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The loss of a family member or a loved one is difficult, but as Christians we are reminded that death takes us closer to everlasting life with God. Funeral planning ministers assist those who need help making decisions during one of life's most emotional times.
Prayer plays a vital role in our life as Christians and the power of prayer can't be denied. Christ hears us, and we enourage those who feel the need for prayer in their life to ask for help from our Prayer Line ministers. We receive requests from parishioners for specific prayers needed and we then send these requests to approximately 150 parishioners who have asked to be notified when prayers are requested.
Visiting area nursing homes is a vital part of the ministry at St. Thomas. Our ministers offer support, companionship, compassion and love during time spent with patients and residents at many of the facilities in our area.
This ministry provides an opportunity to Catholics unable to attend Mass to receive Communion where they reside, be it a private home, a health care facility, or an assisted living facility.
Through their meeting with a homebound minister, a person is reassured that their spiritual health is being attended to, and through the Eucharist, they receive God's special gifts of faith and love to help them meet their needs. Additionally, the meeting with the minister serves as a supportive social interaction.
There are currently about 30 ministers providing care to Catholics through the region. Sites being visited weekly include private homes in Tellico Village, Kahite, and Rarity Bay; the Baptist Health Care Center and River Oaks Place Assisted Living in Lenoir City; the Loudon Health Care Center, Mountain View Assisted Living, River Oaks, and Lakewood Health Care Center in Loudon; and The Neighborhood in Tellico Village.
The Stephen Ministry serves those who are experiencing difficulties-- whether it be serious illness, discouragement, aging, loneliness, divorce, job loss, relocation, retirement changes, hospitalization, terminal illness, grief, despair, and most of life’s struggles.
This is a confidential ministry in which continuous effort is expended to maintain the body of trust between the person receiving the care and the caregiver.
Stephen Ministers are lay Christians selected, trained, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide effective Christian care. Ministers make a commitment which includes 50 hours of training, on-going supervisory meetings and an average of one 1-hour visit per week with the person receiving their care.
Stephen Ministers are named after St. Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the needs of people in the Christian community.
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