Someone is in the hospital facing surgery.
Another is spending fading years
in a nursing home.
Yet another is grieving the loss of a spouse.

Who is it in the church that embraces and supports these persons in their time of need with care, prayer and assistance? The answer, of course, is all of us.  However, in order to facilitate this process, the church has found it helpful to organize various ministries of care. These ministries coordinate with the clergy to provide the care needed.

One such ministry is Pastoral Friends. They help make the connection between where these parishioners want to be and where they have to be. They break long days of worrying, discomfort or loneliness with a visit in the name of Christ.

Training in listening skills and hospital protocol
*is required* and will be provided.

(prayer of the Pastoral Friends Ministry)

Lord, we would serve You by serving others.
We have nothing to offer save our desire to pass on the love
that we have been given by You.

Give us grace, we beseech You,
that we may visit with compassion.

Teach us to listen to others, to speak with understanding,
and so fill us with joy in sharing that we be not solemn visitors,
but be full of wonder of visiting in Your name.

Help us to listen, to touch, to weep and to laugh,
all to glorify You.    Amen.


If you would like to learn more about being a part of this important calling,
please contact the Pastoral Care Department at (214) 363-5471,
or e-mail us at: kbowen@saintmichael.org

An extension of the Pastoral Friends ministry is the Scripture-To-Go Bible Study which enables its participants to share the "good news" with our Homebound and Nursing Home parishioners.