Pastoral Visitors

“Time spent with the sick and imprisoned is holy time….Wisdom of the heart means going forth from ourselves toward our brothers and sisters.”  Pope Francis

This brief but insightful message by Pope Francis is an important summons to serve in ministry for all of us – clergy and laity. 

The CCC has a special commitment to Catholic women and men who feel the stirrings Pope Francis referenced and move out of themselves to serve.  Many of the Catholic laity want to spend quality time with the sick, time marked by patient, compassionate companionship with those in need.  Time characterized by careful listening which gives time and space for the other to speak from the heart, those fears and those joys.  This is quality time which is rare in the everyday course of human interaction. 

The CCC calls Catholic laity, who offer this type of time to the sick, pastoral visitors.  These sisters and brothers in Christ are massively important to the CCC.  Their ministry is core to the CCC’s vision. 

Pastoral visitors’ ability to listen empathically, offering effective emotion and spiritual support, augments the sacramental ministry of CCC priests in powerful ways.  With the daily guidance and support by assigned lay chaplains, pastoral visitors do not offer ministry in isolation but in close collaboration with a skilled, trusted lay chaplain colleague.

Advancing the ministry of diocesan pastoral visitors has a solid start.  There are currently over 150 CCC pastoral visitors currently serving in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.  In addition, more than 190 Catholic women and men have completed the CCC Foundation (introductory) Course in pastoral care ministry in the past 18 months. While this is an impressive start, the archdiocese and the CCC are determined to expand this lay ministry.  There are so many opportunities to sustain persons in need in Christ’s name. 

God takes your natural talents and makes them work for the good of those who are lonely, suffering pain, fear and facing death.

Pastoral Visitation deepens your connection with God and with others.

Mentoring is an important aspect of the process: you will be assigned a trained mentor who will walk the journey with you into a facility, making initial visits, and offering feedback on joys and struggles in ministry.

Ongoing training, called enrichment, increases knowledge and skills, focuses on how to effectively utilize listening skills, an understanding of grief, how to use prayer and scripture, and more.

What do visits look like during this time of Covid?  

Want to discover more?  Contact CCC@archgh.org to explore opportunities in Pastoral Care Ministry near you.