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Parishioner to organize
health fairs in two parishes
Dr. Frank O'Neill is well aware of the importance of taking a holistic approach to health. "Some people are physically healthy, but they don't do anything for their spiritual or emotional health - some people take it the other way," he said. "You go to church to make yourself more spiritually and emotionally healthy, but you can't forget about the physical." With that in mind, this parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City has organized a health fair at the parish on Aug. 18 and one at Nativity Church in Sioux City on Oct. 6. Held in the parish centers from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dr. O'Neill is hoping to draw from the Sunday Mass crowd. "I considered doing it at a different time, but didn't know if people would make a second trip," noted the chiropractor. "People are already there." O'Neill pointed out that he offers health screening tests quite frequently and felt he wanted to do so for his parish as well. "We do them for businesses and in office buildings - wherever there are people. It is easier to go to the people," he explained. The goal in these health fairs is to raise awareness and help people with any potential concerns before they become a problem. At the fair Dr. O'Neill will offer posture and spinal stress testing along with blood pressure screens. Other health care providers will offer screening tests or information based on their specialties. An esthetician will provide a skin screening, looking for skin problems resulting from sun exposure. There will be a massage therapist on hand and persons offering nutritional information. There will also be a mental health awareness booth manned by Connie Barrett. He expects the fair will feature six to seven booths. "I wanted to do something for the church and this seemed like a natural fit because I was already doing this at other places," he said. O'Neill believes that parishioners may be more likely to attend a health fair because studies prove that people involved in church tend to live longer. Thus, he concludes that they are more health minded and therefore would take greater interest in attending. Another thing that sparked the idea to organize the parish health fair was learning about the health fair organized by the parish nurses at Sacred Heart in Sioux City. Parishioners from Sacred Heart had approached Dr. O'Neill about participating in their fair, but he was unable to do so. At this point he added that neither Immaculate Conception nor Nativity currently has a health/parish nurse ministry, but he would love to become involved in it should that develop. There is no charge to attend the health fair.
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