Communion of the sick
The Saint Tarcisius Ministry is the organized effort of a number of adult, committed parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish that has as a focus mission the distribution of Holy Communion to the sick at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Their ministers receive the Consecrated Hosts during Sunday Mass and bring Communion to the sick twice a month. The spirituality of this ministry is inspired by the life of a young saint, Tarcisius.
Saint Tarcisius was a twelve-year-old acolyte during one of the fierce Roman persecutions of the third century, probably during that of Valerian. Each day, from a secret meeting place in the catacombs where Christians gathered for Mass, a deacon would be sent to the prisons to carry the Eucharist to those Christians condemned to die. At one point, there was no deacon to send and so St. Tarcisius, an acolyte, volunteered to go and carry the "Holy Mysteries" to those in prison.
On the way, he was stopped by boys his own age who were not Christians but knew him as a playmate and lover of games. He was asked to join their games, but this time he refused and the crowd of boys noticed that he was carrying something. Somehow, he was also recognized as a Christian, and the small gang of boys, anxious to view the Christian "Mysteries," became a mob and turned upon Tarcisius with fury. He went down under the blows, and it is believed that a fellow Christian drove off the mob and rescued the young acolyte.
The mangled body of Tarcisius was carried back to the catacombs, but the boy died on the way from his injuries. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and his relics are claimed by the church of San Silvestro in Capite.
Members of the Saint Tarcisius Ministry need to:
Be fully initiated Catholics registered at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish.
Receive a training both by the Pastor and the Hospital.
Receive clearance from Saint Luke’s Hospital.
Be committed to the mission of this ministry.