Pastoral care of Catholics in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is the responsibility of the parish in whose boundaries the facility is located. Although many of the Emory Healthcare campuses are in our parish, for many years Monsignor Frank Giusta was employed by Emory as the full-time Catholic chaplain there. Since Monsignor Giusta’s death earlier this year, that ministry once again falls to us at IHM.

In addition to our clergy, we have a very dedicated cadre of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who bring the Sacrament to patients in healthcare facilities, residents in personal care homes and the homebound on a regular basis. You often see them receiving the Blessed Sacrament at the foot of the altar at the end of Mass. Yet the need for pastoral care of the sick now exceeds the resources of these very dedicated volunteers: There are about 18 healthcare facilities in our parish boundaries with Catholic patients and residents.

If you are presently an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and you assist only at our daily and Sunday Masses, please consider whether you might also be willing and able to bring Holy Communion to the sick from time to time. If you are willing and able, please contact Jeanette Dohnal at 678-399-3584 or [email protected] for more information.

If you are not presently an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and you would like to be considered for training and certification, please complete the interest form here and return it to the parish office.