As with the EM Ministry to the Homebound, the celebration and reception of the Eucharist are fundamental as a sacrament in the Catholic faith. Sometimes, we can find ourselves unable to attend Mass and receive the body and blood of Christ due to illness or injury. In the spirit of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus says, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” the Catholic Community of St. Francis has eucharistic ministers who tend to Catholics at Rex Hospital who want to receive communion.
Ed Gilmartin is one of the coordinators of this effort at Rex. When asked about the experience, he points out it can be difficult for the patients due to all they’re going through, “We’re just there to be with them.” He recalled, “When I was there recently, a woman wanted to receive but was having stomach issues, and I just prayed with her. The next guy was 92 years old, and I sat and was present with him before he got Communion, and then we read scripture together.” Mary Cockrill, who also volunteers, mentioned, “Sometimes they just don’t feel well, and we are there to do whatever they need.” “These aren’t necessarily our parishioners,” she says, mentioning the “last time I had three people from out of town, but also a parishioner who was there with throat cancer.” They all appreciate their presence with them, and Mary mentions, “Even nurses and technicians are thankful and appreciative that we are at Rex because it shows how much the Catholic Church is there for their people.”
Ed says he will pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and help as he often finds himself in an unknown situation. He explains that the process is to “walk through Rex and go to the chaplain’s office. There, you sign in, get your badge, and check the list of Catholics at Rex and where they are in the building.” You can go in rooms with the badge to give communion, but sometimes errors can occur. Ed recalls humorously, “I had one guy who I went to see, and I said, ‘I’m from the Catholic Community of St. Francis,’ and he said, ‘glad you’re here, but I’m not Catholic.’” In other situations, you often meet Catholics who haven’t been to church in years. Ed says, “I’ll pray with them and maybe give them a bulletin if they live in North Raleigh. Sometimes, it’s good to reconnect with a fallen-away Catholic to remind them the church hasn’t forgotten about them and God doesn’t give up on anyone. God’s spirit may push them in the right direction.”
If you are interested in helping in the Eucharistic Ministry to Rex, you can find EM training through Jim Wahl at jim.wahl@stfrancisraleigh.org. If you are already an EM, contact Ed Gilmartin at edward.gilmartin@gmail.com, and he can show you how to register at Rex and will walk you through the process the first time. You’ll go to the chaplain’s office and walk through with Ed to get familiar with the hospital’s layout. He will show you the process and observe as you take over and become comfortable. After that, it’s just the scheduling. They usually ask people to attend a daily mass on Tuesday at 9:00 am, then get the hosts after Mass and head to Rex a little after 10:00 am. Ed says, “When you get there, the doctor rounds are over, and you’re in the sweet spot between rounds and lunch or quiet time.” Imagine the peace you can bring to the ill as you care for them and represent our faith to them in their time of need.