Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, April 26, 2002 Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking The poor with HIV/AIDS in Youngstown have friends and advocates, thanks to the Ursulines By Susan K. Virgalitte In biblical times, leprosy was the most feared disease a person could have. Persons with the disease were banned from society, segregated in colonies outside their communities, and considered cursed by God. “Being treated like a leper” has become synonymous with the worst sort of rejection a human being could suffer. Today, the disease of leprosy is curable, but a new disease has caused the same kind of fear that leprosy once caused: AIDS. Persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – whether or not they have developed the serious symptoms of AIDS – often are rejected by family, friends and co-workers. Sometimes, their churches ask them to leave. The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown have been ministering to those living with HIV and AIDS since 1993. Ursuline Sister Kathleen Minchin is the director of the program. Ursuline Sister Brigid Kennedy assists her. In addition, Sister Susan Zion of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland helps with the ministry and is “on loan” from the Motherhouse in Cleveland. Sister Susan is administrative coordinator of the Comprehensive Care Center at the former Southside Hospital in Youngstown. The Center provides HIV-positive adults and children with health care, counseling, case management and support services in a clinic sponsored by the Youngstown Health District. People living with HIV and AIDS do not tell others about their condition, not even close friends and family. “People try to keep it private if they have any resources at all,” Sister Brigid told the Exponent. “We deal mostly with people who don’t have anybody to turn to. They are already marginalized; they already have several strikes against them. We have had some sad cases where people have been totally rejected by their families. There is a lot of ignorance and fear about how the disease is spread. For some of them, we are the most stable and long-lasting relationship they have.” In addition to dealing with family problems and rejection by members of their churches, persons living with HIV/AIDS have trouble keeping their jobs if an employer discovers they have the disease. “People are still let go at work,” Sister Kathleen said. “There are a lot of ways to do that without actually firing the person.” She added that those living with HIV often become paranoid about their employers’ finding out they have the disease. They are afraid to process insurance claims. They may pay for doctor visits out of their own pockets, but they do not have enough money to pay for their own medications. “Insurance companies aren’t supposed to tell employers,” Sister Kathleen added. “But they do – or a person in the office who processes the claims tells someone.” The Ursulines’ HIV-AIDS ministry began when Sister Kathleen and other sisters began attending meetings of a support group in Youngstown. They invited this group to the Motherhouse in Canfield for a monthly dinner and support group meeting. The Ursulines began collecting “pantry” items for the group from churches, organizations, individuals and businesses. There are certain things people dealing with HIV/AIDS need which are not covered by food stamps, such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo and laundry detergent. In the course of planning the monthly dinners, members of the original support group suggested that the sisters buy nice dishes and flatware for serving dinner. They explained that many who are affected by HIV-AIDS are treated with fear by family members and made to eat from disposable plates. Having real plates, glasses, and flatware meant a lot to them. “It was very important in those days to show people that we were not afraid of them,” Sister Kathleen remembered. “Using real dishes and real silverware was a way of showing them respect.” The monthly dinners, called the “Café,” were a big success. Another need the Ursulines addressed was providing better health care for those living with HIV and AIDS. Previously, there was little in the way of medical management for them in Youngstown. Some travel to Akron, Cleveland or Pittsburgh to see doctors who specialize in their problems. Poor families cannot afford to do that. The sisters proposed to the city Health Commissioner that a clinic be opened in the Youngstown center city. They told city officials that, if the city opened the clinic, the Ursulines would manage it. The arrangement suited everyone. People who needed services could see a specialist locally. The doctors could do their job and not worry about all the other issues with which their patients were dealing. The Youngstown Health District opened the Comprehensive Care Center in Youngstown’s former Southside Hospital in May of last year. Sister Susan Zion came from the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland to manage the clinic, which now treats about 80 patients. Although the Ursuline Sisters have made much progress in ministering to those dealing with HIV/AIDS, it can be heartbreaking. The battle with the disease is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Deaths from AIDS dropped when more effective medications were developed, but those medications are becoming less effective as the disease mutates into new forms. People who must live with the disease hope their medications do not stop working for them until new drugs are developed. To make matters worse, the medications are very toxic to the human body. “What happens is people get very tired – tired of fighting, tired of taking medications, tired of feeling lousy,” Sister Kathleen said. “It’s very hard to be HIV-infected. People die because they have given up.” People living with HIV and AIDS have much with which to contend, in addition to physical problems. They are often treated with fear and loathing by the public, by their employers, and even by their families. “They are not treated respectfully,” Sister Kathleen said. “In our ministry, we don’t proselytize. We just try to treat people respectfully. This is often the only place where people with AIDS are known by their name.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001