Ministers of Care bring the Word, prayer and Eucharist to fellow parishioners who are unable to attend Mass. The Archdiocese of Chicago requires that candidates for the Ministry attend a formal training program, which is offered each fall and spring. Upon completion of the program, new ministers of care are then trained individually by experienced ministers in the area of their interest.
The amount of time spent volunteering for the ministry varies and is dependent on the minister’s availability and the area of ministry, i.e., a minister may visit his/her home-bound person weekly, bi-weekly or once a month. Likewise, a hospital minister may minister only once a month, whereas a hospice minister may minister three to four times per month. All ministers of care are encouraged to attend continuing education lectures and seminars. There will be occasional meetings scheduled at the parish with regard to specific areas of the Ministry. Interviews for candidates for the Ministry are held in the months prior to the training session.