Diaconal Ministries Resource Manual
21
Hospice and Nursing Care Ministry
W
hen advice, care and recommenda-
tions are needed around hospice, the
deacon can help with the journey no matter
which hospice agency is chosen. The dea-
con works to make sure a patient is offered
and receives Catholic services if desired, and
that their Catholic faith is honored. Making
sure the whole person is cared for, medical,
spiritual, emotional, social/family, & financial
issues are addressed. If you need advice on
what hospice is, what it provides, and what is
covered, or which of the 40 Colorado hos-
pice agencies to choose, please reach out to
the Hospice and Nursing Centers Ministry.
The deacon in charge of this ministry can
also share which agencies support/enable
physician assisted suicide.
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Deacon Alan Rastrelli
intensivecaringdeacondoc@outlook.com
303.770.1155
Hospital Ministry
D
eacons are privileged to minister in the
local hospitals. To listen when patients
have needs or family members receive diffi-
cult news about their loved ones. Often, the
people need a willing ear and an understand-
ing heart. Many speak of having a feeling of
peace because of the deacon's presence as
a representative of the Church. This small
gesture makes an incredible difference to the
patient and the family.
The deacon may be asked to visit with a
patient or provide viaticum to those that
are dying. He may also help by arranging
for a priest to come for a final anointing. At
a Catholic Hospital, the deacon also assists
at Mass, ministers to the patients, staff, or
members of the nearby community.
Love and compassion to see the sick and
dying with the eyes of Christ and to minister
to them as they are shown the way by God,
the ultimate healer of all.
The Archdiocese has created a Hospital
database to ensure that these facilities have
clergy available to minister to patients and
family when requested.
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Deacon Michael Grafner
deaconmgrafner@gmail.com
303.988.2222
Deacon George Linehan
gdlinehan3@gmail.com
303.838.0338
