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The Ministry of Stephen Ministers
by Katie McCarty
Did you know that we have 18 currently active, trained and commissioned Stephen Ministers serving our parish and needs of this community? We also have 7 persons currently "in training"--though our training sessions are currently paused due to Covid-19. But no worries, training will resume in time.
Stephen Ministers are persons who span a variety of ages. Some of our awesome ministers have been serving for 20 years or more. Stephen Ministers are persons who meet one on one with individuals who need a caring listener. Stephen Ministers are trained to listen and express care in a way that encourages the care receiver. Stephen Ministers meet with persons who are experiencing the loss of a child, parent, spouse, friend; Stephen Ministers meet persons who are in care centers to sometimes pray with them weekly or monthly and to bring communion; Stephen Ministers may meet with individuals experiencing sadness/depression or needing a listening ear, and more. Stephen Ministers may be continuing their ministries right now via phone, text messages, or perhaps meeting outside at a park or in a yard.
Stephen Ministers are sometimes considered the "after people." They come into a person's life immediately after a crisis has hit and then serve as long as needed. The service is the listening, caring one on one support.
The Stephen Minister's work is confidential, therefore we do not know who is serving whom. The work of praying with and caring about another person happens quietly and without fanfare. Yet the ministry is powerful, healing and redemptive.
We applaud the current and active Stephen Ministers of St. Joseph the Worker. We also know that those Stephen Ministers of the past are still impacting the world by using the skills learned. Blessings and thank you to our ministers, both past and present. Below are our active ministers:
David Adams
Flo Gropel
Mary Hand
Elise Harasyn
Jim Harasyn
Tom Harrer
Beth Ann Hart
Terry Johnson
Carole Lothian
Mary Marshik
Greg Nelson
Jane Oldham
Ann O'Connor
Sharon Pelant
Vince Rowan
Polly Schick
Jim Shuda
Steve Williams
And to those 8 Stephen Ministers in training, know that your greatest lesson right now is patience, as we await the passing of this pandemic. Blessings to you for your commitment:
Diane Benner
Sue Bolin
Elizabeth Christenson
Todd Johnson
Gail Rothenbueler
Kathy Shea
Monica St. Germain
Jane Warren
If you have interest in knowing more about Stephen Ministry, please feel free to contact our dedicated and stellar parish coordinator Beth Ann Hart at bhart0646@comcast.net.
A Prayer for Stephen Ministers
May God bless your ministry as you care for others and give you wisdom. May you offer Christ's healing love to hurting people.
For additional information see this link
www.stephenministries.org