Stephen Ministry

Purpose:

To make available for those in our church and community who are suffering for any reason, the support and encouragement of a caring friend. Stephen Ministers provide an extension of the pastoral care provided by our pastor, priests, deacons and parish staff.

Who might find the care of a Stephen Minister of value?

Any individual (male or female) experiencing separation/divorce, job loss, long term or terminal illness, aging, death, depression and loneliness. This could include the extended family or circle of friends of a suffering individual.

This is a confidential ministry. Whatever a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister is held in strictest confidence.

Stephen Ministers are assigned to care receivers who agree to receive the care of the Stephen Minister. The program is designed for adults only and Stephen Ministers are assigned care receivers of the same gender.

Stephen Ministers are lay parishioners trained to provide confidential, one on one, distinctively Christian care to individuals who are experiencing any of a variety of life’s needs and circumstances.

There is no charge associated with any of the caring services provided by the Stephen Ministry.

A Stephen Minister is:

• A caring Christian offering support to others in time of need.

• A sharing Christian bringing who he/she is to each caring relationship, as a confidential partner in another’s life experiences.

• A trained care giver having developed his or her skills through an intensive 50 hour training course and continuing education sessions

• A dedicated Christian commissioned by the St. Thomas More community to provide in depth, one on one caring, preserving the confidential nature of each relationship.

• People with a gift of compassion, emotional stability, spirituality, a caring manner and dependability, might find this ministry rewarding.

Stephen Ministers are not:

• Professional counselors or psychologists.

• Social workers providing routine services (eg. transportation)

• Experts in the law, Church doctrine, finance, etc.

• Superficial visitors touching base occasionally.

What training do Stephen Ministers receive?

The Stephen Ministry training program prepares committed men and women to become Stephen Ministers, equipping them to care for the many needs of our parish congregation. Their initial fifty hours of training includes a broad range of topics focusing on such items as feelings, listening, assertiveness training, use of prayer and scriptures, and ministering to people in specific situations such as grief, divorce and depression.

What Commitments do Stephen Ministers make?

Following training, each Stephen Minister makes a two year commitment to provide caring to persons in need. In addition to the involvement with the care receiver (an average of one 1-hour visit each week), this commitment includes regular attendance in monthly supervision and continuing education sessions. While Stephen Ministers initially commit to two years of service, many often recommit to serve additional years.