St. Catherine Homebound ministry offers way to serve

Touching lives with compassion and God’s presence is what Genny and Chubby Marks and other extraordinary ministers of holy Communion do during weekly visits with the homebound in St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Metairie.

“There she is,” Genny Marks said with a smile as she approached her old friend Rita LeBlanc one recent day to give her Communion. “How are you doing today?”

“I’m doing good,” said Le­Blanc, a mother of four grown adults, as she clutched a pink rosary in her hand.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Genny Marks said as she affectionately kissed her hello.

The men and women in the homebound ministry at St. Catherine and other parishes provide pastoral care to those who – due to age, disability or illness – can no longer receive the Eucharist at weekly Mass. While distributing Communion, they read the daily Gospel and other prayers to the Catholic homebound they visit.

“In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Genny Marks began praying with her husband and Le­Blanc. She sprinkled holy water on LeBlanc, then Chubby Marks read the Gospel of the day, which happened to be exactly what they were doing: “No greater love … than to lay down one’s life for their friends.”

Sharing the love

Their love and encouragement were so apparent to LeBlanc as they ministered to her.

“We know that God is a kind father and is there for us in sickness and health,” Genny Marks said.

The parish ministers then prayed the Our Father with LeBlanc and talked awhile before departing.

“She loves to be prayed with,” Chubby Marks said about LeBlanc.

LeBlanc and her son John, who helps with her care, are so appreciative of St. Catherine’s Homebound ministry. Before she became ill, LeBlanc attended weekday Mass for more than 20 years, and twice each weekend. She is known for helping poor families and cooking and caring for many elderly people. Marks said she got to know her through the St. Vincent de Paul ministry.

If not for the homebound ministry, LeBlanc said she wouldn’t be able to receive Communion.

“It’s very important,” she said.

John LeBlanc said his mother has always been a faithful and patient person. He was a handful as a child, and as an adult, LeBlanc cared for him after a spinal cord injury. They saw the power of prayer as John LeBlanc healed.

“I’ve seen the power of what God can do,” John LeBlanc said in his mom’s den filled with pictures of Jesus and Mary. “I wish she could receive communion every day.”

“It’s a privilege bring her communion,” Chubby Marks said.

Fulfilling ministry

For first-time homebound visits, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion will bring holy water, a crucifix, candle, matches and an embroidered cloth to leave with those receiving the Eucharist.

St. Catherine’s Homebound ministry was started in early 1990s by Sister Rosemary Wessel, currently has 12 active Extraordinary Ministers and 30 homebound parishioners they visit. The Markses, married 54 years with three living children, have been with the ministry from the beginning and were originally invited to become Eucharistic ministers by the former pastor, Msgr. Gerard Barrett. They said they enjoy spending their time working for the church and are actively involved in other ministries at St. Catherine of Siena. They said they have been blessed by the people God has put in their lives.

“We love working together (with the homebound) and work together in St. Vincent de Paul,” Genny Marks said. “It’s really beautiful for me for him to want to do this with me.”

Genny Marks currently coordinates the homebound ministry, but said St. Catherine’s parochial vicar, Father Alberto Villosillo, oversees it. He and Father Eugene Jacques, pastor, also minister to the sick when families request.

Having the ministry’s date on the computer makes changes easy as Marks  adds and removes people from the roles and assign her ministers, Ginny Marks said.

“But it’s constantly changing with people dying, new people coming in and others getting better and coming back to church,” she said.

Marks credits her fellow volunteers.

“The ministry could not exist without these beautiful people who are so willing to five of their time and themselves to ministering to the sick and dying. They will all tell you what a rewarding ministry this is – to bring the body and blood of Jesus to our sisters and brothers who are sick and suffering.”

            Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarionherald.org.