Pastoral Care
BeFriender Ministries
The BeFriender Ministry allows you (or anyone you know) who would like a trained person to help you find your own inner wisdom, the oppotunity to work with someone as you navigate through a difficult time in your life. The situation might be the death of a loved one, moving into a nursing home (or moving a loved one into a nursing home), a serious illness, a teenager or new baby causing changes in your life, or anything where a listening ear could help you find greater peace. Training is provided to those interested in becoming a BeFriender Minister.
Contact: St. Bernadette Engelhaupt - 308-384-0532, Ext. 202
Funeral Ministry
Funeral Dinners: As a service to the family who is grieving, our parish provides a dinner immediately following the funeral service. Often these luncheons can be quite large, so many volunteers are need to prepare and serve the meal.
Contact: Parish Office/Teri Puncochar - 308-384-0532
Cookie Ministry Contact - Sheryl Blauhorn - 308-380-0176
Visiting Homebound
Parishioners minister to those members of our parish community who are unable to attend Mass due to illness and advanced age. They bring Holy Communion, pray with them, and spend time visiting. Separate groups of parishioners visit hospitals, convalescent homes and the homebound.
Contacts: Fr. Marty Egging - 308-384-5032, Ext. 206/Cell 308-249-0009
Sr. Bernadette Engelhaupt - 308-384-0532, Ext./ 202
Parish Nurse Program
The Parish Nurse Program focuses not only on a healing ministry to the ill, but on Wellness and well-being of mind, body and spirit. The spiritual component is part of the Parish Nurse role.
The parish nurse enlists other nurses and pharmacists to help in providing Blood Pressure Clinics, days for evaluating medications and the best ways to take them, both prescription and over the counter, including supplements.
The parish nurse also provides learning events both in person at events in which Senior Citizens are present and through Sunday Bulletin inserts and Nurse Notes in the bulletin. These include things like balance exercises, ways to care for our five senses, and recommendations for routine visits to health care providers.
The nurse works in collaboration with the pastor and parish staff to provide support and care for the parishioners.
Contact: Mary Anne Hinchey, R.N. - 384-0532, Ext. 211.
Parish Thrift Store: 4th & Eddy Streets, Grand Island, NE 68801 PH:308-398-3443
Hours: Friday & Saturday - 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Monday for donations only -10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Mission Statement: The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community maintains the Thrift Store to further the mission of
Christ in this world. It takes the gifts of others, both in donated items and in the volunteering of their time and talent, and
transforms those gifts to serve the needs of the poor and the uneducated in the greater community of Grand Island,
as well as around the world.
Our History: The Blessed Sacrament Parish Thrift Store was established on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1999.
Blessed Sacrament is committed to taking care of the human family—especially God’s beloved poor.
The Thrift Store has a decidedly Christian mission of providing quality, useable clothes, furniture, appliances, electronics, books, toys, etc., at an affordable price. The Thrift Store, thereby, provides a way to recycle merchandise and helps families provide for themselves with dignity.
Merchandise is very moderately priced. Beyond that, the Parish Thrift Store provides for those who are without funds through a variety of charitable means.
All merchandise at the Thrift Store is donated, and the funds derived from resale help fund Parish ministries and outreach programs.
Contacts: Anne Coffey or Betty Aalborg - 308-398-3443.
Food Pantry
The second Sunday of each month, parishioners bring food items for the Parish Food Pantry. These items are then donated to families in need. Individuals may come to the Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry every TWO months.
Contact: Parish Office/Teri Puncochar - 308-384-0532
Hospitality
Prime Time Group
The Prime Time Group (50+) offers an opportunity for our senior citizens to share some time together. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month for 12:05 p.m. Mass, followed by a home cooked dinner and a program of education or entertainment. A free will offering is taken to help defray costs.
Contact: Sr. Bernadette Engelhaupt - 308-384-0532, Ext. 202
Coffee & Rolls
Coffee and rolls are served each Sunday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass and 10:00 a.m. Mass. A free will offering is taken to help defray costs.
Contact: Parish Office/Teri Puncochar - 308-384-0532
Welcome Committee Members visit people who register in the parish to welcome them and to give them a gift bag that
contains information about the parish, a table topper made by the parish quilters, and a parish cookbook.
Contact: Sr. Bernadette Engelhaupt - 308-384-0532, Ext. 202
