Worried about calling a priest for Anointing of the Sick because I don't think my mom's qualified

[Lady Bug]

I'm in a similarly weird situation. Prayers, Bug. If you don't find the opportunity to come back into the Church right now, take the time to talk, learn or re-learn, pray, and grow. You sound like a really good kid who loves and wants to help her Mom.

Thank you I still have a lot to learn before/if I were to come back into the Church. Unlike a decade ago on CF (yikes, that long ago), I feel a lot more sure now of the direction I believe the Lord is taking me. I'll see, though.

 

[anna ~ grace]

Thank you I still have a lot to learn before/if I were to come back into the Church. Unlike a decade ago on CF (yikes, that long ago), I feel a lot more sure now of the direction I believe the Lord is taking me. I'll see, though.

I hear you. I'm on a similar path. It can feel agonizingly slow, but God knows what He's doing. Don't stop fellowshipping, asking questions, praying, and seeking. Bless you.

 

[charsan]

You have gotten great advice it appears and I will echo that call the Priest. Prayers for you and your family

 

[JohnAshton]

I just wish I could be talking to that priest, whoever he will be, for inquiring into the Church but something tells me I have to wait until my parents die...Jesus did say, he (in my case, she) who was "ashamed" of Him, of him shall He be ashamed

Talk to a priest now in privacy and share your concerns.

 

[Michie]

How is everything going @Ladybug?

 

[Lady Bug]

How is everything going @Ladybug?

Not very well right now. My mom is not doing well today. I can't seem to handle the stress at home. We've got nurses coming over to help bathe Mom but since the time is unpredictable I feel like I'm involuntarily stationed in my home, not being able to exercise, shower, or go anywhere for days on end because I have to keep watch for anyone calling at random saying that they're coming over. This doesn't even include a priest. My dad doesn't help out even though he could...he's also in denial about my mom's health, outright defying to the hospice peoples' face that she's declining...I'm trying to hang in there but I can't do all this successfully by myself even though I'm doing it anyway...

 

[Michie]

Not very well right now. My mom is not doing well today. I can't seem to handle the stress at home. We've got nurses coming over to help bathe Mom but since the time is unpredictable I feel like I'm involuntarily stationed in my home, not being able to exercise, shower, or go anywhere for days on end because I have to keep watch for anyone calling at random saying that they're coming over. This doesn't even include a priest. My dad doesn't help out even though he could...he's also in denial about my mom's health, outright defying to the hospice peoples' face that she's declining...I'm trying to hang in there but I can't do all this successfully by myself even though I'm doing it anyway...

I'm so sorry Ladybug. Please come back and keep us updated. We will be praying in the mrantime. And remember to take advantage of the free counseling hospice has when the time comes. ***hugs***

 

[Anhelyna]

Oh dear - you really are in a bit of a pickle

Is there any chance you could explain to the Hospice folk , that a more or less fixed time [ suggest that they have a 2 hour window ] would allow you to have some much needed 'me' time ?

 

[Lady Bug]

I hope it's not too late to "help" my mom. I didn't think I could get a priest on the weekend. Mind you, this may sound a bit silly but it's a known fact (in my particular case) that when it's a few days before my time of the month, my mom is just terrible :'( she does not behave, she doesn't eat well, drink well, and coughs even more than she normally does, then when my period starts, she quiets down a little. I keep hoping this is what it means now. It's a weird coincidence that when I have my PMS, she starts acting really bad. She's too old to have periods but some synchronicity exists.

 

[Lady Bug]

Oh dear - you really are in a bit of a pickle

Is there any chance you could explain to the Hospice folk , that a more or less fixed time [ suggest that they have a 2 hour window ] would allow you to have some much needed 'me' time ?

I'll explain to them exactly what I wrote in my post. They're actually pretty gracious in dealing with your needs. What's problematic is that whatever time they come, something ends up conflicting. If they come in the mornings, it could conflict with my sleep, shower, or preparing to go out to the store. If they come in the afternoons, it could conflict with my ability to exercise and give mom something in the afternoon. I'm trying so hard to figure out how to work this out. The hospice folk say that it's not imperative for me to be there when they're working on mom, but my dad wants someone around...I asked him why can't he be around and he says that it looks like he'd be snooping...I wish he'd help me in some way...it's too much...sorry if this is incoherent but I'm writing under a ton of stress...my antianxiety med stops working under these conditions too

 

[Anhelyna]

I understand what you mean - don't worry about that.

Talk to them as soon as you can and they will understand that you need to know when they are coming so you can plan what you will be doing whilst they are there - be it shopping , or having a relaxing shower ,[ without having to worry are you going to have to get out of it in a hurry ].

Prayers for you

 

[Lady Bug]

I finally called the church and left a message for the priest but I already feel like it won't work.
I should have used the "less is more" approach and explained in my voicemail that I have a situation at home in which I have a mother with dementia and that I'm worried she won't qualify for anointing of the sick, but dummy me I should have stopped my message at that and not explained why I didn't think she was eligible. Now I feel I autosuggested a decline on his part. I don't know when he'll call back. I hope it's not when my hands are dirty taking care of my mom's diaper

 

[Michie]

I finally called the church and left a message for the priest but I already feel like it won't work.
I should have used the "less is more" approach and explained in my voicemail that I have a situation at home in which I have a mother with dementia and that I'm worried she won't qualify for anointing of the sick, but dummy me I should have stopped my message at that and not explained why I didn't think she was eligible. Now I feel I autosuggested a decline on his part. I don't know when he'll call back. I hope it's not when my hands are dirty taking care of my mom's diaper

Lady Bug, the priest will understand. I'd be surprised if he did not call you back.

 

[Lady Bug]

Lady Bug, the priest will understand. I'd be surprised if he did not call you back.

He might call back but I hope it's when I'm there to answer. I have my phone with me all the time today.

 

[Lady Bug]

Lady Bug, the priest will understand. I'd be surprised if he did not call you back.

I'm still very nervous about talking to a priest, I don't know why...it's not the priest I guess, but there's an anxiety that I want to go away I think that knowing that my dad wouldn't want me to convert to the faith is probably the thing that is making me so nervous...sure, if I'm taking care of my mom only that's one thing but if it starts involving me, that's where I get freaked out...it's sad because this would be a great opportunity for me.

 

[Michie]

Well if he doesn't, call him back. Priests often have a lot of emergencies during the day along with their regular duties.

He might call back but I hope it's when I'm there to answer. I have my phone with me all the time today.

 

[Lady Bug]

Well if he doesn't, call him back. Priests often have a lot of emergencies during the day along with their regular duties.

I'm sure they have their hands full, I know. I can't imagine how much they have to do. I'm surprised that the parishes don't have more than one priest, or do they? How can one priest handle the needs of so many people?

 

[Michie]

Well you can discuss that privately with the priest or better yet, ask for his email where you can explain everything to him without the family pressure.

I'm still very nervous about talking to a priest, I don't know why...it's not the priest I guess, but there's an anxiety that I want to go away I think that knowing that my dad wouldn't want me to convert to the faith is probably the thing that is making me so nervous...sure, if I'm taking care of my mom only that's one thing but if it starts involving me, that's where I get freaked out...it's sad because this would be a great opportunity for me.

 

[charsan]

Our parish or the Catholic one has a bunch of Priest, though I think we are blessed here. Now my parish only has one Priest but we have 6 parishioners

 

[Michie]

Well if we are lucky, we usually have the priest, an assistant priest, as well as a Deacon. EMHC's can be helpful in certain situations as well.

I'm sure they have their hands full, I know. I can't imagine how much they have to do. I'm surprised that the parishes don't have more than one priest, or do they? How can one priest handle the needs of so many people?