Pastoral Care Training for Laity

The Archdiocese is pleased to offer a new four-session pastoral care program for the laity.

This is a distinctly Catholic formation program designed to support and strengthen parish ministries. It’s ideal for parishes seeking to establish a lay pastoral care team, as well as for those already engaged in pastoral care who wish to deepen their understanding and gain practical tools and insights for this ministry.

This program equips participants to compassionately serve those who are homebound or vulnerable and to help connect them with the liturgical, sacramental, and prayer life of the Church.  All sessions are grounded in Catholic teaching and sound pastoral practice.

Program Details

• Dates: Tuesdays – June 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2026
• Time: 9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (please arrive 10 minutes early)
• Location: Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church, 2414 Ogilvie Road, Ottawa, ON K1J 7N5
• Registration Fee: $100.00
  • Payable to the Archdiocese by June 2, 2026 (see online registration form for payment options). Includes four training sessions, training materials, online templates, & refreshments/light snack
• Facilitator – Michèle Clermont, Lead Volunteer & Trainer, Divine Infant Pastoral Care Ministry

Important Information

• Participation is limited to 50 individuals.
• Advance registration required (walk-ins not accepted)
• Registration requires a commitment to attend all four sessions.
• Pastoral approval is required prior to registration.

Click here to register online.

Click here for FAQs.

SESSIONS

Session 1: Serving the Church’s Homebound and Vulnerable (June 2, 2026)

Participants will reflect on the Church’s primary mission, the purpose of pastoral care within a Catholic parish, and their role and the population they serve. At the end of session 1, participants will be able to:

• define key characteristics, needs, and risks associated with programs offered to vulnerable persons;
• establish best practices for recruiting, interviewing and screening volunteers; and
• integrate measures for reporting, monitoring and evaluating the program to better protect against harmful occurrences.

Session 2: All About the Visits (June 9, 2026)

Participants will review guidelines on what to do before, during and after visits, both in the practical and the spiritual sense. At the end of session 2, participants will be able to:

• describe proper protocols when arriving on a visit with the Eucharist;
• understand the principles of sharing the parish’s liturgical, sacramental and prayer life with the homebound; and
• adopt methods appropriate for visits to: the elderly; persons with dementia; seriously ill and dying persons; and unresponsive persons.

Session 3: The Real Presence (June 16, 2026)

Participants will explore Catholic teaching on Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and the roles and responsibilities of Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion in offsite settings. At the end of session 3, participants will be able to:

• safely and reverently collect, transport and distribute the consecrated Host outside of Mass;
• apply diocesan approved norms, guidelines and rites into their visits; utilize some suggested devotional practices; and
• respond appropriately to common situations or to mishaps involving the Eucharist

Session 4: Getting Started (June 23, 2026)

Participants will recognize Catholic principles and spiritual foundations of the ministry and reaffirm roles, boundaries and limitations inherent to pastoral care. At the end of session 4, participants will have access to:

• online templates to equip coordinators and/or an EMHC/lead visitor in their respective roles;
• a summary of key messages from all 4 sessions to guide their ministry work;
• the tips , tools and information sheets
• and be able to implement/adapt all these to launch or strengthen their parish pastoral care ministry.