What does the Director of Pastoral Care do? 

Short answer: She helps Fr. Mark address pastoral needs of the parish and community. 

Long answer: She coordinates homebound ministry, Word & Communion services at nine area senior care facilities, senior lunches and events, prayer shawl ministry and the bi-weekly Sunday bus service. She also publishes the weekly prayer network, is the “keeper” of the Helping Hands funds, collaborates with Cindy (Director of Liturgy) for funerals and grief ministry, is the staff liaison for social justice and outreach ministries, serves as our representative on the Bloomington Richfield Grief Coalition and the Depression Support Coalition, plus is the quirky voice behind the SaintRichard Pastoralcare Facebook page (not to be confused with the main St. Richard’s Catholic Church FB page…that’s mostly kept up by our Office Manager and Communications Coordinator, Nicole).
 
Jolaine started working here at St. Richard in September 2011. At that time she and her husband, Dan, had just bought their first home (in Richfield) and their oldest child (a daughter) was 7 months old. Eight years later, Jolaine and Dan now live in Eagan with three boys (ages 6, 4 and 21 months) to  torment - er, "play" - with their older sister (now age 8).

If she can find a free second, Jolaine likes to cook, bake, sew, craft, read, attend her Catholic women’s book club, in the summer attempts to keep tomato and pepper plants alive, watch movies, and daydreams about a good night’s sleep and traveling the world.

It was in college that Jolaine discovered a passion and vocation in ministry. Through the UMM Newman Center she was active in social justice, women's ministry, liturgy, and retreats. She says that ministry is all about social justice and creating a loving and accepting environment for all of God's children. She loves getting to know people, listening to their life stories, and accepting them for who they are and where they are in their life journey.

Jolaine works part-time, typically on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. She is, however, often off-site at different points in those days for home visits and nursing home prayer services, so if you would like to meet with Jolaine, please call or email in advance to arrange a time.