The Journey of a Eucharistic Minister by Josephine DeVito

My Catholic faith has always been a strong part of who I am. I was fortunate to have received a strong belief in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph from my parents. Along with my faith as a child, I always wanted to be a nurse. A nurse was a person who cared about people and wanted to help those who were sick. Being a child, I thought this would be something I could do because I was raised to care for and love others.

My father had a serious accident when I was 10 years old and lost two fingers. I remember going with my mother to the emergency room, where they reattached the fingers; I remember seeing the pain in his eyes as he was medicated by the nurse who was with him. Within a week, when the bandages were removed, his attached fingers were infected and had to be amputated. I saw the reflection of the infected fingers in the mirror. They scheduled surgery a week later; my mom had to re-dress the fingers until surgery. Together we did this. It was a very special time for my mother, father, and me. I started thinking about the role of the nurse and realized how much I admired the generous kindness shown to my father. This is how my journey began in my faith and in my chosen profession of nursing.

After completing my nursing education at a Catholic University, my interest focused on the relationship of mothers and children in an academic and clinical setting. I taught obstetrical nursing at Seton Hall University to undergraduate students. Students became aware that faith, knowledge, understanding cultural norms, and showing compassion are an important part of all areas of nursing.

As a professional nurse in the maternal-child settings of labor and delivery, postpartum, and newborn nursing, I saw the beauty of new life, which is a miracle of God. I also witnessed the sorrowful moments that included fetal demise and infants born with congenital anomalies. I thought about the Blessed Mother and how she endured the pain and suffering of her son, Jesus Christ.

When a child is born, whether healthy or with complications, the love a mother carries in her heart is everlasting. During the challenges of life, I knew that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were there. I believe that the Blessed Mother is our advocate to the heart of Jesus Christ to help us understand how we go forward in life. I prayed for the newborns and their parents. Prayer became my way of talking to God every day of my life as I cared for mothers and newborns. It was my special time. The relationships between a mother and child along with the love of God continued to be the focus of my nursing, which cannot be separated from my Catholic faith.

As I pursued my doctoral education, there was a crisis emerging in society regarding adolescents who became pregnant. I continued my research on maternal attachment behaviors and self-perceptions of parenting for adolescent mothers, along with authoring presentations and publications on these issues. I also began teaching in the Core Curriculum at Seton Hall, which further advanced my journey toward understanding the love of God through the meaning of life. I experienced fulfillment in teaching Journey of Transformation, our first-year course, in addition to Christianity and Culture in Dialogue, our second-year course, both of which enhanced the meaning of faith, love, and hope for our students. I enjoyed developing reflective activities that engaged students in various topics. I became involved with programs that instilled the meaning of a Catholic university’s mission and its intellectual traditions, which allow students of all faiths to feel connected to the meaning of their lives.

I continued to be involved with my parish prayer group activities and was asked to be a Eucharistic minister at an assisted-living community. My first thought was, Can I do this? I questioned this because as a nurse I was used to caring for and listening to the concerns of people but had not been a Eucharistic minister before. I grew up believing that priests and deacons had a special vocation in giving the Eucharist to the faithful. However, after some thought and prayer, I said yes. It has been over 10 years, and this role provides me with more than I could have imagined.

Each Monday following 8 a.m. Mass, I go to an assisted-living community and give Communion to approximately 15 residents. During Advent, we light candles on the Advent wreath I bring, and during Lent and on Palm Sunday, I bring palms and make crosses with the residents. Prior to administering communion, I distribute the weekly church bulletin and discuss the activities of the parish. This allows the residents to feel a connection with the parish community. I begin each service with a special prayer. Here is one the residents have enjoyed. It is called “A Secret of Happiness,” and was written by Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier (1851–1926):

O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive in everything that You permit to happen to me, only show me what is Your will.

During the Eucharist service the daily gospel is read, and we end by discussing the meaning it has for us today. This provides spiritual comfort for the residents, and they enjoy our discussion. I end by wishing them a good week and remind them I will return the following week.

Though there is a basic schedule in place, my role varies as to what is needed each week when I arrive. As I enter the assisted-living facility, Violet is in the lobby in her wheelchair near the fireplace and receives the Eucharist alone, because this is her time to think and talk to Jesus. Each Monday Anna will ask if I can come to her room for her to receive the Eucharist. She will smile and hold my hand as we pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. She will always thank me for this time. Many times when I finish the service, I go to individual rooms to visit those who were unable to attend due to illness or because they wanted to say a rosary in private. Each of these occasions gives me a special kind of love and happiness that I have never experienced in my life: the feeling that God wants me here with him to communicate his message that the residents are never alone.

When a resident is near death, the family may ask if I can give the Eucharist at the bedside since their loved one has mentioned I come every week. It is a special request that I am willing to honor because it provides additional comfort in the final hours of life. I also contact our parish if a resident would like a priest to administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick or last rites.

In my journey as a Eucharistic minister, I have encountered residents dealing with loneliness, depression, or serious illness, which requires deep compassion and the ability to provide comfort beyond just the sacramental role. I continue to be sensitive to each resident’s physical and emotional needs. My role as a nurse has assisted me in this role over the years. As I approach unanticipated or uncomfortable situations, many times I find that just being there, in silence, is all that is needed as I hold their hand. The presence of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are with us, and the feeling that we can handle anything is present.

The presence of God is evident each time I enter the assisted living facility. The feeling of being there gives me a knowledge and meaning about life no academic education could provide. What I receive from the experience of Eucharistic ministry each Monday visit can never be anticipated, since I feel overjoyed with love for each resident in a personal and unique way. I feel the love of God and the beauty of getting to know how the meaning of faith has assisted them throughout their life. I learn about their belief in the power of prayer and how it has comforted them.

My parents provided my most valuable education that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are examples of divine love for family. We are all included in the family of God throughout our lives. God is always with us as part of our heart and soul. I witnessed this as a nurse in the care of the sick and families as they struggled through health decisions. I see it in my role as a Eucharistic minister. The residents give more to me than I ever imagined. I hope my presence gives them comfort and hope, because God has a place for us at every moment of our lives. He is true love that is present all the time. ♦

Josephine DeVito, PhD, RN, is an associate professor in the College of Nursing and in the Department of the Core at Seton Hall University, as well as a Virginia Henderson Fellow in the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Image: Pyx Fragments with the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, Byzantine, 6th c.