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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hospital Chaplains: Ministering to the suffering, dying and grieving

Debbie Musser
This is the third story in a three-part series highlighting some of the 20 ministries supported by the annual Catholic Services Appeal. This year’s appeal kicked off Feb. 13-14. Learn more at csaf.org.
Father Andrew Jaspers, a member of the COVID Anointing Corps, anoints COVID-19 patient Chuck Schuh Dec. 5, as Schuh’s family watches through his room’s exterior window. Schuh died Dec. 9. STAR TRIBUNE VIA GETTY IMAGES

Bobbie Short recalls her father, Chuck Schuh, as a very holy man who was always evangelizing.

“He loved our Lord so much and people felt so open talking to him; he was always so welcoming about it and there was never any pressure,” Short said. “Dad would find a TV show about a saint, record it and then make copies on VHS tapes to pass out to everybody, saying, ‘Go watch this.’”

So when Schuh — a father of eight, grandfather of 36 and great-grandfather of 49 — passed away in December after contracting COVID-19 at the age of 85, his family was grateful that he was able to receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick before his death.

“As my brother-in-law said, Dad’s been working for this his entire life! He needs to get his last rites,” said Short, 51.

Schuh, a parishioner of St. Augustine in South St. Paul, ran a printing press at St. Paul Stations Engraving. He also held other odd jobs over the years.

“That was to support all of us kids,” Short said. “He was the sweetest, kindest man, and a die-hard pro-life marcher who enjoyed his family, dancing, fireworks, playing Frisbee, following sports and of course, his Catholic faith.”

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Short noted that a couple of years ago, her dad was having some physical issues and struggling to walk. “He also struggled with finding the words he wanted to say; he’d get upset and say, ‘My brain is so bad.’”

In October 2019, Schuh moved into the Prelude Memory Care Cottages community in Woodbury, bringing along a large painting of the road to Emmaus that had graced his dining room for many years.

“Dementia was kicking in, but they were wonderful at Prelude and Dad settled in,” Short said. “Then COVID hit.”

A few cases of COVID-19 went through the facility and Schuh at first escaped contracting the virus. But in late November 2020, after running a fever, he tested positive.

“After a couple of days when he was doing okay, he started to go downhill, and hospice was called in,” said Short.

Enter Father Andrew Jaspers, Hennepin County Medical Center chaplain and a member of the Anointing Corps, a group of priests on call to anoint Catholics who are imminently dying from COVID-19, as a special initiative of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ hospital chaplain program. The hospital chaplain program is supported by the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation.

“I joined the Anointing Corps in May 2020, and have anointed 246 people to date,” Father Jaspers said Feb. 13. Father Jaspers, 42, also serves as sacramental minister at St. Stephen in Minneapolis and as a chaplain in the Minnesota Air National Guard.

“Many people with COVID are struggling alone with their illness and fears, as family can’t be with them,” said Deacon Rip Riordan, 64, who ministers at Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis and is director of clergy personnel for the archdiocese. He has managed the chaplain program since 2004. He also serves as a police chaplain with the St. Paul Police Department.

“Even if you don’t have COVID, there are still restrictions in hospitals, and that’s gut-wrenching,” Deacon Riordan said. “The role of the chaplain in the sacrament of anointing is to be with people of faith and remind them that they’re not alone. … God is with them to guide them into glory.”

After Father Jaspers received the call from hospice to minister to Schuh, he met the family in the Prelude parking lot on a Saturday morning. He explained the process, which included setting up phone speakers, and Schuh’s family was able to hear and see the anointing from outside, through a large ground-floor window.

“After anointing him, I said, ‘Chuck, you’re good to go,’” Father Jaspers said. “This is ordinarily a light encouragement that gives closure to a tranquil patient and family. But to my surprise, Chuck began to get out of bed and move towards the door. He was so much like Lazarus at that moment after Jesus raised him.”

Four days later, Schuh passed away.

“We knew the anointing was super important to my dad; you don’t bypass any of those sacraments,” Short said. “Father Jaspers made sure he was good to go, and that meant so much to us.”

To support hospital chaplains and 19 other designated ministries through the Catholic Services Appeal, an annual collection in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, people can make contributions online, in-parish or through the mail.

“This year’s theme, ‘Together in Hope,’ is reflective of the idea that we are all one Church and together we are providing hope on the front lines,” said Jennifer Beaudry, CSAF executive director.

“Together we will reflect a vision of optimism and encouragement with a focus on the three pillars that CSAF supports: serve the poor, support life and strengthen the faith,” she said.


Anointing Those in Need

Twelve hospital chaplains minister to patients, their families and staff in hospitals throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It’s a specialized ministry requiring priests to be on call 24 hours a day.

“While the pastor and parochial vicar of a parish are the main go-to for pastoral care, it’s not always possible for them to be available for before- or after-surgery and near-death anointings, due to their parish responsibilities and hospitals spread throughout our large archdiocese,” said Deacon Rip Riordan, who manages the chaplain program.

“Some of these major hospitals also draw Catholic patients from the Dakotas and Iowa who are here for quite a period of time without their family and the support of their pastor and parish,” he said. “Because we’re all brothers and sisters, the funding from CSAF helps support the priest hospital chaplains in their primary role of serving the Catholic community sacramentally. That’s a role nobody else can do.”

“It’s such an important ministry, as it involves connection between God and humanity,” Deacon Riordan added. “That sacramental presence is needed in times of uncertainty. The role of the Catholic Church is healing.”

 


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