Anointing the Sick
The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is celebrated communally several times each year. Parishioners may also receive this sacrament on an individual basis by calling the parish office.
Centering Prayer
Prayer group meets every Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the Caritas Room. Time is spent reflecting on and discussing the next Sunday's gospel, prayers from the Lectio Divina, and silent meditation. Open to all parishioners to come once or on a continuous basis. Size of group differs from week to week; average ranges from 5 to 12 people.
Eucharistic Ministry to Care Centers
Care Center Ministry provides Sunday Eucharist to residents of the two care centers in our parish,
Golden Living Care Center and Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington. Care Center Ministers bring the Eucharist, after the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, to the residents assigned to them at one of the care
centers. Care Center Ministry also provides monthly Communion Services to the residents of both
care centers, and weekly communion services to the Gideon Pond complex. Masses are scheduled quarterly at each facility.
Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound
This ministry provides parishioners who are unable to attend Mass the opportunity to continue to participate in the Eucharist. Homebound Ministers bring the Eucharist to parishioners after 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Homebound Ministry is a personally rewarding experience to the Homebound Ministers of Nativity of Mary Parish.
Funerals
At the time of a death, Nativity of Mary parishioners come together to provide care and support to a grieving family. Members of the community offer their service through various liturgical ministries as well as providing a place for family and friends to gather and share a meal. As a Catholic community, we also join together to proclaim our faith and hope in the resurrection.
Funeral Lunch Hospitality
This is a self-funded all-volunteer group that provides funeral lunch hospitality for grieving families. Two coordinators work as a team for a 3-month period. Coordinators contact the family to offer condolences and gather information to set up the luncheon. Two food callers contact volunteers to bring salads, desserts and rolls. These food callers also rotate on a 3-month basis.
Grief Care
Parishioners are assisted in their bereavement with letters of support, direction and encouragement and to inform them of what is available to help them through the grieving process such as support groups and Stephen Ministry. Nativity of Mary is a member of the Bloomington-Richfield Grief Support Coalition.
Hospital Ministry
Volunteers provide supportive hospital visits to any parishioner who has notified the parish
of
their hospitalization.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is a telephone network of volunteer parishioners who pray daily for the needs of others. An assigned Prayer Chain person is responsible to call the volunteers on his/her list with the prayer requests they have received. Requests for prayers may be made by calling the parish office or one of the Prayer Chain callers.
Grief Care
Parishioners are assisted in their bereavement with letters of support, direction and encouragement and to inform them of what is available to help them through the grieving process such as support groups and Stephen Ministry. Nativity of Mary is a member of the Bloomington-Richfield Grief Support Coalition.
Senior Correspondence
Cards and letters are sent on a regular basis to senior citizens in the metropolitan area. These senior citizens are elders who may be homebound due to illness or aging issues or do not have any relatives nearby or still living. Names and addresses are supplied by the Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are lay parishioners who have gone through extensive training. They are assigned to members of our faith community who are experiencing any of life's problems. The Stephen Ministers visit with their "care receiver" for about one hour per week for as long as there is a need.