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 What
is Stephen Ministry?
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a Stephen
Ministry Congregation. That means we have a group of people who
have undergone extensive training to develop and nurture their caring
skills to support those who are experiencing concerns in living
their lives. These volunteers are called Stephen Ministers and are
available, as needed, for distinctively Christian caring and support.
However, a caring relationship may not begin unless it is requested.
That request is called a referral.
Someone is hurting and in need of a Christian friend. Stephen Ministry
is for anyone who needs support during a difficult time in life
and is open to the caregiving a Christian friend has to offer. We
all have those "speed bumps" in our road of life, times when we
are lonely, confused, hurt, frightened, grieving or questioning
our faith.
In his second letter to the Corinthians,
Paul tells us such crises can be opportunities for personal growth
for the one experiencing them. But as we who are in Christ experience
suffering of one sort or another, we also experience comfort through
Christ. One way we receive this comfort is through others who have
likewise received comfort and care through Christ (II Corinthians
1:4-6).
Our Stephen Ministers are available to
serve those who seek their care. One has only to ask and be willing
to accept care.
Any member of Saint Joseph Church may refer themselves, a family
member, friend, neighbor, church member or non-member. Minor children
are ineligible. Stephen Ministry is one-on-one support. Couples
are not assigned as a couple, nor a family as a group. Each individual
can be assigned their own Stephen Minister. Women are only assigned
with women and men assigned with men.
You may request a Stephen Ministry referral by speaking with Fr.
Tom Santen at 636-227-5247 or the Stephen Leader Referral Co-ordinator,
Anne Grant at 636-227-3185. You may also speak to a Staff member
or to any Stephen Minister. They will pass the request directly
to the Referral Co-ordinator. If you are referring someone other
than yourself, it is appropriate to have that person's permission
for referral.
The referral co-ordinator will contact the person, affirm their
willingness to receive care, explain the Stephen Ministry Program
and confirm permission to assign an available Stephen Minister who
then calls to arrange a visit. The Stephen Minister and the care
receiver will discuss the issue(s) of concern and decide upon a
regular meeting schedule. The Stephen Minister will provide support
as long as it is necessary. It may be a few visits or many.
Part of the covenant of Stephen Ministry is the commitment to maintain
the highest level of confidentiality possible to protect the Care
Receiver's privacy. Only the Referral Coordinator, the assigned
Stephen Minister and the Pastor will know your identity.
If you refer another person, the Referral Co-ordinators will follow
up on the referral. To maintain the highest level of confidentiality,
we are not able to affirm or deny that any given individual has
been assigned a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers never identify
an individual as their care receiver or divulge what is shared in
their meetings. The care receivers, however, are free to disclose
to anyone they choose that they have or have had a Stephen Minister
and who that individual is.
Saint Joseph parishioners who completed their initial 50 hours of
training and have been commissioned are: Angela Dalton, Anne Grant,
Bill Grant, Ginny Kirwin, Mary Miller, Joan Nowak and Bob Vondera.
Commissioned Stephen Ministers make a two-year committment and in
addition to ministering to those in need, they also attend two continuing
education training sessions each month. There will be a new training
class beginning after Labor Day each year. If you are interested
in becoming a Stephen Minister, call Carolyn Hunt, any Stephen Minister
listed or Fr. Tom Santen.
Pray about it. Visit www.stephenministries.org
on the Internet, contact the Co-ordinator or Fr. Tom Santen and
explore the idea.
God bless you!
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