The Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew

The Mother Church of the Diocese of Dallas

Christ | Compassion | Community

I joined the Cathedral staff in August of 2004 as a lay minister in charge of pastoral care.  I was ordained to the diaconate in May of 2005 and I continue to oversee the pastoral care ministry; however, all the clergy at the Cathedral provide care to the people in our congregation.  Providing for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of our parishioners is a priority at the Cathedral, and both ordained and lay ministers are committed to recognizing and meeting the pastoral care needs of the people who attend our church.

Lay Eucharistic Visitors are licensed by the Diocese to take Communion to members of our congregation who are unable to be present at the Eucharist due to illness or infirmity.  In 2005, over seventy visits were made to homebound or hospitalized parishioners by our Lay Eucharistic Visitors.  This was in addition to the many hospital and home visits made by our clergy.  We are grateful to our Lay Eucharistic Visitors for answering this special call to share our celebration of the Eucharist with those who are not able to be here with us.  If you or a family member becomes ill or hospitalized, please feel free to contact any one on the Cathedral staff to request a Eucharistic Visitor.  We will not know about your need unless you tell us!

Community of Hope lay chaplains are another important part of our pastoral care team.  After attending fourteen weeks of training in the spiritual and practical foundations of caring ministry, participants may choose to be commissioned as Community of Hope lay chaplains.  Lay chaplains are free to choose the type and frequency of their ministry to others, which mainly consists of calling and visiting people.  Being present to another individual in a listening, compassionate manner is what lay chaplaincy is all about.  Community of Hope members are supported after their commissioning through our Circle of Care program, which helps them continue their learning and growth through prayer and the practice of Benedictine spirituality.  The Community of Hope is led by Susan Yeang and begins new training classes each year in January.

Care Callers are also significant members of our pastoral care team here at St. Matthew’s.  These dedicated volunteers call each member of the Cathedral on a regular basis just to see how they are doing, receive any prayer requests, and answer any questions about upcoming events at the Cathedral.  Upon request, Care Callers may also convey parishioners' comments, questions, or pastoral care concerns to the Dean or to Deacon Nancy Powers.  Please contact Deacon Powers if you have not been receiving Care Calls and we will make sure your name is added to our list.

St. Matthew’s Grief Recovery Class is another component of our pastoral care program. This class is open to Cathedral members and non-members who have experienced the loss of someone they love.

Class participants share their stories, learn about the normal grief process, and support one another in prayer during the six weeks that the class is in session.  Sharing common experiences with others who have suffered a loss is an effective step in working through grief and towards recovery.  The class also encourages members to discover the hope and healing that can only be found in Christ.  Please contact Deacon Nancy Powers if you would like to be informed about the start of the next Grief Recovery Class.

Pastoral care also coordinates a Holy Eucharist at Vickery Towers on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 and at Cathedral Gardens on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30.  Visitors are welcome at these services.

Serving on the pastoral care team requires only one thing - the desire to serve Christ by serving others.  If you are interested in joining our pastoral care team, please let me know.  I would love to talk to you about the ways you can serve!  If you or someone in your family has a pastoral care need, please get in touch with us by calling the church office, by calling the emergency pager and leaving a call-back number, or by emailing me at  npowers@episcopalcathedral.org.