Ladies and Gents, hold on to your hats: I am now an "official' Minister as Mandated by my Parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago!!!!!

Yesterday I attended a ceremony during Mass where 4 other persons and myself were "mandated" (the official term) as Ministers of Care for our Parish. I attended 6 weekly training sessions and then will be apprenticing with an expereinced Minister for the next year or so.

What is a Minister of Care? We take consecrated Communion Host to persons in nursing homes, hospitals, and to the homebound, who cannot attend Mass to receive this sacrament. We also spend time with these persons saying prayers, blessing with holy water, annointing with oil, and just being there for them to talk and listen and provide a link to the Parish Community. Largely the people I will serve are elderly which is my thing. When I was in high school, I worked in a local nursing home for two years as an activities aide. I enjoy the company of seniors a great deal so I look forward to being able to help them in the near future.

During yesterday's ceremony, I received my blessed pyx. A pyx is a metal container specially designed for transporting the consecrated host. Michelle over at smoochdog and I have had a few chuckles imagining the correct way to transport Jesus in the car: seatbelt? Car seat? Well now I have this pyx which then fits into a little leather pouch called a BURSE and THAT goes in a pocket or purse or tote bag. As long as it doesn't end up on the floor.

Here's a pic of a pyx.: (Mine is actually square and not as jazzy as this one...)