Outreach

Stephen Ministry is an interdenomination ministry by trained lay parishioners in several Fairbanks area parishes (and throughout the United States). Stephen Ministers act as Christian companions to adult individuals experiencing some sort of crisis, i.e., grief, illness, loss, changes in one's family, etc.


How do I contact Stephen Ministry?

To request a Stephen Minister, or to make a referral, contact your pastor or the Stephen Ministry Outreach office at the Chancery. Once a referral is made, a Stephen Ministry representative will contact you confidentially, assess whether Stephen Ministry will be helpful in your circumstance, and may additionally refer you to other programs or organizations which may be of assistance to you.

What happens then?

If you are assigned a Stephen Minister, you can expect to meet with a person of the same gender (men meet with men, women meet with women), in a confidential, one-on-one caring relationship. Most often, you can expect to meet with your Stephen Minister for about an hour, once a week. Some care receivers participate in a Stephen Ministry relationship for as little as a few weeks, or as long as months or even years, depending on the situation and desire of the care receiver.

What training have Stephen Ministers received?

Stephen Ministers undergo an extensive training and interview process. Before a person is commissioned by the Bishop, he or she will have attended over 50 hours of classes in such topics as grief, active listening, crisis intervention and Christian caregiving. Additionally, each Stephen Minister must attend training in their parish as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and fulfill any other requirements of their pastor.

What will my Stephen Minister do for me?

Act as a Christian companion, as you work your way through whatever crisis brought you to Stephen Ministry.

Help you access or refer you to other programs or organizations as needed.

Pray for you and your intentions. Talk about spiritual issues to the extent you are comfortable.

Offer a confidential, non-judgemental, caring person to talk to at times when you may have difficulty talking to friends and family about what you're going through.

Since at least the early 1980s, priests, sisters, deacons, and lay volunteers have been visiting inmates at the Fairbanks Correctional Center. Some participate, weekly, in one-on-one ministry, listening to or praying with an inmate, struggling to renew or strengthen his or her faith in God. Catholic for men or women is celebrated on Satuday afternoon. Both the visitors and the inmates share their reflections on the Gospel message. The bishop celebrates Christmas and Easter Mass for both men and women.

All who wish to take part in the ministry must go through a three-hour training conducted by the Alaska Correctional Ministries to receive authorization for entrance to the facility and must also have approval from the diocese to represent the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks. For further information contact the Stephen Ministry Outreach office or your local pastor.

"Hospital Ministry" is a broad term which covers ministry to local hospitals, nursing and assisted living homes, as well as to shut-ins and others. In order to best serve the people of the diocese, chaplain duties are covered by Fr. Kasparaj Mallavarapur, as well as members of the laity, mostly through the Stephen Ministry program. This ministry is presently coordinated by the Office of Stephen Ministry Outreach.

24-Hour Emergency Priest Contact Number

The Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks maintains a 24-hour phone for Catholics in the Fairbanks area who have an urgent need to be seen by a priest. Call 907-978-5281 to leave a confidential message. Your call will be returned within an hour. (For non-emergencies, please wait until regular hours and contact your local pastor.)

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Monday through Saturday, Stephen Ministers or other Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist visit the hospital, pray with patients, offer Holy Communion, and arrange for those patients requesting the Sacraments of Reconciliation or Annointing of the Sick to be visited by a priest. The hospital chaplain, Fr. Kasparaj Mallavarapu, visits regularly and responds to emergencies.

Nursing Home Masses

Mass or a Celebration of Word and Communion is offered each week for residents of Denali Center and the Fairbanks Pioneer Home. The Mass or service is held at Denali Center every Monday at 10:00 AM, and at the Fairbanks Pioneer Home every Wednesday at 11:00 AM.

Unable to get to Mass due to illness or infirmity?

If you are temporarily unable to attend Mass, contact your parish office to request a visit by your pastor or an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. If you will be homebound for a longer period of time, arrangements can be made for Holy Communion to be brought to you on a weekly basis.