Ask Father Michael de Leon, AM, why he championed the Stephen Ministry coming to Saint Simon Stock Parish, and he answers without hesitation: “I felt my parishioners needed more avenues for pastoral care coming from the Church.”
As such, the Berlin pastor recently commissioned its first class of Stephen Ministers, all 14 of whom pledged to remain steadfast in their mission to walk with others through listening, prayer and offering emotional and spiritual support.
“We are spreading the news of this ministry in our community, and we hope it will make a difference in people’s lives,” Father de Leon said.
Stephen Ministers are lay members who are trained to assist others through difficult times such as grief, divorce, job loss, mental issues, family troubles, and chronic or terminal illness. The ministry is supported through the Diocese of Camden’s VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services. There are 17 parish Stephen Ministries in the Diocese.
From the beginning, Richard and Sharon Galassini knew they wanted to be part of the Stephen Ministry initiative, which is why they now serve as the parish’s coordinators. They understood the growing need for a one-on-one, Christian-centered care ministry, especially with the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We met for an hour a week for 50 hours,” Richard Galassini said
in explaining the necessary training. “It’s the art of listening that has disappeared that’s important to this ministry.”
Stephen Ministers meet with a care receiver in a confidential setting. There is no judgement, just “a caring relationship inspired by the Holy Spirit,” Galassini said.
Dawn Schafer, who has taught in public school and religious education, said she has been searching for a way to return the spiritual sustenance she received after her only son, Michael, died at age 19 in 2004. “When I learned about this pilot program, a lightbulb went off in my head. My faith sustained me in the years since his death. I wanted to give back as a tribute to Michael.”
To learn more about the Stephen Ministry at Saint Simon Stock Parish, email StephenMinistry@StSimonStock.net. For more about the ministry in the Diocese, including a list of Stephen Ministry parishes, visit vitality.camdendiocese.org/stephen-ministry.
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