Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?   Established as a volunteer lay ministry in St. Louis, MO in 1975, Stephen Ministry is named after St. Stephen, the Church's first Deacon.  It is recognized internationally as an interdenominational ministry Christ care for people through people.   This ministry fulfills St. James' Parish Mission of providing support and care to one another in order to build a Christ-centered community.   Ministers focus on a one-on-one relationship with a fellow parishioner experiencing crisis.   St. James provides a proven Christian-based training and ongoing education for Stephen Ministers.  St. James was the first Catholic parish in Nebraska to enroll in this one-to-one outreach ministry and implemented the program in 1984 to help the parish become a more caring and ministering community. 

Who are Stephen Ministers?   Parishioners are trained to bring Christ's healing love to their "Stephen friends."   They are caring volunteers who share their time and talent.  More than 130 parishioners have been trained and over 100 ministers have responded to the needs of more than 150 parish individuals.

How does the program work?  St. James' Stephen Ministry Program prepares interested parishioners for becoming Stephen Ministers in the following four phases: 1) Training.  The initial 50 hours of training includes building knowledge, skills, and abilities in the core areas of confidentiality, listening, feelings, assertiveness training, crisis theory and intervention; and specialized topics on grief, divorce, depression, aging and stress.       2)  Commissioning.  After successful completion of training, trainees discern active commitment to the program and then are commissioned as "Stephen Ministers."      3)   Linkage.   The Pastoral Minister links a commissioned Stephen Minister with a parishioner who has expressed a desire for "extra support" in his/her time of stress.   Each linkage is kept in strictest confidence.    4)  Supervision.   All Stephen Ministers are supported by the St. James Leadership Team.   The leadership team facilitates peer supervision and continuing education to ensure quality of the program and confidentiality. 

Whose Needs Does it Address?   A Stephen Friend who is grieving the loss of a loved one, dying (as well as his/her family and/or caregivers), separated, divorced or in the process, disabled or suffering from a chronic illness, homebound, lonely and/or isolated, an inactive parishioner struggling with faith issues, or a parishioner experiencing any emotion, spiritual, life-altering, and/or physical stress.

The Stephen Ministry symbol is a cross that stands amidst a broken person and a whole person.   It reminds us that it is Jesus who transforms broken people into whole people and the path to healing and wholeness is through the cross.

HOW DO I VOLUNTEER OR RECEIVE THIS MINISTRY?  Please print this page.   Return the completed page to the parish office, or you can put the form in the offering basket.  If you are in immediate need, please call the Parish Rectory and ask to speak to Bob May, Pastoral Minister, 572-0499.  St. James Catholic Church, 9025 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, NE  69134-2797.

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