“Christ has no body now but yours, no hands no feet on earth but yours,” these words by St. Teresa of Avila best describe the work of Christ currently being done by the dozens of volunteers who work with the Chaplains in the Archdiocesan of Regina. These dedicated people from parishes across Regina bring the Gospel, the Eucharist, and a friendly ear to the aged, sick and dying. You will find them in the halls of Pioneer Village, Wascana Rehabilitation Hospital, the Regina General and Pasqua hospitals. Most volunteers are retired or semi-retired and want to be of service to their church and it’s people. They are caregivers in every sense of the word.
In appreciation of their efforts Archbishop Don Bolen said, “Thank you. You are the presence of the church in the lives of the sick and the suffering. You touch hearts one by one, day by day and today, because of the laws encouraging people who are ill to take their own lives, you are more important than ever.”
Archbishop Bolen spoke to the crowd after a wonderful roast beef dinner prepared by Charlotte’s Catering from Moose Jaw. He told them, there is nothing undignified about dying. Those of you who volunteer to visit the patients, listen to their stories, share the Holy Eucharist and proclaim the Gospel, help to transform the church into the image of Christ and bring hope to the suffering who need to be heard.
To be a church with strong and healthy relations between clergy and laity, we need to draw on your gifts. “Now there are a variety of gifts, service, and activities” Archbishop added, “but to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” Those who visit the aged and the sick, show the mercy and acceptance between the suffering and the body of Christ. You make us a better church.
