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February 8, 2024By Carissa Krautscheid
Staff of the Catholic Foundation and the Diocese of Tucson gathered in fellowship for Thankful Thursday: a day to give back and support the ministries serving those in need across our community.
This particular Thankful Thursday benefitted two ministries of Catholic Community Services (CCS): St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders and St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry.
St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders
Bishop Edward Weisenburger led the assembly line of 300 Lent prayer bags and 300 Easter prayer baskets. “Bishop Weisenburger continued working alongside of the staff until the work was completed!” observed Patsy Klein, program coordinator of St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders. These liturgical resources will be distributed to the elderly at nursing homes.
St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders collaborates with parishes and priests to “provide much-needed spiritual support to older adults living in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, hospitals, hospice care, or are homebound. They train volunteers to make sure that any elder who can no longer physically attend Mass at their parish can have access to the Sacraments, prayer, and a sense of connection with the Catholic Church” (CCS). This ministry also offers free training workshops on becoming an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and on advanced care planning within Catholic Social Teaching. Last year, St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry hosted the first diocesan Convocation for 158 Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist from 32 parishes across the Diocese of Tucson.
St. Jeanne Jugan Ministry with Elders
St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison MinistryIn addition to 600 blessings bags for the elderly, the Catholic Foundation also collected men’s clothing to be donated to CCS’ St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry, which ministers to all the prisons, jails, and detention centers across the Diocese of Tucson.
Program coordinator, Deacon Mike Gutierrez, trains chaplains and volunteers to visit those who are incarcerated and provide Mass or a Communion Service, pastoral counseling, evangelization, Bible study, religious education, fellowship, sacramental preparation, and time with the Lord. These faith-based programs are well attended by prisoners who elect to participate.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Prison Ministry also walks with those being released from incarceration to assist with finding a place to stay, jobs, ID, and clothing. “It is very difficult to find housing when you’re recently released from incarceration,” said Deacon Mike. “These clothing donations are a generous effort. The men are in such need.”
