Catholic care center residents form own ministry team

Published: 2007-01-08

SAN PIERRE, Ind. (CNS) -- It started when a Catholic convert at Our Lady of Holy Cross Care Center wanted to join the Gary Diocese's Catholic lay ministry program to help minister to other residents at the center. Now 13 residents at the 200-bed facility in northwestern Indiana have formed their own ecumenical pastoral care team. "They have formed their own spiritual community and work hard to grow and learn," said Margie Pixey, the center's pastoral care director and chaplain. Members of the group serve as extraordinary ministers of Communion, readers, greeters and prayer leaders. With the permission of family and in the absence of a chaplain, they also make spiritual visits to other residents. Residents at Holy Cross, a long-term care facility, may be there because of a stroke, crippling accident or head injury or a debilitating condition such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.

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