By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/7/05)

"The Lord says, ‘For I was sick and you visited me’ and that is our main ministry — to tell people that the Lord has not forgotten about them and that they have not forgotten about him," said Missionhurst Father Paul Wynants, Catholic chaplain at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Father Wynants, along with Father Daniel Spychala, assistant chaplain; Our Lady of La Salette Sister Mary Josephine Valenton; and a crew of lay volunteers minister to the sick and their families at one of the areas largest hospitals.

"The ministry of visiting the sick is one of the oldest ministries in the Gospel," Father Wynants said, pointing out how often Christ is portrayed in the Gospel visiting and caring for the sick.

The greatest role of those who minister to the sick is to "learn to listen and teach them to come closer to the Lord," Father Wynants said. "It is so important to be there and be gentle."

Father Wynants has served as Catholic chaplain at Inova since September 1982.

"We could not have a better person around than Father Paul," said Lois Brown, an Episcopal volunteer who ministers to those of Jewish faith. "He exudes the love of Christ."

A team of lay volunteers and Eucharistic ministers assists the priests and Sister Mary Joe in conducting daily visits and distributing communion. These volunteers also "Share with them the love of God," Sister Mary Joe said. "It is the visit that makes the difference."

Sister Mary Jo said it is important to remind patients of Christ’s presence in their lives and their suffering. She referred to the ministry of visiting the sick as "the ministry of being."

"Sometimes just being there helps them realize they are not alone," Sister Mary Jo said.

"The teamwork between the laypeople and the priest brings the whole Church itself to the people. (Hospital ministry) is a way of the diocese reaching out so that the sick are reached by the Church."

One patient wrote in a card to Sister, "The Church came to us through you."

"The way they feel our presence — (patients say,) you give us peace and when you leave the room you leave peace in us,’" Sister Mary Jo said. "They look forward to our next visit."

Aside from being available to visit the sick, they are also present at the hospital to minister to the families of patients.

"Sometimes it is the family who are hurting seeing their loved ones sick," Sister Mary Joe said.

At Inova Hospital, Mass is celebrated on a closed circuit television channel twice a day and on Sundays. Every Saturday night there is a vigil Mass in the conference room and First Fridays are celebrated in the Chapel.

A "teleprayer" service provides prayerful reflections and meditations to patients.

A monthly newsletter provides a message from Father Paul, Gospel readings and reflection questions and other inspirational readings.

With the permission of patients, they will inform their parish priest that they are in the hospital.

Last year, 56,000 patients were visited by chaplaincy volunteers and manager of chaplaincy services Philip Brooks estimates that about 35,000 of those were Catholics. The chaplaincy program provides volunteers from every major religion to minister to patients.

Most Catholics indicate their religious preference when they are admitted to the hospital, but others are added to the list of patients to be ministered to if they ask to see a priest.

Close to half of the chaplaincy volunteers and about 20 percent of patients at Inova Fairfax are Catholic.

"There is a wonderful spirit of ecumenism, respect and joy," said Brooks. "We have a strong Catholic presence thanks to the diocese and Father Paul.

"This is a small village here at Inova Fairfax, and we have many faiths represented. Father Paul is a pastor and he treats the staff, patients and families just like an old time pastor of another age with his rapport — friendly, warm and cooperative."

"In our ministry we have contact with all denominations," Father Wynants said. "But we do not proselytize. Our best friends are the non-Catholics around us."