Health Ministry

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Christine Gerety, or (310) 566-1531.

Health Ministry at St. Monica promotes the spiritual health of the whole person and is supported by a Providence St. John’s Faith Community Nurse (Parish Nurse). Through a mind, body, and spirit approach, Health Ministry offers health and wellness information to our parish community. This approach expands and builds upon our parish’s traditional outreach of visitation to the sick, support groups, and referrals to community agencies.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BLOOD DRIVE DONORS & VOLUNTEERS!!

Because of you, 43 pints of blood were collected on August 14, which means that 129 lives will be saved!

Upcoming Events: January 15 Blood Drive

Sunday, January 15, 2023
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

How does 1 = 3? Because when you donate 1 pint of blood, you can help save 3 lives! Donate at our next Blood Drive on January 15. Register now and use the code "StMonicaSM"

Click Here to Register for January 15!

Interested in volunteering at the Blood Drive? Contact Christine at or 310-566-1531.

Christine Gerety, or (310) 566-1531.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BLOOD DRIVE DONORS & VOLUNTEERS!!

Because of you, 43 pints of blood were collected on August 14, which means that 129 lives will be saved!

Upcoming Events: January 15 Blood Drive

Sunday, January 15, 2023
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

How does 1 = 3? Because when you donate 1 pint of blood, you can help save 3 lives! Donate at our next Blood Drive on January 15. Register now and use the code "StMonicaSM"

Click Here to Register for January 15!

Interested in volunteering at the Blood Drive? Contact Christine at or 310-566-1531.

Quarterly Blood Drive

We heed the call for blood donations, as our nation continues to experience a critical shortage. The need for blood is a constant need. The Health Ministry team works with the American Red Cross for Blood Drives every quarter.

In May, our representative from the Red Cross sent us the following message:

St. Monica saved up to 174 LIVES on Sunday, May 16!!! YES!!! . . . We are always amazed with the tremendous day with have with St. Monica's! It's easy, the donors are kind and the warmth is palpable . . .

May Goal: 46 units Collected: 58 units (A St. Monica record!!)

Let’s do it again, St. Monica, & make our August drive another record-breaker!

Why Give Blood?

Blood Drive Story Highlight

2022 05 26 10 24 04

by Helen Brooks, Red Cross Volunteer

Sometimes through tears, Yesenia Miranda Meza, a Red Cross employee in the Red Cross Serving San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter, tells the story of her father contracting COVID-19 and then receiving convalescent plasma leading to his full recovery.

[T]hrough the grace of God, Yesenia said, who she believed was working alongside hospital staff, Jesus started his road to recovery just two days later. Divine intervention and convalescent plasma had carried him through.

Click Here to Read More About Yesenia and Jesus' Story.

Stories of Giving from St. Monica

There are many reasons why someone would want to give blood. Here are a few stories collected from some of our Health Ministry volunteers [Anne-Marie, Dianna, Elena Jay, Josephine, Kristine, Lynn, Matt, Patricia, and Steve) during last year's Blood Drives.

In sitting and chatting with people during their "recovery period" after giving blood, and while enjoying some snacks, they struck up conversations with people and they learned why some people chose to donate blood. For one parishioner, it's an expression of gratitude, for another it's a reminder and opportunity, and for yet another, it's an opportunity to honor her family legacy:

One donor stated that she simply donates because she is able to. She's grateful for her health, and hopes that her donation can be of help to others.
Another donor admitted that she had not donated for five years. But when he heard the announcement in Mass, he realized how easy it would be to give at our blood drive, and he quickly scheduled his appointment.
A third donor was giving blood for the third time in honor of her deceased brother. She explained that they year before, her brother had passed away suddenly. In the process of cleaning out his apartment, she found numerous certificates of recongition for all the blood he had donated. A fact that she had never known about him. On the day of his memorial service, she saw that the church was having an upcoming blood drive. So, for the first time, she donated in remembrance of him.

These inspiring moments are jsut some of the stories that motivate our community to give and give again!

The last few years, we have either met or exceeded our goals. This year we hope you can be a part of the life-saving, yet simple way to give back to our community.

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