During the month of February, the Cathedral congregation celebrates Pastoral Care Awareness Month. It is an intentional time where we remember that in response to God’s love for us, we are called to take care of each other and all of God’s people.
There are opportunities for you to become involved with our care for each other. On February 19th, we will have Eucharistic Lay Ministry training. On February 26th, Mike Hess, co-chair of our Pastoral Care Ministry, will preach at both the 9am and 11am service. Following the 11am service, we will host coffee hour in celebration of our ministry.
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation… 'Pastoral care' is also a term applied where people offer help and caring to others in their church or wider community. Pastoral care in this sense can be applied to listening, supporting, encouraging and befriending.
Having a reference point is very necessary to me because I sometimes struggle for focus and rationale. When I was first offered the opportunity of joining the Pastoral Care Ministry at St. James Cathedral I tried to assess my qualities and what I could bring to this ministry. As a self proclaimed introvert, I tried to think of what I could possibly offer a ministry whose purpose was based on “listening, supporting, encouraging and befriending!” Since even small talk during coffee hour was challenging to me, I struggled with thoughts of how I could be effective in this ministry.
I asked Alison McIntire, who then headed the Pastoral Care Ministry if we might have a Card Ministry. I had been a member of a card ministry at a previous parish and enjoyed sending messages of support to those in need of same. The card ministry was approved and cards were ordered. Through the card ministry, I witnessed the hardships, calamities and special events of our congregation and others that we served and it has been astounding! I sent cards with personal notes of support, encouragement and in some cases condolences on behalf of the St. James Family. Christmas cards were also sent to persons who had been sent cards previously that year because of their particular concerns.
In late summer of this year, Michael Hess and I agreed to accept the leadership of the Pastoral Care Ministry. Alison had done a magnificent job heading this ministry and I only agreed to chair it if Mike agreed to co-chair it with me. Mike and I have been Adult Formation members for a couple of years and I often marvel at his spirituality, and his sincerity. It was my belief that we would be a good team because Mike is good at vocalizing and I am not; whereas he works and his time for organizing and spearheading is limited and I am retired and have lots of time to blog away!
These last four months I have learned that Pastoral Care is so much more than just writing notes to those in need or sending emails about them. The Eucharistic Lay Ministry is a part of Pastoral Care. Those team members were actually trained and are certified as lay ministers. As co-chair of the Pastoral Care Ministry I have been a part of a team that has administered the Sacraments to stem cell patients, to those struggling with cancer treatment, to a man who was paralyzed and could only communicate by blinking, to those recovering from both major and minor surgeries, and to those who had loss a loved one. I was fortunate to do a drive along with an ELM team member on two occasions when she administered holy sacraments to parishioners who are home bound. The experience was profound! During the administering of the Sacraments the space took on an air of both sacredness and seriousness even though the visit itself was both heartwarming and fun.
The Pastoral Care Ministry team of volunteers is amazing. When an opportunity to help is offered, the team is quick to respond. Their generosity of time, spirit and resources is amazing! Most recently St. James has welcomed the sponsorship of Streetwise vendor Ahamand Mayfield. He recently had surgery and was in need of help. The PCM team’s response to his needs has been spiritually gratifying.
We are aware that there are many parishioners who may need help but are reluctant to ask for it. We want everyone to know that we are committed to their needs and that we are sworn by an oath of confidentiality and integrity. Our only discussion of a parishioner’s affairs would be on how we might best serve their needs. There are members of Pastoral Care who will be happy to help provide a meal for families challenged by the birth of their little ones, or to help families overwhelmed by illnesses, to take Communion to seniors who are house bound, to visit and offer spiritual support to those who are hospitalized, and the list goes on.
We have received request for spiritual care from members who were actually outside our dioceses but who were hospitalized in the Chicago area, and mostly in the same neighborhood as St. James Cathedral. We look forward to continuing to service our parish, our dioceses and those not within our boarders, but who need and request our help because “Pastoral care' is where people offer help and caring to others in their church or wider community… pastoral care in this sense can be applied to listening, supporting, encouraging and befriending.”
- to learn more about our Pastoral Care Ministry, please contact Carole Brawner and Mike Hess
- email Carole and Mike
