BeFrienders

BeFriender Ministry

Henri Nouwen gives a beautiful example of who we strive to become:  The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing, and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.

Saint Michael Parish of Maple Grove has had the BeFriender Ministry for 27 years.  In that time, we've had the privilege of visiting and supporting many in our community and others on the fringes of our parish.  It's been a rich experience.  The ministry was begun in Minnesota at St. Thomas University, and spread throughout the country, and has trained volunteers to serve in parishes, nursing homes, hospitals, and other settings.  Some of its teachings:

  • All are valuable in God's eyes, and He is present in all our human interactions.
  • Jesus taught that, in order to love God truly, we will care for each other.
  • One of the most effective ways of caring for each other is to recognize what is going on in their life and share in it when they want and need attention.
  • Sharing their life experiences by respectful listening goes a long way to promote peace in their being, and such peace is a huge help in their walk with the Lord.


If you know of someone else who might benefit, ask them if it's okay, and then let us know.  We will follow up.  BeFriender Leaders:  Dallas Birchmeier 989-845-6677 and Kelly Knieper 810-240-9669

BEFRIENDER THOUGHTS

TOUCH BASE-EVEN IF IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE AT FIRST


The Lord taught us- very clearly -to care for others as we care for ourselves. When those around us experience difficult times, we often feel the nudge to reach out and show them some kind of caring.

 

Even when we are willing, we often get paralyzed, not knowing what to do, so we maybe do nothing.

 

Granted, reaching out can make us uncomfortable. “I don’t know what to say,” is a common lament. But, the other person appreciates your love and caring; exact words are not so important. Hugs are usually an appreciated expression of warmth.

While a loss is fresh, maybe we believe the person has enough with family and close friends, and they might get overwhelmed. There might be something to that; sometimes it’s better to wait a bit.

 

Even a card in the mail, an email, or a text message makes a difference. You’d be surprised how much this means to them; the messages may even get returned, and this might lead to ongoing connections.

 

Think of times when you hesitated to call or stop by when an acquaintance was going through a hard time, but then crossed paths in the store and had a surprisingly meaningful sharing.