Let's Learn About
Doug Ross

About the Author:

Doug started working as a volunteer with the Pastoral Care Department at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Al in 1979. With his good friend, Patrick Thornton, they worked visiting, giving Communion and praying with patients mainly on Sundays for 38 years. They also worked with other local hospitals, private homes and Nursing Homes. They both felt and saw the Holy Spirit working tirelessly each and every Sunday.

I began to make UAB Hospital a regular stop early in 1980. Around December of 1980, Pat Thornton expressed a mild interest in the hospital ministry. We went together a couple times, and he was hooked. The two of us together visited local home bound people and volunteering and working with the very active and capable Pastoral Care Department at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL we visited and prayed with patients from around the world from that day on for the next 38 years.

On a much smaller scale of importance, we often thought of the two of us when coming across Mark 6:7, where Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. Pat and I certainly didn’t cast out any demons but we felt secure and guided giving Catholic patients The Body of Christ and praying and encouraging other patients of many denominations. We both felt it true that we gained more than we gave in this ministry.

Pat and I certainly did not cast out demons, but we felt secure and guided giving Catholic patients the Body of Christ. We all felt it was true that we gained a lot more than we gave in this ministry.

Sharing in our ministry were our faithful spouses, Nancy and Ann. For all these years, they faithfully supported us. They worked and managed our families alone those days. Without their support, the ministry would not have happened.

Over the years, several good people have worked with us at the hospital. Many worked for several years before moving on because of new jobs, changes in family life, and personal reasons. The expanding Ministry continues with folks like Mrs. Cathy Sellers and Elias Barco and others. Elias has faithfully ministered to the Hispanic patients for many years. I know God will bless them all for answering His call. He has certainly blessed me and Pat.

When reading this please realize Pat and I are only two of many people called to minister, including the wonderful spiritual people in UAB Pastoral Care Department. All of those people have stories similar to the stories here and in "Musings". Most have many more stories than those written here.