When St John's Pastoral Care Team members arrive at the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital on Wednesday morning, they have no idea whom they may encounter. The daily printout of patients identified as Anglicans is made available and from this list the team decides who will visit whom. They then pray with pastoral care teams of other denominations and set off to do their visits.

One definition of Pastoral Care is: the helpful concern shown by those who seek to minister (be of service) to others in the name of Jesus Christ. It is love of neighbour expressed through skills of listening, affirmation, referral and prayer.

It is a special ministry. Most of the patients to be visited will likely be strangers-strangers who will be experiencing perhaps fear and anxiety, loneliness or anger, and almost certainly some discomfort or pain. Time in hospital means time to think and thinking can often be very disconcerting.

And so to the bedsides of people in such circumstances go our pastoral care visitors. They have both the benefit of at least ten sessions of basic training in Pastoral Care (given under the auspices of an inter-denominational program) and the support of the Coordinator of Anglican Pastoral Care, the hospital chaplains and each other.

Pastoral care coordinators and visitors have received many comments of gratitude from patients, family members and hospital staff that reflect a deep appreciation for the ministry of the pastoral care teams at the Civic.

If you might be even the slightest bit interested in becoming a hospital visitor, please speak to John Zegers or the Reverend Dana Fisher at 613.232-4500.