As Hospital Eucharistic Ministry restarts volunteers are needed

July 16, 2024

by Ryan Johnson

Catholic patients at the UnityPoint hospitals in Des Moines and West Des Moines will once again be able to receive Holy Communion from volunteers.

Paused during the COVID-19 pandemic due to health precautions, a group affiliated with the Diocese of Des Moines is resurrecting the program. The goal is to minister to Catholic patients, including bringing them Holy Communion. This is in addition to an existing ministry for Catholic patients at MercyOne in the Des Moines area.

Lyrio Cloma-Read is the volunteer coordinator for the Hospital Eucharistic Ministry or HEM. A member of Holy Trinity Parish in Des Moines, she’s excited to resume the ministry after a nearly five-year absence.

Resuming the ministry requires a significant number of volunteers. Each day, Catholic patients at UnityPoint hospitals wait for visitors and fellowship. Hospital Eucharistic Ministry volunteers receive a list of patients at the hospitals and can visit their local Catholic church to receive the Eucharist to take to the patients. It’s not only delivering Holy Communion, but also a ministry to serve the patients. Volunteers spend time with them. How much time depends on the volunteer and the patient.

“We are there to listen to them and how they’re doing,” said Cloma-Read.

About the Ministry

Hospital Eucharistic Ministry in the Catholic Church refers to the support provided to individuals who are ill, suffering or facing serious health challenges. It should not be confused with the sacrament of the sick (Anointing of the Sick), which is celebrated by ordained priests.

In the Diocese of Des Moines, the Hospital Eucharistic Ministry is completed by lay ministers who visit patients at UnityPoint hospitals to offer companionship, prayer and support.

As a volunteer in the program before the pandemic, Cloma-Read remembers visiting patients at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines.

“I did most of my visits at Broadlawns because there were very few who could go there,” said Cloma-Read. “That’s where the need was.”

Gathering Stage

In an effort to restart the ministry in the Diocese of Des Moines, Cloma-Read is collaborating with local parishes to gather the names of interested volunteers.

“We are currently in the gathering stage,” said Cloma-Read

Once enough volunteers are identified, a Hospital Eucharistic Ministry training session will be held in August. At the training, volunteers will learn more about the ministry and can begin discernment about participating in the program.

There’s no shortage of patients at local hospitals, and Cloma-Read says she hopes volunteers can be active, as much as possible.

“As often as they can, because in the past, there were people who went twice a week, three times a week,” said Cloma-Read. “I call them ‘heroes’ because they are bringing the Lord to these patients.”

If you’re interested in learning more about being a lay minister, contact Lyrio Cloma-Read at lyriocread@yahoo.com.