Pastoral Care Ministries
Funeral and Bereavement Ministry
🕊️ Funeral and Bereavement Ministry
At Holy Rosary Parish, our Funeral and Bereavement Ministry serves as a beacon of comfort and compassion for families navigating the loss of a loved one. Rooted in faith and community, we accompany individuals and families through one of life’s most tender moments—offering presence, prayer, and practical support.
🙏 What We Do
- Funeral Ministers assist the priest by serving during funeral liturgies as Servers, Readers, and Eucharistic Ministers. When a priest or deacon is unavailable, these dedicated volunteers may also lead prayer vigils or cemetery services.
- The Bereavement Team provides gentle follow-up care through visits, phone calls, or letters—ensuring families feel remembered and supported in their grief journey.
- Each November, volunteers help coordinate the Annual Memorial Mass, honouring all parishioners who have died over the past year.
We currently support approximately 50 funerals per year, and each is a sacred opportunity to celebrate life and offer solace.
🤝 How You Can Help
Whether you’re drawn to serve at liturgies or offer comfort in quieter ways, your presence can make a meaningful impact. Volunteer roles vary based on availability, and training is provided. Compassion, reliability, and a spirit of service are the greatest gifts you can bring.
đź’¬ Contact Us
If you feel called to join this ministry or would like to learn more, please reach out: 📍 287 Plains Road East, Burlington, ON 📞 +1 (905) 634-7441 📧 holyrosaryburlington@hamiltondiocese.com
Eucharistic Minister to the Sick and Elderly in Homes and Lifecare Centres
🕊️ Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Elderly
At Holy Rosary Parish, our Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Elderly fulfill a sacred mission: extending the grace and comfort of the Eucharist to parishioners who are homebound, ill, or living in life care centres. These ministers become living bridges between the wider parish community and those unable to join in Sunday worship, ensuring no soul is forgotten.
🙏 What We Do
Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion to individuals on the First Friday of each month and after weekend Masses, offering spiritual nourishment, companionship, and a profound connection to the faith community. In many cases, they also help arrange visits from the pastor or priest when someone is new to the parish or in need of other sacraments such as Anointing of the Sick or Reconciliation.
🌿 Who Can Serve
To serve in this ministry, individuals must:
- Be fully initiated Catholics, in good standing with the Church
- Have a deep Eucharistic spirituality and reverence for the sacrament
- Be comfortable interacting with elderly and sick individuals
- Demonstrate confidentiality, empathy, and reliability
- Receive a mandate from the Bishop
Training is provided both at the parish and Diocesan level, ensuring ministers are well-prepared to offer this service with dignity, compassion, and theological understanding.
🕰️ Time Commitment
Ministers are scheduled approximately once per month for a visit that typically lasts around two hours. Schedules can be adjusted based on individual availability and the number of active volunteers.
🧡 Why It Matters
For many of the sick and elderly, receiving the Eucharist at home or in care facilities is not just about Communion—it’s about communion with others. This ministry brings comfort, dignity, and the reassurance that they are still vital members of the Body of Christ.
📬 How to Get Involved
If you feel called to carry Christ’s love to those who need it most, we invite you to learn more about becoming a Eucharistic Minister to the Sick and Elderly.
📍 Holy Rosary Parish 📞 (905) 634-7441 📧 holyrosaryburlington@hamiltondiocese.comEucharistic
Volunteer Screening Committee
🛡️ Volunteer Screening Committee
Safeguarding Ministry with Compassion and Care
At Holy Rosary Parish, we recognize that our volunteers serve in roles that touch the hearts and lives of others—often in deeply personal moments. To ensure a safe, welcoming, and spiritually enriching environment, we rely on the dedicated members of our Volunteer Screening Committee.
đź‘Ą Who They Are
The Screening Committee is a group of trained parish volunteers who carry out a vital mission: ensuring that each individual called to ministry is appropriately suited for the role. Working under the guidance of our Volunteer Screening Coordinator, these members uphold the Diocese of Hamilton’s policies and practices for volunteer screening.
🧩 What They Do
Screening is more than paperwork—it’s about thoughtful discernment. Committee members work with pastoral and ministry leads to:
- Assess the level of risk involved in each volunteer role
- Review ministry position descriptions for clarity and consistency
- Conduct interviews and reference checks, when necessary
- Recommend appropriate police checks and Diocesan training modules
- Guide volunteers through the onboarding process with kindness and confidentiality
- Provide ongoing support and updates to ensure sustained ministry growth
đź’™ Why It Matters
Screening helps match people to ministries where they can flourish—spiritually, emotionally, and communally—while keeping vulnerable persons safe and supported. It strengthens our parish’s commitment to hospitality, transparency, and care.
🙌 Join the Committee
Do you have a heart for service and a keen sense of discernment? We welcome individuals with pastoral sensitivity, integrity, and attention to detail to consider joining this important committee. Training and support are provided, and your gift of time could make a lasting difference.
Members of the screening committee work under the direction of our Volunteer Screening Coordinator.