In 1978, a candidate for holy orders in the Diocese of Pennsylvania decided to do her required Clinical Pastoral Education summer work in a nursing home. After a few weeks, she became aware that the ministry of the church to persons who reside in nursing homes left much to be desired.

Some clergy were good about bringing the sacrament to their most faithful parishioners, and some rectors would bring a choir and have a short service in the lounge once a month. But this candidate, Virginia Thomas, believed that what many nursing home patients really needed was a friend who would visit weekly, one-on-one. So she recruited a few persons, mostly from her sponsoring parish, and matched them with nursing home residents who did not have family or friends making regular visits.

Providentially, Mrs. Thomas' diocese was in the midst of the Venture in Mission campaign at the time she was ordained. She received a small grant from the VIM fund to set up an office in a nearby parish and launch what became "The Dolphins of Merion Deanery." She wanted a symbol for this ministry, and the reputation of dolphins as intelligent and caring creatures appealed to her.

Mrs. Thomas began to hold "Schools for Dolphins," training sessions led by doctors and chaplains to promote understanding about the needs and problems of the aged, and about the nursing home environment. As the word spread, the 12 churches of the Merion Deanery began to give her support from their outreach funds, and to invite her to recruit new Dolphins at adult Sunday school classes.

A board of directors was elected by the deanery. Although tied to the Episcopal Church through the board, there have been both Dolphins and board members of other churches.

Mrs. Thomas, whose faithfulness and leadership had been essential to the program, was honored in 1986 by the National Council on Aging for her work with this ministry. She retired and moved to Vermont in 1988. Although her friend and colleague, Eleanor Speer, struggled valiantly to continue the program, there was a period in which funding was low, and the ministry's future seemed in doubt.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins were finding such satisfaction in their visits, and the nursing homes were so grateful to have dedicated volunteers among their residents, that to let the program die seemed unthinkable.

When Miss Speer retired in 1991, the board took on two new staff members. Local parishes increased their giving to the program, as did the diocese and many individuals. There are now some 75 people, of several protestant denominations as well as Roman Catholics, who make regular weekly visits upon their "Dolphin Friends" in some 22 nursing homes.

Perhaps even more encouraging, there are 27 "affiliates," groups of Dolphins in other areas, both within the Diocese of Pennsylvania and in other parts of the country. Many of the affiliates have been started by Dolphins who have moved away. Such persons have gone to their new pastors, and with the help of the central Dolphin office, the new Dolphin groups have begun. Some of them consist of only a few Dolphins, while others have 30 or 40 volunteers making weekly calls.

Why does this ministry work? Clearly this must be seen as a ministry, that the motivation is religious, so that one must belong to a parish or synagogue and have the backing of one's pastor before becoming a Dolphin. It also has been helpful that the local Dolphin coordinator has selected the nursing home resident to be visited, choosing from suggestions by the nursing home staff. The coordinator introduces the Dolphin to the visitor, and keeps in touch by telephone and by occasional personal visits to ensure that the relationship is going well. It seems, too, that some church members seem more comfortable in one-on-one settings than with serving on a committee or belonging to a group.

While these and other considerations help in the recruiting of Dolphins, what makes the ministry successful, vital and growing is the response of the nursing home residents to the visitors.

Most nursing home residents have given up their homes, their independence and much first-hand contact with the outside world. Many of them are caring, delightful persons, able to give as much as they receive. They help the Dolphins discover this ministry is more gratifying than any volunteer work they have known. q