Christian Service

The Bereavement Ministry at Holy Spirit is a ministry of consolation.  Its purpose is to offer solace to those people who are grieving the loss of a loved one so that they may experience the comfort of God through the faith community at Holy Spirit.  Bereavement Ministry participants pray for the dead and comfort those who mourn.  They call on and visit with the bereaved and organize and conduct special groups and programs.

Other members of this committee serve during vigil (wake) and funeral liturgies providing set-up, hospitality (ushers / greeters), altar servers, EMs, and backup readers. Persons are also needed to assist with the annual parish All Souls’ Day services.

Gift of Time: One 90 minute evening meeting per month and time for calla and /or visits.

Training: Provided. Some experience with one-on-one communication would be helpful but is not necessary.

Contact information:   If you are interested in serving in this ministry or wish to refer someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one

Sue Schmitz, 317.585.1257 x 120 or [email protected]

Shannon Schmidt, 317-585-1257 x 102 or [email protected]

Greg Bowman, Pastoral Associate at Holy Spirit, is a counselor by profession and knows of many counseling resources in the area.  Parishioners may contact him for referrals to local professionals for mental health, addiction, marital, or family counseling.

Greg can be reached at [email protected] or (317) 585-1257.

Ministers visit and bring the Eucharist to elderly and infirmed parishioners confined to their own homes or the residents of local nursing homes. 

The objective of this ministry is to care for and affirm the members of our faith community who are isolated from us due to injury or illness.  We distribute to them the life-giving Eucharist, help give them the strength to accept their illness or injury and support them in whatever way we can.  You must be a Eucharistic Minister to serve on this committee.

Gift of Time:  Once to twice a month, as the needs arise. 

Training: Training is conducted throughout the year as the need arises.  Initial training consists of a 2-hour classroom presentation and skills development.  Additionally, new ministers apprentice with veteran ministers by accompanying them on homebound visits.

Contact: Pastoral Associate Sue Schmitz @ [email protected]

Going to be hospitalized? 

Stephen Ministers are trained to listen to your concerns. This person will pray with you and make sure you are brought Holy Communion. Hospitals no longer automatically contact the Church when your are hospitalized due to privacy regualtions, unless you request them to do so upon admission.

Please call the church office at 317-849-9245 to make arrangements for a visits.

Contact: Sue Schmitz @ [email protected] or 317-585-1257

Help process and catalogue books, videos and audios in the parish library. 

If you have questions, please contact the parish office at 317-849-9245

The prayer ministry provides support for prayer intentions (both needs and praises) of parishioners.  It is done on each parishioner's own time.  The structure of the ministry is merely to facilitate communication of prayer via a calling tree or through e-mail at [email protected]

Gift of Time:  Your own prayer time.

Training:  None required.

Contact:  Lindsey Goergen at [email protected]

Shawl Ministry will not meet the months of January and February 2020.

We have several shawls, cancer caps and prayer squares available for recipients. If you know someone who would be comforted by one of these handmade treasures stop by the Parish Life Center any Thursday between 6:30-8:00 pm and pick out an item that would be most fitting for your recipient.

Ten years ago during Lent, the Shawl Ministry was started at Holy Spirit. Since then, over 700 shawls have been knitted or crocheted and distributed to parishioners to offer warmth and comfort and we are now also making “cancer caps” for anyone undergoing cancer treatment.

Prayer Shawls are lovingly made to be given to those undergoing medical procedures, as a comfort after a loss or in times of stress, during bereavement or an illness and recovery.  The person who will receive the shawl is prayed for while the shawl is being made that the recipient will receive the blessings of comfort, peace, and wholeness, the gift of warmth, and the knowledge that they are loved. 

When the shawl is completed it is blessed by the ministry and sent on its way.  We have the yarn and people who can help you get started to an outreach opportunity that is very gratifying.  It is easier than you think!  New members to the Shawl Ministry are always welcome and needed.  If you have been away for a while, come back and see us!

The Shawl Ministry has weekly meetings on Thursdays, in the Parish Life Center, Room 52 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm.  

We sincerely hope you will consider joining us, whether you already know how to knit or crochet or want to learn. 

For more information, or to request a shawl for someone, please contact Joan Durbin at (317) 919-6757.

For additional information about Shawl Ministry visit www.shawlministry.com.

The Funeral Meals Ministry is in need of additional volunteers.  

For grieving families, this ministry provides much needed comfort in a time of sorrow.This ministry organizes and prepares funeral meals. It buys and cooks the meat, and supplies cheese, bread and drinks.  Other committee members are called to provide side dishes and desserts.  To the family of the deceased this is a blessing in their time of sorrow.

In this ministry, volunteers are called on an "as needed" basis (usually one or two days prior to the scheduled funeral) to see if they are available to assist.

To become a part of this group, please complete this contact form.

If you have questions, please contact Debbie Townsend at [email protected] or 317-502-2535

Sponsor Couple Sponsor Couples are parish members who have been married at least 5 years and are willing to share the lessons of their life journey. This parish ministry helps to prepare our engaged couples for the sacred and joyous sacrament of marriage.

Sponsor Couple Registration/Update Form

Sponsor Couples receive a dialogue manual to begin their five discussions with the couple they sponsor.  Sponsor Couples provide our engaged couples with an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns beyond wedding day preparations.  We especially welcome couples whose life journey may include a previous marriage or a marriage that celebrates the blending of different religious faiths.

To learn more about the on-line resources available to support sponsor couples, visit: http://www.marriagepreparation.com/Resources_for_using.htm

Meeting with the engaged couple will be held in the Sponsor Couple's home or arrangements can be made to meet at the parish.

These meetings are approximately once or twice a month for 2 to  2/12 hours for a total of 5 meetings with an engaged couple.

Training:  The manual and your life experience provide the most important training, but we invite Sponsor Couples to continuing education and social events during the year.

Contact:  Mike O'Connell 317-585-1264. MO'[email protected]

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS AT HOLY SPIRIT PARISH AT GEIST
Life can get complicated. Stephen Ministers Care!

What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is one-to-one, confidential, lay Christian care.

One-to-one: Stephen Ministers meet privately with one care receiver of the same gender.

Confidential: Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: those receiving care can be sure that their identity and what goes on in the caring relationship will remain private.

Lay: Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised lay volunteers, not professional counselors or therapists, pastors, or physicians. Stephen Ministers are not authorized to give legal, medical, financial, or any other advice, but Bible-based encouragement.

Christian: Stephen Ministers are Christians who care in the name of Christ. They are willing to talk about spiritual issues, but don’t force them.

Care: Stephen Ministers care by listening, supporting, encouraging, praying, being dependable and trustworthy and maintaining confidentiality in their care giving.

Do You Need a Stephen Minister?
Are You Interested in Becoming a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministry Continuing Education Sessions Click Here
Many of these Sessions are open to the parish

For more information contact:

Greg Bowman at [email protected] or Sue.Schmitz at [email protected]
Call 317-585-1257