NEED ASSISTANCE
"Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
Matthew 25: 37-40
Whether in a crisis situation or simply in need of support Saint Paul Social Concerns provides services directly to individuals in terms of food, clothing, emergency funds and spiritual support. Below is a list of services offered by Saint Paul Social Concerns Ministries. Please contact Sherrie Wade, Director of Social Concerns at 301-253-2027 x or email swade@stpauldamascus.org to make us aware of your needs or bring to our attention the needs of someone in the community.
Alcoholics Anonymous | Bereavement | Elderly Care Outreach | Meals | Support during Hospitalization | Wellness Assessment by Health Care Ministry | Anointing of the Sick | Clergy Visit / St. Paul's Pastoral Visitors | Receive Eucharist | Prayer and Healing Ministry | Angel Tree | Holiday Basket/Meal Programs | Others who can help
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held every Tuesday evening in the Church Hall from 8:30 to 9:30 PM.
Contact the Parish Office at 301-253-2027 for more information.
Bereavement
We offer support and resources for those experiencing a loss, sponsor special Masses of remembrances for those who have lost loved ones, and provide a meal following a funeral. Contact our HOPE (Healing, Opportunity, Peace and Encouragement) Committee, Kathy Grapski at 301-253-5509 or click here (http://www.montgomeryhospice.org/) for Montgomery County Hospice resources.
Elderly Care Outreach
We provide telephone companionship, references to community resources, pastoral visitors, communion, shopping services and transportation to the elderly.
Contact Sherrie Wade at 301-253-2027.
Meals
During a family crisis having dinner prepared for the family can be a welcomed relief. Parishioners from the parish have volunteered to make and deliver a meal to a homebound person on a short term basis such as a person recovering from a hip or knee replacement to long term as for the chronically ill. Other examples are a mother with a newborn baby, a family at home whose primary caregiver is hospitalized, a family of a hospitalized or ill child. Dinners are enough for a family regardless of size and are usually provided every other day unless more is needed. Services can be provided for one to two weeks, or after an evaluation as needed.
Contact Carolyn Sherwood at 301-515-1971.
Support during Hospitalization
Please call St. Paul Parish Office at 301-253-2027 and inform us if you will be hospitalized. In case of emergency, tell the hospital that you are a Catholic and would like to receive the sacrament of anointing, or call St. Paul's and we will arrange for the sacrament to be administered.
A Priest, Deacon, or a representative of St. Paul's will visit the area hospitals in the metropolitan, Frederick, and Baltimore areas. For a planned hospitalization, let the hospital know that you are a Catholic and would like to receive the Eucharist. If St. Paul's is informed of a hospitalization, we can call ahead to the Chaplain's office for you. Our Priest, Deacons, and extraordinary ministers can also bring the Eucharist to the hospital.
Don't wait alone. If you are in a crisis and there is no family to wait with you, remember St. Paul's is your family and we will wait with you, but you must call us.
Let us pray with you and for you, at the Mass, and on the prayer chain.
Contact Sherrie Wade at 301-253-2027.
Wellness Assessment by Health Care Ministry
The Health Ministry of St. Paul's strives to promote health & wellness within our community using a holistic approach that involves mind, body and spirit.
An initial confidential assessment visit will be made by the health minister to assess individual needs. The health minister will coordinate community and parish resources for recently hospitalized, chronically ill, and elderly parishioners in order to assist them in maintaining or regaining optimum health.
Contact Kathleen Hughes at 301-253-9541.
Anointing of the Sick
Is the prayer of the Church that those who are sick will be healed by God in their body, mind, and spirit? Who should receive the Sacrament of anointing? All persons who are seriously sick, children who have reached the age of reason, the elderly, before a sick person has surgery, or a sick person who has lost consciousness or the use of reason who as a Christian believer probably have asked for it were they in control of their faculties.
Whenever possible, the Sacrament should be received in a communal celebration. The sacrament of anointing can take place at any Sunday or weekday liturgy. But if this is not possible special arrangement will be made.
Contact Sherrie Wade at 301-253-2027.
Clergy Visit / St. Paul's Pastoral Visitors
Call the rectory to arrange for Fr. Pierce or a deacon to visit our elderly shut-ins, chronically ill. Also, St. Paul's Pastoral Visitors is a group of trained volunteers representing Christ and St. Paul's Catholic Church, coming together to supplement the Pastor's visits. We provide friendly visits in support of the elderly, homebound, sick and shut ins, and group home residents, meeting them where they are, and walking with them in their experiences. Fulfilling our baptismal call as adult disciples, Pastoral Visitors seek to be attentive to the loneliness and spiritual and emotional needs of those they visit.
Contact Sherrie Wade at 301-253-2027.
Receive Eucharist
To receive the Eucharist by an Extraordinary Ministry to the Sick call arrangements will be made for a time that is convenient for you. Extraordinary ministers can also bring the seasonal liturgical gift such as Ashes on Ash Wednesday, Palms on Palm Sunday.
Contact Virginia Clifford at 301-253-4910.
Prayer and Healing Ministry
St. Paul Prayer Group ministers through prayer for those individuals on the Parish and Regional prayer chains, and in the Parish’s Book of Intentions. Also, we pray with and for the needs of those who have asked us to pray for them or their family and loved ones.
Contact the Prayer Chain at St.PaulsPrayerRequest@verizon.net or
Contact Jerry Linn at 301-253-3825.
Angel Tree
Damascus children and/or families in need are assisted at Christmastime by donations of gifts from parishioners.
Contact Barbara Zellers 301-253-3465.
Holiday Basket/Meal Programs
Thanksgiving basket/meals, Christmas basket/meals, and Easter baskets are prepared and presented to Damascus community members in need.
Contact Sherrie Wade at 301-253-2027.
Others who can help:
Damascus Help [link to www.damascushelp.org] - emergency food deliveries
Faith Connections [link to www.faith-connections.org] - emergency food / funds
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