Health and Wellness Ministry

*God doesn't look at how much we do, but with how much love we do it. - Mother Teresa*
Mission Statement
	We are a ministry working with the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to promote health and wellness services to our parish community. We will minister to the body, mind, and spirit of the faithful of the parish. Through acts of service to others, we will respond to community based needs.
What is the Health& Wellness Ministry?
	We are a group of parish health care professionals and non-professional volunteers with the desire to promote health and wellness in our community, and to provide practical assistance to parishioners in need. We have a varied program, and we are exploring ways to expand our ministry. We welcome anyone with an interest in our activities. Those who are good listeners, are empathetic, and have time available during the day to sit with our parishioners, are also encouraged to become part of the ministry.
The Role of the Health & Wellness Ministry Team
	l Provide education on health matters l Conduct health screenings (such as blood pressure screenings) l Offer referrals for community resources l Give emotional and family support l Provide companionship to the homebound and elderly l Provide respite time for caregivers l Respond to community needs (food drives, clothing drives, baby product drives, Back to School drives, sponsor a family at the homeless shelter, provide birthday gifts to shelter children)
For Additional Information on the Health & Wellness Ministry
	Please contact Maureen Sapelli at maureenm23@gmail.com

Members of the H&W Ministry go into the homes of the home bound who request our services, and we provide companionship and help out with simple chores around the house. We also provide meals for people as needed on a short term basis. If you are interested in having one of us visit, or if you are interested in visiting, please contact Maureen Sapelli at 215-794-5764 ormaureenm23@gmail.com

Members of the H&W Ministry are able to provide some time to sit with loved ones while the caregiver takes a break. If you are interested, contact Maureen Sapelli.

Thank you for your very generous donations throughout the year. We alternate months donating to the Doylestown Food Pantry of the Bucks County Housing Group and The Lord’s Pantry at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ottsville. Items that are always needed include jelly, cereal, coffee, powdered milk, canned fruit, tomato products, pasta, rice, potato products, sugar, flour, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and dried beans, but any non-perishable food will help. For the rest of 2011, the food drives will be held on the third Saturday and Sunday of the month. Food can be brought to all Masses or to the parish office. If there are any questions please contact Maureen Sapelli at 215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com

The PREP students have been making monthly food donations for the 2 pantries listed above since the fall of 2009. They have contributed a great deal of food which shows how the OLG PREP students are helping the hungry kids in Bucks County!! PREP food drives for the 2011-2012 school year will be held on the third Tuesday and Thursday of the month unless otherwise posted.

Over 2 years ago the parish, with the help of the H&W Ministry, adopted a family at the Doylestown Homeless Shelter. Before our first family moved in, we cleaned and painted their apartment, and we held a drive at church for household goods such as sheets, blanket, towels, cleaning products, pillows, gift cards for grocery stores, gas, Target, K-Mart, Walmart and others etc. Our first family did very well. Mom went back to school and then found a job. Within less than a year, they were able to move into Section 8 housing, into a row home of their own. We did the same preparation for our second family. They consisted of a dad with cancer and three bright, wonderful kids. Dad got treated for his cancer and got back to work. The family moved out in July to a home in Pendel. In June of 2011 we did the drive for household goods for our third family and again we cleaned the apartment. Our third family has been living in the apartment since mid July 2011. The family consists of a mom, 3 boys and a girl who is going to college on scholarship.

Throughout the year we help our family in various ways. We give them Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. We give them Christmas presents and back to school supplies and clothes. As other needs arise, we help out as we can. If anyone would like to help out with a particular need for our family, contact Maureen Sapelli 215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com

In addition to helping our family, the H&W Ministry takes birthday cakes and presents to all of the kids at the shelter (details are below). Also, we hold a picnic at Lake Galena in August and a Christmas party in December for all of the shelter residents.

The H&W Ministry takes special cup cakes and presents to each child in the shelter on his/her special day. Chriss Weiseman of OLG supplies us with delicious cupcakes and personalizes them with beautiful wrappers, which are designed by her specifically for each child. If anyone would ever like to donate a present, please let Maureen Sapelli know.

The H&W Ministry is having our third annual fall/winter clothing/coat drive on October 8 and 9. Please clean out your closets and donate those coats and clothes that you are not planning on wearing this winter. Clothing for males and females and all ages is needed. Chlidren’s clothes are in particular demand. Please bring your donations to all Masses that weekend.

Members of OLG help out at the BCHG Food Pantry and Shelter. Help is always needed in the pantry in addition to help being needed with babysitting and giving rides to residents. If anyone is interested in helping, please contact Kate Bianchini at 215-345-1492.

The Ministry frequently gets calls for donations of used furniture and household goods. There is limited storage space at the shelter, so it is very hit and miss as to whether they can use these items or not. If you would like to donate furniture or household goods you can contact Maureen Sapelli at 215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com and the need for the donation can be explored.

Members of OLMC and OLG have been helping Father Andrew Labatorio’s Saint Jude parish in Port-au-Prince for several years by going to Saint Jude and conducting medical missions. We have supported those missions by collecting vitamins and over the counter medicines. Since the earthquake, the situation in Haiti is much more desperate, and we would like to help Father Andrew’s parish in additional ways. Even though Haiti is not in the news very much anymore, conditions there are still very bad. OLMC obtained a large shipping container which was filled with goods collected at OLG and OLMC and was sent to Father Andrew’s mission. At present the H&W ministry is sponsoring a child to be able to go to school in Haiti at Father Andrew’s school.

In the fall of 2010 a Prayer Shawl Ministry was formed at OLG. There are a number of talented ladies knitting, crocheting and quilting prayer shawls. Prayer shawls are shawls, lap robes or blankets which are made by people with love and care. Prayers for the one receiving the shawl are said while it is being made. When finished, a medal of OLG is sewn into the shawl and the shawl is blessed. Then the shawl is given to someone who needs to be comforted. This can be a person who is sick, sad, distressed in some other way or just cold. Prayer shawls or blankets can also be given on joyous occasions like the birth of a baby. As of September 2011, we have donated 51 shawls. Our first priority is to donate the shawls to our parishioners. If you know of anyone who would like a shawl, or if you would like a shawl, please contact Maureen Sapelli at 215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com We have also started making blankets and baby clothes for Blessed Margaret of Castello Home for Crisis Pregnancies. This facility is located in Bensalem and takes care of pregnant women who are homeless. In the fall of 2011 we will be making scarves and hats for the children at the homeless shelter. Also, if anyone would like to donate yarn, please contact Maureen Sapelli. If anyone would like to join the group, the dates of the meetings are in the church bulletin. We usually meet on Monday nights at 7 pm, but not every Monday night.

H&W Meetings are usually held once a month on a Wednesday at 7 pm in the parish office. Check the bulletin for which Wednesday of the month we are meeting or contact Maureen Sapelli. (215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com) You do not have to be a health care professional to join the group. All are welcome.

If you have any questions about any of the projects that the H&W Ministry is doing, please contact Maureen Sapelli at 215-794-5764 or maureenm23@gmail.com