East Anglia Listening and Prayer Ministry grows

The Diocese of East Anglia held its third Commissioning Mass for the Listening and Prayer Ministry in February, during which Bishop Peter Collins commissioned another seven Helpers to join the current team, bringing the number up to 15 Helpers. Antonia Braithwaite reports.

These volunteers have spent over a year undergoing an extensive training programme in basic counselling skills and prayer ministry, and will now be available to meet with people in need either face-to-face or on Zoom.

During the Mass in Poringland, Bishop Peter reflected on Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in the upper room on the night before he died.  Our Lord “lays aside” his outer robe, ties a towel around his waist, pours water into a basin and begins to wash the disciples’ feet, wipes them with the towel and then says “I have given you an example that you might follow”. This example and command lies at the heart of the Listening and Prayer Ministry, and should be ever-present in the mind of the Helpers as they minister to people in need.

This ministry was launched in our Diocese in summer 2022 and since then it has been busy meeting with people in need throughout East Anglia. The aim of the sessions are to both help people in need to feel a sense of being healed and strengthen by the prayer ministry and led closer to Christ. Also to more clearly identify their current difficulties so that they can decide what steps, if any, they wish to take next. If appropriate, Helpers also signpost to external sources of help, and also sources of help within the Church.

If you would like to contact the Listening and Prayer Ministry please go to:

www.rcdea.org.uk/diocesan-listening-and-prayer-ministry/

For more information contact the Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, Dr Antonia Braithwaite mflcoordinator@rcdea.org.uk

Pictured above is Bishop Peter with the Helpers at the third Commissioning Mass for the Listening and Prayer Ministry.

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