To Be Filled with Unending Joy

By Carol Pauly, Blessed Encounters Ministry 

“Would you visit the sick and take me to them?”

This was the first prompting from the Holy Spirit. Little did I know this was just the beginning and my faith and life would be changed in many ways. It is the Lord we meet in those we serve. Taking the Eucharist on Sundays to the homebound and those in nursing homes was just the beginning of something wonderful.

Each encounter allowed me to open my heart, share God’s love, and be a witness to a life in Christ to those I visited and those around them. The Holy Spirit continued to inspire me.  What began as taking the Eucharist to them on Sundays turned into stopping in to visit throughout the week when I could. Mostly to check on them but sometimes to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. These visits always brought smiles when I walked into the room and that filled my heart with immense joy. They shared stories of life experiences and their families. They talked about how their faith had grown over the years guiding and sustaining them through sadness, trials and hardships. There was love, laughter, sometimes tears and lots of prayer shared. I learned to listen better, have more compassion, encourage and give them strength and hope when needed. They had so much love and wisdom to share and longed to share it with someone who cared. Great friendships developed.

Fast forward, the Holy Spirit was calling me to more: surrender and trust. After much prayer and by the grace of God and guidance from the Holy Spirit a new ministry was born, The Blessed Encounters Ministry. Evelyn Cullen joined me as co-leader. After six months and more prayer, seven others were led to join us. In our first year alone, 344 visits were made to the sick and homebound. Imagine how many more souls could be touched with more ministers!

With each visit, we let them know they are an integral part of the St. Max community and have not been forgotten. We let them know their intentions are written in the book of prayer in church, prayed for each day at Mass and we lifted up in Exposition and Adoration each week.  We ask them to pray for our priests, seminarians, parishioners, and all our ministries. This reinforces their purpose in God’s plan for them at this time of their life.

Inquiries are made as to whether they need anointing or confession, and these needs are conveyed to the office. We assess whether they need a Stephen Minister or help from another ministry. Some have difficulty adjusting to new living arrangements, are grieving or have depression. Many have families that live out of town and rarely get visitors. Others have infrequent visitors while others get regular visitors. They are all very grateful for our visits!

God’s Word and a variety of prayers are shared: rosary, chaplet, Stations of the Cross during Lent, homilies, lives of the saints and impromptu prayers. Each person is unique and their needs are different.  Their cognitive ability determines the prayers we pray. Even those in memory care remember the Our Father. Some share the prayers and handouts with family and friends. Those that can are evangelizing. Sometimes staff and non-Catholics join us in prayer. There’s one group that started their own rosary group to pray on days we cannot be there. The Holy Spirit is working in ways I never expected!

We all have special God given gifts that need to be shared with others. If we cannot help them physically, we can be there for them spiritually and emotionally. We pray not only for them but also their caregivers. Everyday God pours out His love for us, we share that love with them and in return they share their love with us. There’s no substitute for human interaction. Our presence, empathy, willingness to be a friend who loves, cares, listens, gives hope, encouragement, comfort, compassion and understanding fills our hearts with unending joy.

The Holy Spirit continues to guide us each week. Through prayer, He leads us to those who are most in need of a visit that particular week. We are honored and blest to be called by God to bring His love and word to those in need through this ministry.

We eagerly look forward to and treasure our time each week with our new friends knowing how uplifted we all will be. This joy and their reciprocal love carries us through the week and allows us to share that joy, love and faith with others.

What personally started as sharing my faith and love of God with complete strangers has deepened my faith, edified me, humbled me, given me courage and made me stronger. By allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me, my heart and many others have been filled with abundant love. This sentiment is shared amongst all the Blessed Encounters ministers.

What is the Holy Spirit calling you to? How can you be a steward of your faith and a reflection of God’s love to others? Will you let Christ’s light shine on the path you walk today? Are you walking in Christ’s footsteps? If you are interested in joining the Blessed Encounters Ministry, click here to learn more.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)