To form a faith-based team where members will be a source of mutual support as we develop and grow the Hospital Visitation Ministry at St Theodore’s and learn together how to accompany people who are ill.

Vision:

Hospital Visitation Ministry is a volunteer ministry, the goal of which is to be present to the parishioner who is ill. The Minister acts as the presence of the congregation attending to someone in a moment of need, bringing the prayers and support of the parish. It is specific to the moment, beyond being a friend or a fellow parishioner. It has healthy boundaries of time and space.

Ministers themselves commit to an ongoing, mutually supportive formation process with fellow ministers to deepen their own spirituality and enable them to grow in this role.

St Theodore’s parish will serve these visitation ministers by supporting them in prayer; and staff will help them to identify and develop their gifts and talents with the goal of preparing them to be present to those who are ill.

Values

· Acceptance (without judgement) and respect

· Active listening

· Care and compassion

· Respect for confidentiality

· Faith and hope

· Humility

· Patience and Presence

· Prayerfulness

· Recognition of, and respect for, boundaries

· Self-awareness

· Trustworthiness