As a separate 501(c)3 with an Independent Board of Directors, HOC is locally overseen by the Rochester Church of Christ in Rochester, Minnesota. The Hands of Compassion is a missions minded, benevolent work. The ministry touches the lives of many people who are experiencing pain, illness, and suffering. Many guests are emotionally and physically drained, financially burdened and their faith is being tested.
As early as 1950, church members were housing and providing services for ... Read More
As a separate 501(c)3 with an Independent Board of Directors, HOC is locally overseen by the Rochester Church of Christ in Rochester, Minnesota. The Hands of Compassion is a missions minded, benevolent work. The ministry touches the lives of many people who are experiencing pain, illness, and suffering. Many guests are emotionally and physically drained, financially burdened and their faith is being tested.
As early as 1950, church members were housing and providing services for visitors with medical challenges. In 1977, the ministry became identified as the Hands of Compassion and a full-time HOC Chaplain was secured to serve clinic patients. In April of 1985, a dream was fulfilled with the purchase of a six bedroom house, appropriately named “The House of Compassion.” In August of 2007, a second house with six bedrooms was added. The houses are open to all on a first come, first serve basis.
House guests, patients and caregivers, come from across the country and generally come from church referrals, patients who have themselves been guests at HOC, patients who found HOC through searches, or patients who have been directly referred to HOC by Mayo Clinic.
The House provides a home style living environment with private rooms and a shared kitchen and common area. Through the efforts of the full-time hospital chaplain and the house parents (currently all former Mayo patients who have returned to become part of the full-time HOC staff and give back to others), patients and caregivers are supported in their journey through the Clinic with a physical place to stay, but also with emotional and spiritual support and encouraged to draw on or renew their faith during a time of crisis.
This also includes encouraging guests to become a local and extended support network for each other. Connections and friendships are frequently made that continue over many years and many of our guests over the years have become HOC's biggest supporters and contributors as their life and health circumstances change.
The Houses are located about halfway between the two main Clinic sites allowing easy walking or a quick drive to both facilities.
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