Pastoral Care
 

Pastoral care is simply our way, as a parish, of trying to respond to people in need as Jesus did as a Good Shepherd. Members of the parish community are called in baptism to serve one another and the wider community. Christ said that if we visited the sick, ministered to those in prison or helped the “anawim” (the little ones), that we did it to him. We encourage people to call us if there is any way that we can assist those in need.

Ministry to Those in Need

The Maryville Ministry Center at 971 S. Main, Maryville, MO 64468, 660-582-6649, is open 1–4pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is sponsored by the Maryville Ministerial Fellowship and receives donations from the community as part of its support. The Ministry Center provides gently used clothing and food to those persons in need. The first weekend of each month, St. Gregory’s Parish families are invited to bring food items to the church gathering space for the food pantry at the Ministry Center. You may also call them to volunteer to help sort clothing or sort and stock food at the Center.

Every Monday evening at 5pm, persons who seek fellowship and those in need of a nutritious meal are invited to our Manna Kitchen. This outreach program is continued on Wednesday evenings at the First United Methodist Church, at the corner of First and Main, Maryville, and on Thursday evenings at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 211 S. Main, Maryville.

Ministry to the Sick

• St. Francis Hospital
  St. Francis Hospital, 2016 S Main, Maryville, is our local Catholic hospital. The Hospital Chaplain regularly visits the sick. He may be reached by calling the hospital at 660-582-2600. For more information on the hospital, you may visit their website at www.stfrancismaryville.com.

• Nursing Homes & Assisted Care Facilities
  The parish has Eucharistic Ministers who visit local nursing homes on a regular basis, and the parish offers Mass monthly at several of these homes. Please call the parish office at 660-582-3833 for more information.
       Golden Living Center
       Bristol Manor
       Nodaway Nursing Home
       Parkdale Manor
       Village Care

• Homebound Visits
  Our Pastor or our Eucharistic Ministers visit the homes of those who are sick or homebound on a regular basis. Call the parish office to place a person on the sick list for a visit.

Death and Dying
 

Always call the office when someone has a serious or terminal illness. It is important that someone from the pastoral team visit with the person about death and dying and assist them, if possible, to prepare for death. Dying can be a very confusing and fearful time, but it can also become a very blessed time – a time of sharing, a time of giving thanks, a time of healing and a time of appreciating each moment of life.

The pastor will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick with the person, and someone will be assigned to give the Sacrament of Viaticum to the dying person. Please let the priest know if the family is working with hospice. Two hospice groups serve our community: SSM Home Care of NW Missouri, 1912 S Main St, Maryville, MO 64468, 660-562-7904 or Asera Care Hospice, 301 E Price St, Savannah, MO 64485, 816-324-1250 or 866-976-2600.

Funerals

Our Funeral Coordinator, Mary Noel, and our Pastor will be happy to work with your family in preparing for your wake, funeral and/or graveside service. Our parish office can also prepare a printed program with the order of service and a list of family members.

Often we host the wake service at St. Gregory’s Church with visitation before and after the prayer service. Refreshments may be provided during visitation. The Guild can also provide a dinner before or after the funeral for the family.

When funerals are held out of town, we will gladly help arrange for graveside services here in Maryville when needed.

When there is a death of a baby at birth or a miscarriage, please call us for prayers and assistance. For more information, please contact Funeral Coordinator Mary Noel at 660-582-4687 or fmnoel@embarqmail.com

   -Early Funeral Planning

We encourage every person to think about and plan ahead for their own funeral. You may pick up a copy of a booklet, “Now and at the Hour of Our Death,” in the church gathering space. This booklet is an excellent planner for all aspects of preparing for your death and your funeral. You and your family can complete the pages as you discuss where you want to be buried, what liturgical aspects of your funeral you would like and what financial and legal steps you have taken, including where you keep your important papers.

   -Aftercare

Please let us know how we can be of help after the funeral is over. Everyone grieves in their own way, but we can help with prayer, sharing and opportunities for service and working with others.

   -Yearly Remembrance of the Dead

Each Memorial Day and All Souls Day (November 2), we offer special prayer services to remember our loved ones. Watch our bulletin for more information.

   -Weekly Prayers for the Dead

Please call the parish office to place a deceased family member or friend in the prayers of the faithful.

Prison Ministry

   -Treatment Center

Our prison ministry team conducts communion services each Wednesday evening at 6:30pm at the Maryville Treatment Center located in the former Mount Alverno Convent. Mass is celebrated monthly. Sunday scriptures are shared, seminars are held and RCIA classes are provided for those inmates who want to join our Catholic faith. For more information, contact JoAnn Townsend at 660-582-5392.

   -Nodaway County Jail

Always call the office if a friend or family member is in jail and needs our support.

   -Mental Health

If members of your family or a friend need help with mental illness or addiction, please seek professional help. If we can assist during their treatment, please give us a call. There are many support groups that can help during difficult times. Please call if you need assistance in locating a support group, such as AA, AlAnon, groups for divorced persons, widows or widowers, those with eating disorders, single parents, etc. Catholic Charities in St. Joseph provides counseling opportunities. Call 888-629-2886 to make an appointment.