Stephen Ministers commissioned in St. George

Courtesy photos/Cora Egger

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The newly commissioned Stephen Ministers at St. George Parish are shown with Fr. David Bittmenn, pastor and leader of the ministry; and leaders Carole Drake and Herrold Egger. Those commissioned were, in alphabetical order, Bonnie Arndt, Ghislaine Brassine, Janice Crum, Marie Dorish, Mary Hogan, Brenda Martinez, Inge Matteucci, Deacon Carlos Mendez, Teresa Mendez, Nadia Neumeier, Joan Opheikens, Sharon Paetzke and Mary Ann Smith.

Carole J. Drake

ST. GEORGE — Thirteen men and women were commissioned as Stephen Ministers on March 21 at St. George Catholic Church. Those commissioned were Bonnie Arndt, Ghislaine Brassine, Janice Crum, Marie Dorish, Mary Hogan, Brenda Martinez, Inge Matteucci, Deacon Carlos Mendez, Teresa Mendez, Nadia Neumeier, Joan Opheikens, Sharon Paetzke and Mary Ann Smith.

They were commissioned at the 11 a.m. Mass by Stephen Ministries leaders Father David Bittmenn, pastor; Carole Drake, pastoral assistant; and Herrold Egger, training facilitator.  

Stephen Ministries is a worldwide, faith-based, non-denominational ministry of people caring for people. Men minister to men and women to women.  

These Stephen Ministers, referred to as Caregivers, received 50 hours of training over a six-month period in areas such as feelings, divorce, terminal illnesses, death and dying, suicide, grief, boundaries and closure. Extensive pre-class reading was required, and role-playing was a key element of the training sessions.  

Two very important modules of the training are listening and confidentiality. Stephen Ministers cannot fix the problems of their Care Receivers; they can listen and walk with these individuals during troubled times. Confidentiality is considered the cornerstone of Stephen Ministries: At no time are names of Care Receivers identified to other ministers of the group.  

Stephen Ministers meet in small peer group supervision twice a month to report on their Caregiver/Care Receiver situations to ensure Care Receivers are receiving the best care possible, and to support the Caregiver, offering him/her advice and direction in the relationship, if needed.  

Stephen Ministries is Christ Caring for People through People.  All Stephen Ministers have been Safe Environment certified.

Carole J. Drake is a Stephen Leader at St. George Parish.