MESA, Ariz. — Christ the King Catholic Church recently launched a program that ministers not only to cancer patients, but also their family and friends.

According to a news release, Healing Through the Body of Christ (HTBC) offers one-on-one outreach, emotional and spiritual support, and information on many aspects of cancer. Volunteers will help obtain treatment supplies, find programs, transportation and financial resources. There is no cost to the parish or the person requesting help.

"Cancer affects the whole family, not just the person diagnosed," said Jozette Nelms, director of pastoral care at Christ the King. "It is good to have a program that reaches everyone."

Volunteers making one-on-one visits are trained by the American Cancer Society and will receive referrals from that organization's LINC (Listen Inform Nurture Care) program as well as the parish.

"We now have a better way to help the people in our community," said the Rev. Chris Carpenter, pastor of Christ the King. "When a person contacts the HTBC ministry or the American Cancer Society LINC program, volunteers are matched up based on similar experiences and backgrounds."

For example, a breast cancer survivor would be matched up with a person recently diagnosed with breast cancer, whereas the spouse of a cancer survivor would be matched up with the spouse of someone recently diagnosed.

"As the volunteer base grows, it will become more possible to match age group, cultural background and family (or) marital status," Carpenter said. "No one will have to walk this path alone."

The ministry will have brochures and resource folders in English and Spanish thatcontain information on community resources, financial assistance and support groups.