Healing Ministry

"I was ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me...Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these...you did for me."

According to this admonition found in the 25th Chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, Healing Ministers reach out to others by visiting persons who are in the hospital, homebound or in nursing and convalescent centers. Healing ministers break boundaries of loneliness and isolation. They offer hope through words of encouragement, prayer and friendship.

Though many of our Healing Ministry team members do bring the Eucharist to those who cannot physically attend Liturgy with our community here at St Stephen's, it is not a requirement. Visiting someone, praying with them and being present to them as friend are important parts of the Healing Ministry.


There are a number of ways to serve in this important outreach.

Visitation Ministry to the Homebound
The purpose of the visitation ministry to the homebound is to bring a little bit of the St Stephen's faith community to persons who miss coming to Church . Healing ministers hope to bring the presence of Jesus to the persons they visit. A call to this ministry requires the minister to spend time with the homebound person and/or family on a regular basis, preferably weekly. Eucharist may be given, prayer offered, or a meal shared. The minister becomes a special friend to the person being visited.

Visitation Ministry to Nursing/Retirement/Convalescent Residences
One-on-one visitation is provided to Catholic residents living in nursing, retirement and convalescent homes. The visits provide an opportunity for the minister to express the love and concern of St Stephen's Community. Ministers bring Eucharist, offer words of encouragement and prayer to the persons they visit.

Hospital Visitation Ministry 
St Stephen's Healing Ministers visit and offer communion on a daily basis to patients in Chesapeake General Hospitals. Other area hospitals are visited upon the request of St Stephen's parishioners. Hospital Healing Ministers work collaboratively with the resident and staff chaplains to provide pastoral care to all Catholics at Chesapeake General Hospital. At the request of patients in accordance to HIPPA regulations, Healing Ministers may communicate appropriately with St Stephen's pastoral staff particular needs of individual patients. Such needs or requests may include being placed on the intercessory prayer list, making contact with the person's parish pastor, sacamental needs for reconciliation and/or annointing.

Healing Ministry Intercessory Prayer Group
Persons who feel a special call to prayer serve the parish faith community by being part of a prayer phone or e-mail relay. Prayer requests are funneled to the group through the Healing Ministry office. Some memebers may choose to partner with others either praying over the telephone or meeting together in their homes. The first Monday of each month members come together as a group; this is an optional opportunity for shared prayer and support.

"Breaking Boundaries, Creating Hope"
Bereavement, Divorce Recovery, Pre-marital and Marital, Vocations Discernment, Spiritual Direction and short term Pastoral Counseling assessment and referral are available to St Stephen'sParishioners through the Office of Healing Ministry. The coordinator of the Healing MInistry Office has experience and professional training in all these areas.

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Volunteers for all Healing Ministries are trained, commissioned and scheduled through the Office of Healing Ministry.
Anyone from the Parish being admitted to the hospital and wishing to be anointed prior to surgery or other treatment should call the parish office. Please call at least one week prior to your admission date. When being admitted to a nursing/convalescent home or to a hospital, specify on the admission form that you are Catholic and a member of St Stephen's. Healing Ministers want to visit you while you are in the hospital. Hospitals do not always notify the parish, so please ask a friend or family member to let the parish know you are in the hospital. If you know of any parishioners who are in the hospital, homebound or in a nursing/convalescent center who are not being visited, please call the parish office and provide the name and address/location.