[Magdalen] Pastoral care

[Roger Stokes]

On 29/11/2017 00:52, James Handsfield wrote:
> St. Bede’s, Atlanta, has a Share the Care group which coordinates with clergy for pastoral needs.  Daughters of the King maintains the St. Bede’s prayer request list and also coordinates with clergy.

Sometimes people will benefit from two different kinds of visit - one 
the friendship and practical support of a lay person and one the 
spiritual care of a cleric. I recall one elderly parishioner telling me 
that she had said to a friend from the church "I am ready to die" and 
the response was "Oh, don't say that". She could say that to me as her 
priest and I understood. Her life was very limited with no prospect of 
improvement and she looked forward to release from the frustrations of 
her daily life. On the other hand I did not have the memories she could 
share with a friend in the same areaa she had known for decades. Both 
types of support were needed.

> But remember - someone has to report the need.  None of these entities is clairvoyant.

and any special instructions on visiting. I was taken to task in a 
Church Council (vestry) meeting for not visiting a particular housebound 
parishioner. I had been round twice but there had been no response and 
said so. "You have to ring in advance so she knows to come downstairs" I 
was told.

Roger