Dear Friends,

St. Patrick has a strong Ministry of Care, thanks to the many parishioners who have been trained to bring communion, prayers, and presence to the sick and homebound. Our parish boundaries include two major hospitals where we are responsible for the pastoral care of the Catholic patients: Honor Health Hospital on Shea Blvd and the other in North Scottsdale on Thompson Peak Road. Included are over twenty health facilities that are visited to provide spiritual care, as well as visiting the homebound. This ministry has had a strong presence at our parish for the last three decades. 

Some good news from our Diocese. We will be assigned a priest as a chaplain for both Honor Health Hospitals that were mentioned. The priest will be living at the rectory at St. Bernadette Parish and will help cover Mayo Hospital, as well as our two hospitals. 

The details of how exactly this will work continue to be worked out. I will still be visiting the sick and making anointing calls. The good news is that it will not fall on me alone anymore. We will be able to offer coverage so that each day, there is a priest who can be contacted for anointing. The parish will be supporting half the salary and other expenses for this priest, so we will be committing to support this important ministry.  

A good reminder to parishioners is, if possible, to contact the priest for an anointing of the sick sooner rather than later. Waiting until the last moment might find that the priest is not available in a timely manner when other parish responsibilities need to be addressed. Also, the priest can help explain what the anointing is and help the person not be afraid if they think they are not ready to die. The priest is always ready to explain to the person and their families the meaning of this sacrament and help them understand what is happening.  

I am grateful to the Diocese for their decision to find a priest who can help us with the many hospital calls in our area.  

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Eric