pastoral

St. Irenaeus, the second century theologian has given us a key principle on which to base our work of pastoral care in the parish:

The Pastoral Team is a group of volunteers from St Faith’s Church who are willing to visit people in their homes or in hospital. Some will also bring communion to people at home. The team has been established to support all those under stress or to anyone who would like a friendly ear.

So often people are left wondering about their own worth and value. They find themselves facing losses and isolation. Many feel that not only are they not welcome in their communities, but they feel like strangers even in their own churches. Pastoral care is about building relationships of respect by being fully present to the people we serve. We listen carefully as people engage their struggles and questions, hopes and dreams. We take their concerns very seriously and in so-doing reflect back to them their beauty, goodness and capacity to grow. Thus, people feel affirmed and valued, able to appreciate their own God-given dignity and to engage their world in life-affirming ways. They discover that they “matter” far more than they can imagine. In this way we honour the people we serve and affirm their essential role in the life of church and society.

Members of the current Pastoral Team are neither experts or counsellors but they have had some training in the parish as a preparation for their visits. They have all participated in the one day Course ‘Pastoral Care I’ which looked at the following subjects: Principles of Pastoral Care, Listening, Bereavement, Home Communions and Visiting People at home or in Hospital. We hope to repeat ‘Pastoral Care I’ next year for anyone who would also like to join the Pastoral Team. For those who have already completed this course there will be a further day course ‘Pastoral Care II’ to help the Team build on their experience and skills. The Team will receive a badge which they will wear when visiting.

Members of the Pastoral Team understand that what is shared is said in confidence
and that they make no judgements.

Our aim is to visit
to listen
to talk
and to care

If you would like to receive a visit from one of the Pastoral Team, please contact the Vicar who will arrange for someone in the Pastoral Team to telephone first, and then visit.

The Parish Office is open every weekday morning from 9.30am - 12.30pm
the church is open for visitors all day