Saint John's Visitation Committee
Purpose of the Visitation Committee
The Visitation Committee is an integral part of the Pastoral Ministry of the parish. As such it works closely with the Rector and is responsible to the Rector. It's purpose is to provide spiritual support and nurture to those who are ill or home bound and, in the process, to reassure them of the care and concern for their health and welfare shared by the whole parish.
Membership of Visitation Committee
The Committee is made up of Licensed Eucharistic Ministers (trained and licensed by the Diocese to take Communion to the sick) and other volunteers from the parish at large. Membership in this Committee must be approved by the Rector and members must receive training from the Rector or by someone approved by the Rector.
Duties of Committee Membership
Committee members commit themselves to visitation on a rotating schedule constructed by the Rector or Chair of the Committee. Normally this will consist of one visit per month. It may or may not include Communion ( and if it does include Communion this will only be offered by a Licensed person) and may be to someone in hospital, a Nursing Home, or who is elderly and basically home bound.
Members are normally sent out two by two. In any given month the Rector or Chair may contact Committee Members and assign them a visitation. If Communion is distributed as part of any visitation it will be offered according to the guidelines set forth by our Bishop. Communion taken from the Altar at
If the visitation assigned does not include Communion the visitors are asked to take a Prayer Book and to offer a few moments of prayer including one of the Daily Offices (this could well be one of the short versions of Daily Devotions found on page 136 - 140). One or more of the lessons from the previous Sunday service should be read and comments may be offered on the sermon which was based upon those lessons.
In making a hospital call Visitors should normally spend no more than 10 minutes. The patient is in the hospital for medical care and visitation hours are limited as are the number of visitors in many hospitals. Staying too long may prevent family and friends from visitation and might well be over taxing for the patient. Hospital (and Nursing Home) visitations may be made unannounced, but at regular visiting hours.
Home Visitation usually is a bit less formal and may extend to 20 - 25 minutes, but no longer. Again these sorts of visits may or may not include Communion but should always include prayer as above. Visitors assigned to this sort of visitation will be asked to make their visit within a few days after the visit has been requested by the Rector. The person to be visited should be called so that a date and time may be agreed upon that is convenient for all parties.
Whether the visit is to a facility such as a hospital or to a home, the Visitors should clearly identify themselves as having been sent by the Rector as part of the parish's Visitation program. This is most important in cases where the person being visited is personally known to the visitor. In such cases the general impression could be that a personal and friendly visit is being conducted which has little or nothing to do with the parish. This has happened in the past and complaints have arrived (circuitously as they usually do!) that the parish had not responded to the needs of the patient, even though the Visitation Committee had in fact visited.
Before and After Visitation
Seek God's guidance and help in prayer before making a visitation. After returning home from your visitation take a few moments to pray for the person you have been to see. One member of the team should be designated to call the parish office and report on the visitation: how it went, what if any needs the person visited has brought to you, and if the person should be placed on the Parish Prayer List.
If you would like to become a member of the Visitation Committee, contact the Rector for membership information and training. Your help is needed and this can be a rewarding ministry!
