Ministers To the Sick are entrusted with the special care of the sick and home-bound of our parish community. With regular visitation, administration of the Eucharist, genuine care, and concern - they extend the loving presence of the Church to those who are separated from their parish by illness. As a M inister T o the S ick, we gain new skills, meet new people, experience new challenges, get the opportunity to help others, and are able to use our talents and spirituality in serving the Lord.

"...For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst.”

- Matthew 18:20

Who Are the Ministers To the Sick? The MTS are ordinary baptized Catholic men & women who commit themselves to the visitation of the sick, shut-ins, nursing home residents, the hospitalized, and their caregivers. This visitation is called Pastoral Care and is one of the most ancient ministries of the Church. It is a serious commitment and a powerful witness to the love and care of God.

Some of the most common traits for a Minister To the Sick include

Acceptance, Common Sense, Compassion, Confidentiality, Empathy, Humility, Listening,

Openness, Patience, Prayerfulness, Presence, Understanding, & Unselfishness.

The Requirements for a Ministers To the Sick: • Be a fully initiated Roman Catholic in good standing, as a person of faith, who believes in God, follows Christ, & trusts the Holy Spirit. • Be approved by his/her pastor. • Complete the training requirements and possess an active mandate from the Bishop of Orlando to serve as an E xtraordinary M inister of H oly C ommunion. • Pass all screening and safe environment procedures (fingerprint & background checks, etc.) • Meet with the M inisters T o the S ick Coordinator privately twice per year. • Be able to listen to the concerns of others without judgment. • Be physically & spiritually able to carry out this ministry. • Visit those assigned regularly and fill out the visitation forms for the MTS Coordinator. • Attend & Participate in continuing education courses that are offered throughout the year. • Attend scheduled quarterly meetings with other M inisters T o the S ick to gain & share knowledge. Training: • Each new minister candidate will attend the basic workshop for the new M inisters T o the S ick. • Each new minister candidate will accompany & shadow an experienced M inister T o the S ick on 2 - 3 visitations before going solo.

In all this, I have shown you that by such hard work we must help the weak, keeping in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, “ It is more blessed to give than to receive. ” - Acts 20:35

Pastoral Care has a purpose: • Being attentive & listening to the cares & concerns for another as a Christian Community representative of St. Joseph Catholic Church. • The visit may include conversations, prayer, & the Eucharist. • The M inisters T o the S ick are to refer to the MTS Coordinator any suffering & applicable needs of those visited, for Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, or Last Rites – Viaticum… • Community outreach is life-giving and essential to following Christ.

Commitment: • A M inister T o the S ick, after completing the initial training program, is commissioned to serve as a M inister T o the S ick by the Bishop of Orlando for a period of 5 years. Re-certification: • The M inister T o the S ick mandate has a 5-year recertification cycle. There are a variety of programs available both within the parish & throughout the Diocese that would assist one in renewing their certification.

Ministers To the Sick Code of Ethics • We have respect for human dignity which allows a person to have his/her own thoughts, feelings, hopes, & relationship with God. • We observe confidentiality with regard to the privileged information that is heard on the pastoral visit. • We are compassionate and consistent in serving those assigned to our care. • We are reverent and aware of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist that is carried, in the person visited, and in the person of the ministry. • We are serious about continuing our education, increasing our spiritual enrichment, and having a deeper relationship with God. • We will uphold and expound the teachings of the Catholic Church with regard to ethical and moral issues pertaining to the sick and dying.