Vincentian Pastoral Care.
Healing, nurturing, sustaining and guiding.
What is Pastoral Care?
Pastoral care promotes a practice of care where each person is recognised, known and respected for the unique person they are with their own beliefs, culture, values, relationships, preferences and interests. It acknowledges our shared humanity, our need to be in relationships and the importance of healthy communities for everyone to grow and equally flourish.
Pastoral care is about relationships and the people at the heart of them. It can be viewed quite simply as seeing each person for who they are and walking alongside them offering a hand of friendship, a listening ear, a compassionate presence and a safe confidential space. It supports people to find the resources within themselves to face and find meaning in the ups and downs that shape their own life journey.
Pastoral care is integral to the work of the Vincentian family who recognise that it is important to keep the person and the personal at the heart of care.
Within our projects we promote a shared responsibility for pastoral care. Everyone is expected within their particular role to provide person centred care through direct encounter, inclusivity and companionship with the people they support, families and their colleagues.
Dedicated pastoral workers deliver, promote and develop a Vincentian practice of pastoral care. They occupy a valued ‘neutral space’ within the organisation in order to offer pastoral support and presence to all. Vincentian pastoral workers are pro-active in their approach and creative in their response, seeking to meet people where they are and, if invited, to walk with them for as long as is needed.
In supporting personal, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, pastoral workers recognise that for some people religion and ritual give a meaningful context to their struggles and joys. They support people in their faith journey and collaborate with all faiths and organisations to ensure these needs can be met in the most person-centred way. Pastoral care embraces, but is much more than religious practice.
Pastoral Care with us.
Fostering a true Vincentian environment.
Vincentian pastoral workers work alongside the CEO to promote and nurture shared Vincentian Values by contributing a pastoral perspective and actively promoting the values. They personify the Vincentian commitment to care for the carer and help nurture and sustain a just, caring and hospitable community within their organisations.
Our promise.
Daughters of Charity Services is wholly committed to supporting the further development of Vincentian pastoral care by:
Upholding a pastoral approach in its work and relationships.
Supporting organisations to realise their pastoral identity.
Ensuring that all organisations have an appropriate Pastoral Worker in place.
Daughters of Charity Services work closely with these pastoral workers to establish a strong pastoral team through which peer support, training, pastoral supervision and a common approach to the development of Vincentian Pastoral Care is achieved.
Want to learn more?
For more information on how we support Pastoral Care throughout our family of charities, please contact our Pastoral Care worker who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.