We all have made a friend at one time or another. But...several things distinguish Befrienders from others who befriend.

Befrienders are:

• willing to commit a regular time, say an hour a week, for a given period of time (usually a year or two)
• interested in learning more both about themselves and about the skills of caring, listening and compassion
• willing to participate in a peer supervision and support group following the training
• intentional about this ministry. They initiate a friendship when they see need and they respond to requests from the program coordinator. They befriend strangers as well as those they know. They followup when linked with a person in need of friendship.

To become a Befriender requires 30 hours of training. Though a generous time commitment is involved, the payoff for the individual is immense. You will learn basic interpersonal skills that will be available to you for a lifetime. There is an even greater benefit to the whole parish. Learning ways we can intentionally share our joys and sorrows and supporting one another has the potential of building a stronger community.

A Befriender is a friend who accepts, listens, supports, and encourages another...without judging, without giving advice. Befrienders are not counselors or fixers. They are there mostly just to let the peson know that someone cares. Do you know of anyone who has the gifts to become a Befriender, who is a compassionate person with good listening skills? Encourage that person! If you are such a person, offer yourself!

Above all, be open to the program. If you are hurting, lonely, afraid, angry, and one of us on staff recommends Befrienders, be open and allow someone to call on you. Your pain will be cut in half.

Contact Roseann Rogers, Staff Contact, for more information, 952-823-8205 ext. 229 or rrogers@stjoan.com.