OUR LADY OF POLAND  35 MAPLE STREET Tel. 283-0667

SACRED HEARTS  OF JESUS & MARY  168 HILL STREET  Tel. 283-0097

Dear Catholic Patient,
 

The priests, deacons and specially trained parishioners of  Our Lady of Poland and Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary parishes will endeavor to take care of your spiritual needs while you are a patient here in Southampton Hospital.
We try to visit each patient registered as a Catholic as soon as possible, usually within twenty-four hours of admission to the hospital. You will be offered the opportunity to receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. Please let us know if you have been going to Mass frequently during the week in your home parish. In many instances the priest will offer you the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament gives the sick person the special grace of the Holy Spirit which can help in recovery, encourages trust in God and gives spiritual strength to overcome the anxiety some people have when they are ill and hospitalized.

You may be out of your room or otherwise unavailable when we try to visit you. If that should happen, we will try to visit you again. If the door to your room is closed we will not enter unless invited to do so. If you are not visited it may also be that the fact that you are a Catholic was not entered on your chart when you were admitted. In any case, we invite you to call Our Lady of Poland Church (283-0667) and Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary (283-0097) and let us know that you wish to be visited.
On Fridays we try to visit each Catholic patient to see if you would like to receive Holy Communion on Sunday. If you would like to go to Confession before receiving, please let us know at the time of the visit. On Sunday morning Special Ministers of the Eucharist will bring Holy Communion to those wishing to receive.

If your recuperation at home will prevent you from assisting at Mass in your parish church may we suggest that you call your parish and ask that Special Ministers of the Eucharist bring Holy Communion to you at home.
God Bless!

SOME REFLECTIONS
 

Sickness and hospitalization are things we do not ask for or enjoy, but for people of faith, how we spend this time can make a big difference. Our Lord did not ask for or look forward to His own suffering. He prayed that He would not have to experience the crucifixion. But ultimately He was able to accept what was to be for the salvation of all.

We can ask that the sickness and suffering be taken from us too. Hopefully it will. When administering the Anointing of the Sick, one of the prayers the priest can choose to say includes the words, "...restore him/her to full health, and enable him/her to resume his/her full duties..."

May we suggest that you try to unite your sickness with the sufferings of Christ, and that you offer at least some of the time you are hospitalized as a prayer for peace in the world, for your family, for the doctors, nurses and other members of the hospital staff who are caring for you, for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, or for some other intention of your own choice.

You may wish to watch Mass on television.

You are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours.
 

God of compassion and love, our human weakness lays clairr to your strength. Grant your wisdom to the staff of this hospital, that through their skills I may be restored to health and be reunited with my family and friends at your altar of praise.

Act of Contrition My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Memorare
 

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother! To you I come; before you I stand, sinful and sor rowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my peti tions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer of St. Francis
 

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as tc console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as tc love; for it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dy ing that we are born to eternal life.

Sponsored by RCNet