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STORY -
"New life breathed in to funeral ministry"
By Catherine Mahony.
In December 2002 Bishop Michael Malone commissioned the first
28 Parish Funeral Ministers in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.
This year the diocese is again offering training for parish ministers
who wish to work with the sick, dying and bereaved.
The training
course is now known as Stepping Stones and is described
as a formation process for ministers working with the sick, dying
and bereaved.
According
to Stepping Stones Co-ordinator, Sr Louise Gannon RSJ,
“The committee hopes that this change in name and course
focus captures the real breadth of the ministry. It reflects a
very significant change from an initial focus on funeral ministry
(with an emphasis on lay presiders) to a far broader formation
for parish ministry to the sick, dying and bereaved in a variety
of forms.
Stepping Stones formation consists of three components.
'We Grieve'
provides participants with the opportunity to learn more about
grief and to explore their own grief experiences, through the
“Seasons for Growth” programme. 'We Pray Together' gives
participants firsthand understanding and experience of the rites
of the church associated with sickness and death. ' We Minister'
focuses on pastoral training and developing a person’s identity
as a minister.
Stepping
Stones is being held between April and September in the Upper
Hunter and Macquarie Pastoral Regions.
Louise explained that these regions were chosen because of the
overwhelming interest shown and in an attempt to offer training
throughout the diocese; training was previously held in the Northern
and Newcastle regions. Parishes
or pastoral regions were asked to register a minimum of four participants.
“In the spirit of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, this ministry
is by its very nature, collaborative. It requires partnerships
between priests and parish ministers, and between the ministers
and the whole parish community. We also feel that the demanding
nature of this ministry means that a group of people engaged in
formation and ministry together can provide valuable support for
each other,” Louise said.
The registration period has now closed, and because of the large
number of applications received, the planning committee is unable
to accept late applications.
For further information about Stepping Stones click
here.
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