Pastoral Care ministers strive to be the instrument of God’s healing presence and love to those who are sick and homebound”        

• Being God’s vessel to be poured out to others is a humbling experience. To be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ for others is not just a cliché it is a truth.

“... while encouraging a sense of community and connection to the body of Christ...”

• When we visit, we are bringing the community of the body of Christ to those who may feel disassociated with others both physically, emotionally or spiritually.

“... through pastoral visitation, Eucharist, presence, listening and healing prayer.”

• Our pastoral visits bring hope amid uncertainty, peace amid chaos and kindness amid brokenness or pain. 

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Visiting the sick and homebound

We have pastoral care ministers to the sick and homebound. Visitation options may include in home visits, nursing home visits, or bringing communion to patients at Saratoga Hospital.

• For the safety of all, our Program will ensure that in-person visits will abide by all Albany Diocese and NYS COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions. 

To request a visit, or to volunteer, contact Cathy Burch by email or by phone through the Parish Office.

Parish contact information is located at the bottom of this page. Someone will return your call/email promptly.

 

Get Well and Sympathy Cards

We also have volunteers sending out get well and sympathy cards as needed, and as requested by parishioners.

To request a card to be sent, contact the Parish Office. See Parish contact information below.

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Bereavement Ministry

As part of the pastoral care ministry, we send out periodic mailings to the bereaved throughout the first year following the death of a loved one.  At the one year anniversary of a funeral, the family is invited to a special anniversary mass.

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Grief and Bereavement Support Group

Our mission is to welcome all people to God's love as they are dealing with a loss in their life. In most cases it will be a loss of a loved one through death. But support for any type of loss is provided in a sensitive, non-judgmental and supportive way. 

• The group meets the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, and/or the 4th Tuesday of the month at 1:30 pm, in the Parish rectory. The Rectory is the brown building located to the right of St. Joseph's church. See a photo at the bottom of this page.

• For more information on this Grief and Bereavement Support Group, please click          to see a detailed pamphlet of information.

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“Pastoral Care Ministry plays a vital role in our community, and I am pleased to say that it is continually expanding and growing.” Cathy Burch, Coordinator

• For more information on any of the above, or to volunteer, contact Cathy Burch through the Parish Office.

• Get well or sympathy cards may be requested by contacting the Parish Office.

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Please contact the Parish Office if you know of anyone who would like a visit,

or has any need that we can fill.

 

Parish Office contact information is provided below.