Medical Care/Mental Health Care

Holy Name Province ministries work to help fill existing medical and mental health service gaps in a variety of ways, and try to effect broader change through advocacy action.

Review some of the Province advocacy efforts and direct service work in pursuit of improved medical and mental health care outreach.

To add to the list, contact Fran Eskin-Royer in Holy Name Province’s Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

Efforts that use community organizing and/or dialogue with local and national officials to address the needs of people and/or creation

HEALTHCARE REFORM

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Long Beach Township, N.J.
The parish held a 2009 postcard campaign to express support for efforts to bring about healthcare reform.
Contact:

St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
The parish educated and advocated in support of health care reform; efforts included a 2009 postcard campaign.
Contact: Ray Nosbaum

Efforts that work to address the immediate needs of people and/or creation.

ATHENS NURSES’ CLINIC

Catholic Center at University of Georgia
Athens, Ga.
As part of its social justice outreach, the Catholic Center at UGA partners with Athens Nurses Clinic which provides free health and dental care to no/low income uninsured individuals in Athens-Clarke County and Northeast Georgia. The Catholic Center has collected monetary donations, and assisted with the clinic’s personal hygiene kit drive.
Contact: Alayne Makula

BLOOD BANK DONATIONS

Siena College
Loudonville, N.Y.
The Siena College Red Cross Club organizes periodic blood drives throughout the school year. Read a story about one of Siena’s Blood Drives.
Contact: Judy Dougherty

St. Bonaventure Parish
Paterson, N.J.
The parish provides space for local blood drives every other year.
Contact: Fr. Daniel Grigassy, OFM

DUKE CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT

Immaculate Conception Parish
Durham, N.C.
Ministry participants provide a compassionate presence for cancer patients and help to make their visits (diagnosis, treatment and after-care) less stressful.
Contact: Janet Csarney

DUKE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MINISTRY

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
Ministry participants work to provide four parties a year for the outpatient children at Duke Hospital, and joy and respite to both the children and their parents as they manage the sadness and drudgery of illness and doctor visits. For information, visit the parish website.
Contact: Ginny Winckelmann

HEALING SERVICES

St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish
Hartford, Conn.
A healing service for suicide survivors, and those affected by abortion, HIV/AIDS is held annually on the 3rd Saturday in November, the International Suicide Survivors’ Day.
Contact: Fr. Thomas Gallagher, OFM

HEALTH SCREENINGS

St. Bonaventure Parish
Paterson, N.J.
The parish hosts “Life Line Screening” every other year so that members of the community can receive affordable, safe, and reliable preventative health screenings in a convenient location.
Contact: Fr. Daniel Grigassy, OFM

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Long Beach Township, N.J.
Every Tuesday from 10-12noon, the parish nurse provides free blood pressure screenings at the St. Francis Community Center (Room 106).
Contact: Connie Becraft

HELP WITH DENTAL CARE

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Greenville, S.C.
St. Anthony’s works in collaboration with Catholic Charities to provide dentures, both partial and full, to people who otherwise could not afford them. While the government will pull teeth at no expense to qualified clients, it will not pay for the replacements, so this ministry tries to help fill this service gap.
Contact: Mary Corner

MYCHAEL JUDGE RECOVERY CENTER

St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center
Boston, Mass.
A substance abuse counseling and retreat program onsite at St. Anthony Shrine. For further details, visit the ministry website.
Contact: Anthony Andreottola

PRE-MED STUDENTS SERVE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Siena College
Loudonville, N.Y.
Siena College students serve the poor and marginalized around the world as part of the Siena College- Albany Medical College program. The students engage in nonmedical work with the disadvantaged in urban ghettos or developing nations. For details, visit the college website.
Contact: Dr. Edward LaRow

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE SERVICE

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
St. Francis parishioners provide dinners to families staying at Durham’s Ronald McDonald House once a month while their children receive medical treatment. For more information, visit the parish website.
Contact: Julie & Jason Huckaby

SHOWERS FOR AIDS/HIV BABIES GIVEN EVERY OTHER SPRING

St. Bonaventure Parish
Paterson, N.J.
As part of its Ministry to Social Concerns, the parish organizes a shower for babies with HIV/AIDS every other year. For more information visit the parish website.
Contact: Fr. Daniel Grigassy, OFM

TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY

St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Greenville, S.C.
This ministry transports individuals who are unable to drive themselves to and from church or other appointments.
Contact: Debbie Anderson

WELLNESS CENTERS

St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center
Boston, Mass.
The Center offers screening for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol at no cost. In addition to health screenings, it offers facilitated referrals to local physicians and medical facilities along with health education seminars. The Wellness Center is open every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and two Sundays per month from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Services are free to all. For more information, visit the ministry website.
Contact: Sr. Patricia Barrett

St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish
Hartford, Conn.
The Wellness Center on Church Street, a partnership between the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry and Saint Joseph College (West Hartford), serves the poor and underserved people of Hartford by providing basic medical services for people who are without health care benefits. For information, visit the parish website.
Contact: Trudi White