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SAN ANTONIO • When a doctor suggested attending an ACTS HIV Ministry retreat to Bill Hickey, a nurse working with patients in end-stage renal disease, Hickey’s response was an emphatic “no.” “I told him that I don’t have AIDS or HIV,” said Hickey. “There’s no reason for me to go.” But the doctor persisted, explaining this retreat would have a life-changing affect on him.
Hickey admitted he had found himself becoming progressively irritable, working with patients whose permanent kidney failure had progressed to the point of requiring dialysis to stay alive. These included patients with AIDS. The frustration of trying to put people on medication they needed, but couldn’t afford, or getting them into dialysis, when they had transportation difficulties, was beginning to wear him down.
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Finally Hickey agreed to attend the retreat. “I went with a chip on my shoulder,” he said, thinking, “I don’t want to be around a bunch of people who sing Kumbaya, a lot of hugging and nothing’s really going to come from it.” As the retreat weekend progressed, however, he began to notice a change in himself, as he realized that no matter how hopeless his patients seemed, there was an opportunity through these special retreats to bring hope into their lives. From being an angrily reluctant retreatant, Hickey did an “about face” attitude-wise, becoming so involved in the ACTS HIV Ministry that he is now on their board of directors and co-director of their upcoming retreat on Oct. 12-15.
The HIV ACTS Ministry was founded by Father Mike Horan at St. Luke Parish in 2000, holding the first of what would become twice yearly retreats in 2001. More than 300 persons, both men and women who have tested HIV positive and their family members and close friends, have participated in these special retreats since then. People dealing with other issues have asked to attend these retreats as well, after hearing how uplifting they are.
The ministry offers other activities as well for participants, who form a real community and support network for one another. They meet monthly for Mass on the third Sunday of the month at Oblate School of Theology’s Marian Mission Hall, and join with other AIDS-related organizations for activities ranging from service to social, such as helping at Jennifer’s Camp for children with AIDS and participating in joint movie nights with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. One-day mini-retreats are also held.
The number of those attending the retreats is almost equally split between persons who are HIV-positive or have AIDS and their friends or relatives, Hickey related. He recalls one participant with the disease brought his entire family along for the retreat. Attendees have ranged in age from 20 to 80 years and have come from as far away as Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Francisco and Florida.
Since no similar programs are offered here, the ACTS HIV Ministry has opened its doors to those of all religious denominations. They hope to eventually expand this ministry to other Texas cities and beyond.
In the initial years of the AIDS onslaught, being diagnosed with the disease was seen as an automatic death sentence, with no thought given to other health concerns. Hickey noted that great strides have been made since then in medications available to those with HIV/AIDS, extending their lives and hence necessitating addressing health issues faced by the rest of society as they age, such as smoking, cholesterol and diabetes.
There is still a stigma attached to having AIDS, he said, only slightly less than in earlier years. “People are still afraid to even talk about AIDS or HIV out in public, even the people we’ve dealt with,” he said. Some are even afraid to tell their own family.
Hickey noted that what impressed him most when he first attended a retreat were the personal testimonies given. Some came having been angry with God for a long time. Others had never practiced religion. Still others, already on the right path, found the experience reaffirming. All were positively affected by the retreat.
The cost of attending one of these retreats is $135, but 90 percent of those who come cannot afford this, so scholarships are made available. Funding for them is raised through an annual “ACTS-travaganza,” with this year’s taking place on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 6:30 to 11 p.m., at St. Luke Parish Center, 4603 Manitou. It features a sangria taste-off, Las Vegas style casino night complete with prizes, buffet dinner and silent and live auctions. (Attendance is restricted to adults over the age of 21.) Father James Galvin of San Juan Capistrano Parish will be honored that night for his work in the ministry.
Later, on Nov. 4, a concert at St. Luke Church by Jose Ruben DeLeon, whose songs in Spanish and English tell of hope, faith and resurrection, is planned to bring in additional funding. Though a free event, love offerings/donations will be accepted and appreciated at this concert.
The large number of scholarships is necessitated by the high cost of treatment for HIV/AIDS.
“Someone who is diagnosed with AIDS or HIV is overwhelmed with more bills than they know what to do with, even if they have insurance,” said Hickey, “because of all the tests they must run and rerun. And that doesn’t include the medications and all the doctor visits to follow up.” Even with insurance, a patient can easily spend two or three hundred dollars a month just on co-payments.
In Bexar County today there are 3,772 persons diagnosed as living with HIV/AIDS — men, women and children of all ages and ethnicities. Globally, the figures are even more staggering, with more than 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS and deaths topping 3.1 million per year. “It’s a pandemic for everyone,” observed Hickey.
In San Antonio, those involved in the ACTS/HIV Ministry are doing their part to minister to the body of Christ in those afflicted. With support, they will be able to do even more. |