Elizabeth Program links women in parish

Vici Armsby of St. James parish in Albany didn't know if she would ever be able to have a child. Health problems made it questionable as to whether she could ever conceive. Today, however, she is the mother of an eight-month-old daughter.

The entire experience of waiting to conceive, giving birth and being a mother left her with an appreciation for what other women struggle through during their child-bearing years.

She now puts that experience to use in her parish by serving as an Elizabeth minister.

Joyful mystery

Elizabeth Ministry is a new program offered by St. James to support women during their child-bearing years. It is only the twelfth parish in the nation to begin this ministry.

"People tell the horror stories of birth," Mrs. Armsby said. "We tell the joy of being a mother."

The ministry is named for Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary. In the story of the Visitation, Mary, pregnant herself, travels to visit her cousin to assist her during her pregnancy. Elizabeth was thought to be too old to have children and had been criticized for being barren. Mary was young, pregnant and unmarried.

Origins

The program, offered by the Young Family Ministry branch of the Center for Families in Texas, was developed by Jeannie Hannemann, a Wisconsin Catholic.

Her experiences as director of baptism and young family ministry in her parish helped her to see the needs of pregnant and parenting women. Due to changes in society, these women often don't have the support systems that were available to women in previous generations.

"Quite often, these young families do not have extended family living in the area," she said. "I hear of long distance phone bills run up while asking questions of a mom or sister about maternity and parenting.

"Mobility has caused many extended families to be separated by miles. Reassurance and advice that used to be given by the extended family now need to come from another source."

Matching volunteers

The program matches volunteers with women in various stages of child-bearing. The volunteer, who represents the parish, speaks with the woman on a monthly basis, providing an ear to listen, and offering support, encouragement and prayers. Often, the visits are augmented with weekly phone calls.

The program spans the gamut of issues facing women today, from uneventful pregnancies to miscarriage, from infertility to menopause.

The program was brought to St. James by Sister Patricia Conron, CSJ, pastoral associate for faith formation, who saw a poster for the program at a conference. After speaking with Mrs. Hannemann, she decided to introduce the program to her parish.

Successful

"The parish is receiving the program well," said Sister Patricia. "We had no problems getting volunteers. We put an announcement in the bulletin, and the next day I had three phone calls."

There are now 15 volunteers, as well as shut-ins who serve as prayer partners. The women the program is reaching out to are excited.

"The pastor and I visit the home of every pregnant person in the parish," she said. "We tell them that they will be visited by an Elizabeth minister. They're reaction is, `Wow, they're coming to visit me?'"

What happens

An Elizabeth minister will contact mothers-to-be, visit with them and bring a gift bag from the parish. Visits continue for at least six months, Sister Patricia said.

St. James tries to match ministers with similar personal experiences with women in need. For example, an Elizabeth minister who experienced a miscarriage would be matched with a woman who just lost a child.

The volunteers received training on listening, miscarriage, single parenting, the death of a child and other situations. They also role-played visits.

Benefits all

Not only is the ministry serving women in the parish, but the ministers themselves are benefiting, according to Sister Patricia.

"It's been wonderful for them," she said. "The ministers have a large need to share with one another and to talk. It is a place to share, talk and listen."

Mrs. Armsby said she has also experienced the benefits of this ministry. "The ministry has brought me closer to the Church," she said. "This is an area where I can make a difference."

Ears

The role of the minister is clear. They are not there to provide counseling; rather, they are to listen and provide support, the same type of support women used to find with their mothers, sisters or in the community.

"This is like-to-like ministry," Mrs. Armsby said. "We're just like them. They tell us what's going on, and we offer support and listening."

Mrs. Hannemann added, "Elizabeth ministers are not counselors or experts. They are women who are willing to share their presence, stories and experiences in the hope that these will support, encourage, console, and at times bring healing to another woman."

(Resources for beginning this ministry are available by contacting the Young Family Ministry Office of the Center for Families, 800-822-6701.)

(10-17-96) [[In-content Ad]]