The Ministry for Retired Priests

"As Catholics we are blessed with the gift of the priesthood. After a lifetime of
devotion, sacrifice and service we must secure their well-being."

Our purpose is to help you maintain your independent living, and with God's grace, make your
everyday life challenges easier, and your yoke lighter.

Our services include; but are not limited to, assisting you with:
Companionship
Visitation (especially for priests in Skilled Nursing Facilities)
Walks
Reading
Providing transportation to
         doctor/dentist appointments,
         stores
         bank
         retreats
Running errands for you, such as the pharmacy, grocery store, and mall.
Computer help.
Occasional meals to priests having difficulty obtaining nutritious meals.
House hold organization, such as laundry, dishes, vacuuming if requested.
Yard work.
Assisting/participating in your individual hobbies/interest such as gardening, music, etc.
Planning social outings with other retired priests.
        Dinner or luncheon get-togethers
        Retreats
        Holy places of interest (for example Holy Hill)
        Cinema outings
        Holiday meals

If you need assistance or would like more information, please contact one of the ministry members below.

Maureen Edwards
Cell phone: 577-9747 
Email: wime@tds.net

Gail Wild
Cell phone: 220-1116 
Email: gwild@yahoo.com

Cheryl Splinter
Cell phone: 821-3016 
email: csplinter@straphael.org 

We are committed to you; our retired priests, and thus our ministry.
We feel that our Blessed Mother's presence has been with us from
the beginning as we formed and planned this ministry. We pray for the
guidance of the Holy Spirit and to continue under Mary's watchful eye as
we care for her beloved priest sons.  

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much.  Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

(By J. J. Cardinal Carberry)

Mary, Queen of Priests, pray for them. Help them to faithfully love and serve Jesus. Help them lead many souls to Jesus in the Eucharist!

                                                                                                                          
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit    AMEN

Dear Jesus, how can we ever properly thank you for our priests? They have given up everything for us, forsaking the world to nourish our souls with the Eucharist and to heal our wounds through Confession.

Send forth your Holy Spirit, RIGHT NOW, in a flood--nay--a supernatural TORRENT of grace, in swift and sure answer to this plea, bringing consolations and courage and purity and joy to our beloved priests.  As only You can do, whisper into their hearts that we love them so!  As only You can do, enwrap each man wearing a cassock and collar in the loving maternal arms of your Mother, who wept with You and stayed with You during your hours of suffering during Your crucifixion.

We ask this in Your Holy Name, the name above all names: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
                               Amen."

By The late John J. Cardinal Carberry
of St. Louis