Why Does St. Joseph’s Need A Parish Nurse?

The 40 hour per week Pastoral Minister position is not being filled after Audrey’s retirement due to financial constraints in the parish.

The parish was offered a one-time $9,000 grant to fund the salary of a parish nurse. Father Jerry needs HELP with the work that Audrey has been covering. Lay leadership will take on more responsibilities for some of the ministry programs; other areas will be the responsibility of the parish nurse in the 10 hour per week position.

With an aging population in our parish and the importance of health care issues in our community and country, the addition of a parish nurse gives our parishioners easy access and opportunity to wellness and medical information, referral resources, support in medical decisions as well as connecting all of this to our faith and spirituality – a wholistic approach of mind, body and spirit in our life journey. Parish Nurse Ministry is a growing ministry within the Catholic Church.

What Will Our Parish Nurse Do?

Here at St. Joseph’s the parish nurse will be responsible for the following:

• Grief Ministry including hosting support groups
• Continuing Education programs especially at Senior Mass
• Organization of the Sunday Bus Program
• Supply of Care Notes and other educational resources
• Hospital, home and phone visits; submitting names for the prayer list
• Referrals for sacraments and community resources
• Other ministry needs as determined by Father and the Parish Nurse

Parish Nurse Seonaid Ritz

Who Is Our Parish Nurse?

I have been a registered nurse for 33 years.  I hold a BSN from Mankato State University and an MSN from Indiana University.  My professional practice of nursing includes positions as staff nurse, nurse manager, hospital supervisor, nursing instructor, Director of Nursing in long term care, Director in Maternal/Child Health, Chief Nursing Executive in a hospital setting, and hospital administrator.  I retired from clinical nursing in 2007 and received my certification in parish nursing from Concordia College in 2008.  I am married with five children and six grandchildren.  I am a volunteer for the American Red Cross, Maple Grove Ambulatory Surgery Center and I am blessed to have the opportunity to practice parish nursing at St. Joseph’s.  I am a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Corcoran.

I have always felt that nursing has been my ministry for healing.  The concept of mind, body, and spirit has always been central to my belief system and I have worked to extend that belief into my practice.  I have deep reverence and respect for life. Parish nursing is the intentional integration of the practice of faith with the practice of nursing so that people can achieve wholeness. Our Catholic tradition has always been strongly connected with health care.  A basic assumption of our faith is that we care for ourselves and others as an expression of God’s love.

I look forward to working within the parish to provide service to those who may need my assistance.

Contact information:
Seonaid Ritz
Confidential phone number: 952-935-1636
Email Address: through the parish website