|
Side Menu
|
Community , Mission and Social Outreach
Parish Social Ministry Council (Formerly Social Justice and Mission Council)
Council members promote social justice and outreach at the parish by: supporting existing parish social ministries and facilitating their coordination and collaboration; educating and encouraging parishioners to understand more clearly and act more concretely on the social demands of the gospel; and offering additional opportunities for members of the Church to work to eliminate the occurrence and effects of poverty, to speak out against injustice and to shape a more caring society and a more peaceful world.
Fair Trade Ministry Fair trade volunteers promote global economic justice and development for poor artisans and farmers in the developing world by supporting the Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Program through education on Fair Trade; regular sales of fair trade coffee and chocolate; and an annual Christmas sale of fair trade chocolate, coffee and handcrafts.
Justice for Immigrants Volunteers serve this unique and diverse group of God’s family through: education, legislative advocacy and direct service. Activities of this parish team vary and have included: organizing food drives for clients of a migrant worker center; coordinating of learning/service trips to the migrant center, developing bulletin inserts informing parishioners about the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ call for comprehensive immigration reform; hosting a discussion of the Bishops’ pastoral letter, Strangers no Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope; organizing food drives for clients of a migrant worker center and coordinating learning/service trips to a migrant center.
Food Pantry The St. Patrick Food Pantry provides emergency food to persons in need. We are supported solely by donations. Volunteers stock the pantry shelves, shop for needed items, meet with clients, and prepare the bags of food for distribution. Friday’s from 4 to 5 PM in the Bonzel Hall.
SHARE Colorado The SHARE - Self Help and Resource Exchange is dedicated to providing a consistent supplemental food package to those in need. SHARE volunteers assist in the distribution process once per month at St. Patrick.
Holiday Food Baskets
Parishioners donate a bag of food or volunteer their time to sort and/or deliver the holiday food baskets. This allows our St. Patrick community to provide a holiday meal for 50-60 families in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Seasons.
In November grocery bags, with a suggested list of items, are handed out with the Sunday bulletin. Parishioners deliver the filled grocery bags parish office. Volunteers sort and deliver the baskets the Saturdays before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Monetary donations are needed and used to purchase a Holiday meal through SHARE Colorado.
A bag of food is also given to the families on the “Giving Tree” list during Christmas.
The Giving Tree During Advent the Giving Tree is placed in the Narthex. The tags on the tree are for children in the Family Education Program in District 11. These families are the poorest of the poor and mostly refugees from countries where they have had to leave during the middle of the night with only the clothes on their backs. They come to the U.S. and live with friends and family until they can get work and learn our language. They do not fit in to the welfare system and do not have transportation, so they are not able to show up at any social ministry venues for assistance. These children need clothing and shoes for school. We provide clothing and shoes for each of the children and usually one age appropriate toy. It’s a small part of all they really need but at least as a community we do a little to welcome them to our country & to help them start a new life here.
Family Literacy Project (ESL) This is a project of Catholic Charities which has partnered with St. Patrick to start an English as a Second Language day program. Volunteer teachers are needed, training is provided.
Soup Kitchen Workers Volunteers assist in the preparation and serving of meals for the needy at the Marian House Soup Kitchen. Older youth (16 and older) may participate. Volunteers serve the first Saturday of each month.
Fostering Hope
Program volunteers work as a team to assist and support a local foster family in the important work they do in caring for children in foster care. Team members work together in various tasks to help the foster family: transporting children to appointments, bringing in meals on busy days, helping with yard work, tutoring, watching children so foster parents can have a “night out,” etc. Strong relationships are formed and children’s lives positively impacted with the love of Christ shown through the volunteers’ actions.
Respect Life Committee Volunteers seek to raise the level of awareness of St. Patrick parishioners on Life issues and motivate parishioners to become involved with outside organizations dedicated to education concerning all stages of life.
Respect Life Crafters Volunteers meet on a regular basis to craft blankets and throws which are donated in support of the Respect Life and Gabriel projects.
Stephen Ministry Program offers one to one lay pastoral care to those going through a difficult time such as someone grieving the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, terminally ill, chronically ill or any transitional issue. Stephen Ministers attend a 50 hour training course at St. Patrick to learn caring skills. If you are a caring person who enjoys helping others, this could be an excellent ministry for you. Once training is completed, the time commitment is about 6 hours per month.
Grief Support Group Participants offer support for those grieving the death of a loved one. This is an opportunity for those who are grieving to express their feelings within a contained and supportive group.
Health Ministry Volunteers offer resources and support to parishioners to encourage healthy lifestyles and ultimately wellness. Professional medical and adult non-medical volunteers assist throughout the year.
Funeral Meal Ministry The Funeral Meal Ministry prepares a reception/meal for family and friends following a Funeral Mass. Volunteers prepare and deliver a dish for the reception. Volunteers are also needed to help with set-up and clean-up for that meal.
Ministry of Meals Participants provide meals for individuals or families with a member who is homebound due to illness, surgery or hospitalization and also families with a new baby. Any family that needs help preparing meals for any reason can call the Parish office for help. Volunteers prepare and deliver meals on an “as needed” basis. |
|
|
|
