A bulletin notice on hospital ministry

When you are admitted to Akron City, or any other local hospital, nursing home, hospice it is important that you notify the hospital’s Chaplain's Office. They will notify the Rectory Office. Lay ministers will continue to visit Catholic patients that come to their attention and distribute Communion. Until other arrangements are made, however, there will not be a priest chaplain available for routine visits. Several will be “on call” for emergencies—to the best of our ability. In the meantime, you can help us provide for this important pastoral care.

If you are scheduled for surgery, it would be best to arrange with Fr. Thomas to be anointed prior to admission. This can be done when you are here for Mass or by arrangement at the Rectory Office. If a patient is in the hospital for a significant period of time—especially in ICU, CCU, hospice or palliative care—please communicate this situation with the Rectory Office 330-724-1263 so that Fr. Thomas can make sure he gives them the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and attend to any other concerns (Reconciliation, Communion, “making peace”, etc.) they may have. The earlier we know of this need, the better.When a call comes in for “last rites” only, when hope of recovery is unlikely, it’s sometimes sad to learn that the patient could have benefited from the Sacraments several days before—when they were still alert and able to participate.

Please also understand that—when a patient has been recently anointed and has, ideally, received the other Sacraments, another anointing is not necessary “at the last minute” to accomplish the “last rites.” As the patient lies dying, the family members and friends who are present can simply “pray him/her into heaven” with the Rosary, the Our Father, the Psalms or other passages from Scripture, and other favorite prayers. Priests are always happy to assist in these difficult times. The reality is, however, that we are not always immediately available. When that happens, we want you to be familiar with what you can do to help.