Raphael Health Ministry
The Health Ministry Office is located in Harvard House at 689 Harvard (behind Notre Dame Hall). Office hours are Monday and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Phone Number: (559) 298-5443.
WHO WE ARE
This ministry is a combined effort of health related professionals who want to share their gifts of talent and time in an effort to improve the quality of life in our faith community - physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. If you want more information about how you can be an important part of this ministry, your inquiry will be warmly received and welcomed.
WHAT WE DO
Our Health Ministry offers health education, referrals, resources, health advocacy, spiritual support, counseling and home visits to those in need. Aside from assisting visitors in their office, members are active throughout the year coordinating and/or providing:
  • Blood pressure screening and monitoring
  • Communal Anointing of the Sick for those with serious, life-threatening illnesses
  • OLPH Annual Blood Drive
  • Coordinating Home Visitation Ministry
  • First Aid Station at our annual festival
  • Provide Health related materials for parishioners and health information
  • Annual St. Raphael Health Care Mass in honor of all Health Care Workers
  • Preventive healthcare workshops and events
  • AED / CPR program
  • Card Ministry - sending a prayerful message of encouragement, comfort, or congratulations from you on behalf of our members and the parish staff.
HOME VISITATION
"See Christ in them, be Christ for them." Raphael Health Ministry has a home visitation ministry for members of our faith community who are ill, lonely, or homebound. We invite you to be a part of this ministry. Training and ongoing support are provided. Example of visitor activities are listening, praying, reading, or just "being there" to combat isolation and loneliness. Through this ministry, the homebound are connected to the whole faith community. For information on being a visitor, or if you know of someone who would benefit from a visit, please call the Raphael Health Ministry Office.
HEALTH NEWS

Residental Home Tour: Oct 11
On Saturday, October 11, Residental Home Care Services will sponsor a "City Wide Tour" of elder care communities by chartered bus at 9:30 a.m. The trip will take approximately 4 hours and will include a tour 4 residential communities. During that time, we will provide discussion on the bus regarding 1) elder care basics, 2) cost of care, 3) MediCare/MediCal/ LTC insurances, dementia care, hospice, and end of life choices. Lunch and snacks are provided in this tour. Currently the bus is about 70% full with reservations. If you are interested in attending, please call Nancy Altschuler at Home Health Services at 559-435-8138.
Communal Anointing Service: Nov. 11
Those suffering from any type of illness are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on Sunday, November 9, 2008 following the 12:30 p.m. Mass.
The sacrament prays for the physical healing of the ill person, if that be the will of God. Its primary purpose is spiritual and offers us grace to strengthen our faith and our ability to accept and endure the trials and struggles that come with serious illness. For more information on this sacrament, click here.

Guidelines for Flu/Cold Season
  • Do Not come to Mass when you are ill.
  • Do Not bring sick children to Mass.
  • Do Not receive from the Chalice or shake hands with others if you have a scratchy throat, sniffles, coughing, or sneezing.
  • Wash your hands well with hot water and soap before and after Mass.
  • Get your flu shot, get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water.
  • Do Not touch your face or mouth without first washing your hands.
  • When you can't wash your hands use a hand sanitizer like "Purell".
  • Use these guidelines for all events of your daily living and be well.

Pandemic (World-wide) Influenza (flu)
As part of your emergency preparedness plans, obtain information and consider preparing for a worldwide outbreak of influenza from a new virus to which no one has immunity. Get informed and learn more ways to protect your family. To access the most current information, you are encouraged to visit the following websites:
Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that is passed from person to person by coughs, sneezes, handshakes and sharing items. Click here to learn more »
Emergency Preparedness
In addition to preparation for health-related issues, it is equally important to be prepared in the event of disaster. The City of Clovis will be offering Emergency Response Training to the public. This 8-sesssion training will begin February 19. For information, please visit the following website: