Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is simply our way as a parish of trying to respond to people in need as Jesus did as a Good Shepherd. Members of the parish community are called in baptism to serve one another and the wider community. Christ said that if we visited the sick, ministered to those in prison or helped the “anawim” (the little ones), that we did it to him. Thus we encourage people to always call us if there is any way that we can together assist those in need.

Our community believes strongly in caring for each other, especially during difficult times.

Emergencies: Always call the office at 815-939-3573 to reach a priest in an emergency. Please leave a message, but continue trying to reach us if needed.

Pastoral Visits: To schedule a visit from our care ministers, call 815-939-3573 ext. 103.

Communion for sick and homebound: Eucharistic Ministers or Care Ministers visit the homes of our sick and homebound parishioners on a regular basis. (Right---Parishioner Regina LaFontaine is among the other homebound Communion ministers who provide hope and compassion in bringing the Body of Christ to believers who are unable to attend Sunday Mass. A special word of thanks goes out to all who bring God to others!) Please call the parish office at 815-939-3573 to place a person on the sick list for a visit. Click here to see video of a homebound Communion visit.

Hospital Visits: Priests and pastoral care ministers will gladly make visits to the sick in hospitals and nursing homes in the Kankakee area. Hospitals no longer call churches with sick lists and priests cannot see the patient listing ... So it is extremely important that the family or person contact the priest or the parish office directly as soon as possible. Please call the parish office at 815-939-3573. Always contact the office if it is likely that someone will be having surgery or be admitted to the hospital so that the Sacrament of the Sick may be given in advance.

Healing Mass: At these Saturday Healing Masses people are loving one another,  silence hovers peacefully over all ... tears of healing ... a wife praying for her husband, the parish community praying over their leaders...peace-filled music. God is the Source of all healing and yet God uses many ways to heal us as. At these Masses we are focusing our attention on the healing power of God which is really present at every celebration of the Eucharist. The next healing Mass is at 10:30 a.m. May 15, 2010. Click here for more details.

Death and Dying: Always call the office when someone has a serious or terminal illness. It is important that someone from the pastoral team visit with the person about death and dying and assist them if possible to prepare for death. Dying can be a very confusing and fearful time, but it can also become a very blessed time, a time of sharing, a time of giving thanks, a time of healing and a time of appreciating each moment of life. Our parish staff will be glad to help with funeral preparations and details and assisting the family in other ways. The priest will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick with the person. Copies of the prayers for the dying are also available. If Hospice is working with the family, please communicate that to the priest by calling the office.

Bereavement Ministry/Funeral Planning: The parish offers support through its bereavement group. Our ministers offer assistance and journey with families during preparations for Christian burial. They will work with any family preparing for a funeral. Call the office before the death if possible. Our parish also offers to prepare a printed program with the order of service. After scheduling arrangements are made, our pastoral associate, Sister Denise Glazik, OP, coordinates the service, and makes herself available to pray with the family and answer questions. We use three key symbols of baptism at the beginning of the funeral Mass: the sprinkling of baptismal water, the lighting of the baptismal candle and the covering of the body with the baptismal robe or pall. Click here for more details about the funeral planning process at St. Joseph Parish.

Hospice: Hospice is a wonderful program of assisting a dying person and their family in many ways.

Consisting of professionals, including registered nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, support counselors, volunteers, the Hospice of Kankakee Valley team has provided care and comfort to thousands of patients and families in the Kankakee Valley area since 1982.

Several St. Joseph parishioners volunteer with Hospice to visit and assist those who are dying.

Visit the Kankakee Hospice Web site

Kankakee Hospice Seminars and Events

Aging/Bereavement Links

Nursing Homes: At our area Bradley nursing home, Bradley Royale, we celebrate Mass or a prayer service on Tuesdays. The parish has Eucharistic Ministers who visit the nursing homes.  If you or a loved one are new to one of our area nursing homes or retirement communities, please call us in the parish office at 815-939-3573 so we can add you to our listing.

Parish Nurses: St. Joseph Health Ministries/Parish Nurses work to support and promote Christ-centered health and wellness of body, mind and spirit among our community. (Right---Parishioner and pharmacist Nikki Montague administers the flu vaccination to school parent Zach Peters at a flu shot clinic Sept. 19 at St. Joseph Parish. The clinic was sponsored by our Parish Nurses and Walgreens.)  This healing ministry focuses on the whole person in its wellness emphasis, disease prevention, and health promotion. Click here for more details about the this special parish ministry.

All Saints and All Souls Days: Each year on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, November 1 and 2, we remember all those that have died, especially parishioners who have died throughout the past year since the previous observance of All Saints and All Souls Days.
During the month of October we have our Book of Our Beloved Deceased available in the Gathering Space for parishioners to write in the names of any deceased family members, friends or loved ones.  We pray for all those whose names are written in the book at the Masses on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, as well as all weekend Masses during the month of November.

Prayers for the Dead: In our daily and weekend Mass intentions, there is always an intention for those who have died. Come to the parish office to have your loved one prayed for during a particular Mass.

Blood Drives: Every two seconds, someone living in the United States needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. The church teaches to show dignity and respect for all of life … to serve one another ... We have it to give … We have it to share ... Giving this most precious of gifts is our way of saying "thanks" to God for all the ways be continues to bless us.

St. Joseph Parish holds blood drives every eight weeks. Our next blood drive is March 14, 2010. To make an appointment, call Sister Denise, 815-939-3573 or send her an e-mail, dglazik@stjosephbradley.org. Walk-ins are most welcome too. You really will be giving the gift of life! (Right---Parishioner Justin Carter is a regular blood donor. "It doesn't even hurt.") Click here to meet more of these heroes and learn about the  process of giving blood at St. Joseph Parish.