Pastoral Care is available day or night. Just call the parish number, 651-484-6681, and ask for the person on-call. This ministry is shared by the pastoral ministers, deacons, and  priests.

From 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday a staff person will answer the Parish Center phone. After 4:30 PM, an answering service will forward emergency calls to the person on-call who carries a pager during those hours. Non-emergency callers are encouraged to call during office hours.

Annulment Concerns and/or Blessing of A Marriage

For answers to questions concerning divorce, marriage, the Sacrament of Matrimony, and how to begin the annulment process, or to explore training to become an annulment advocate, contact the pastoral care staff.

Befriender Ministry

These are compassionate, well-trained parishioners who are available to listen and be "present" in a caring, non-judgmental way to people in all kinds of difficult or transitional situations. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance and strictly maintained.

Bereavement Ministry

Supports those who have lost a family member or a friend to death. Volunteer ministry opportunities include one-to-one support, serving on an advisory committee, helping to gather resources, assembling grief and loss literature packets for distribution, or serving as a support group facilitator.

Crisis Ministry

Provides support and/or sacramental care during a crisis 24 hours a day.

Domestic Abuse

St. Odilia denounces domestic family violence. St. Odilia offers confidential support and will assist anyone in need. If you or someone you know is in need of help call the Parish Center at 651-484-6681 and ask for a pastoral minister.

Growing Through Loss

Provides information and assistance through a grief support series hosted by various area churches. Click HERE for a link to the Growing Through Loss website.

Homebound Communion

In-home distribution of Communion is available for those unable to attend weekend liturgies due to illness or disability. Volunteer Ministers are needed to distribute Communion and visit with homebound parishioners.

Marriage Support Couples

Part of the marriage preparation program for engaged couples is taking the Prepare inventory. Trained married couples meet with engaged couples several times to review the Prepare results and discuss Christian marriage.

Prayer Line

Specific prayer intentions can be emailed to a representative from the prayer line at prayerline@stodilia.org. Others on the prayer line join in praying for those intentions. If you would like to join the prayer line, contact one of the pastoral ministers.

Prayers of the Faithful

At each weekend Mass the parish community prays for family members and friends who are sick or who have died. When parishioners call to submit names for the Prayers of the Faithful they can also request support from the Pastoral Care staff. Names are also included in the parish bulletin’s prayer list.

Spiritual Direction

A one-to-one relationship with a trained spiritual director who helps you to seek the guidance of the Spirit in your life, to discover support and encouragement in the challenges and joys of your spiritual life, and to give your fullest response to God’s presence within you and around you. Spiritual direction is a professional ministry. A donation is recommended on a sliding fee scale. A brochure describing those who are spiritual directors for our parish, and a listing of resources beyond our community is available upon request.

Saint Therese at St. Odilia

The care provided is designed to improve the quality of life at the time when an individual's disease is not responsive to curative treatment.  Palliative care is also provided, known as comfort care, which is the active, compassionate care for the chronically and terminally ill over a longer period of time than traditional hospice care.  Phone number is 651-842-6780. 

Support Groups

Opportunities to meet with others who are facing similar challenges in their lives, such as step parenting. A support group can provide emotional and spiritual support, education and resources around a specific issue, and most importantly, a place to discover you are not alone. Support group facilitators are needed to expand the variety of support groups we can offer at St. Odilia. Training is provided. Commitments vary depending on how frequently a group meets.

Visiting Ministry

Members of the parish community visit those who are hospitalized or at home with illness or disability to offer support and encouragement. You can represent the presence of Christ and the parish of St. Odilia to members of our community, who are sick, homebound, hospitalized, or in Lake Ridge Health Care Center and other nursing homes. Training is provided once a year to support these volunteers.

Volunteer Ministry

Opportunities include helping with hospitality and set-up and serving as a support group facilitator. Training is provided prior to each session for facilitators. St. Odilia is a member of the sponsoring group, the North Suburban Grief Support Coalition, consisting of area churches and social service organizations.