CHRISTIAN SERVICE MINISTRY CLUSTER
These ministries support our service to our fellow man.
Bereavement /Support
People of all faiths who have experienced the pain and loss of a loved one derive great support from this Ministry. Ministers embrace and support the bereaved, nurture their spiritual and emotional lives, provide educational resources and speakers on important topics, provide compassion and understanding, and promote formation and continued development of the monthly Support Group gathering.
Mature adults with the ability and inclination to help with this Ministry are welcome.
Job Search Assistance
Practical assistance - e.g. resume writing and interview skills - are provided to employment seekers at a monthly meeting.
Liaison to Cedar Ridge
Two permanent Pastor-appointed St. Catherine representatives sit on the Board of Directors of Cedar Ridge Senior Residence. They help ensure the continued, effective collaboration of the participating Cedar Grove Houses of Worship.
Ministry to Sick and Homebound
Ill and homebound parishioners are brought the gifts of the Eucharist, compassionate caring and Parish news by SCS Eucharistic Ministers. Visits are most often every two weeks.
Individuals interested in serving in this Ministry must be Eucharistic Ministers and complete a formation process.
Outreach to the Poor
Provides assistance to those in need within our community and to those in our "extended family" through four major parish programs; our Christmas Giving Tree, Meals for St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral in Newark, Monthly Food Collection, and Mothers Helping the Hungry.
Christmas Giving Tree
This annual outpouring of love and sharing bestows over 1200 gifts on needy individuals nearby and throughout the Archdiocese: the homeless, aged and infirm, senior citizens and families and children in poverty.
Ministers prepare the gift tags, set up the trees, gather, sort and prepare gifts for distribution, and deliver them.
Please consider helping
Meals for St. Patrick's
150-175 needy people of St Patrick's, Newark, enjoy a full, fabulous, monthly meal courtesy of this Ministry.
Ministers shop for the food, cook it at our school, and serve it at St Patrick's.
Monthly Food Collection
On the first weekend of every month, Parishioners are requested to bring non perishable food items to Church for distribution to the needy at St Tomas Aquinas, our sister parish in Newark. St Thomas Parishioners are in great need, extremely faith-filled and tremendously grateful for our assistance.
Mother's Helping the Hungry
This is the financial arm for Meals for St. Pat's. Contributions are requested to purchase the food necessary to make the meals. It also funds the purchase of socks and gloves at Christmas and Shoe Box supplies at Easter
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Sick or homebound Parishioners may contact the Rectory to request a Prayer Shawl, lovingly made by SCS Ministers.
Ministers gather monthly to pray and knit or crochet these beautiful Shawls. Arrangements may also be made for parishioners to participate at home.
Beginners and experts are needed.
Yarn is also much appreciated.
Respect Life Committee
The dissemination of facts regarding abortion and other life issues not covered by the secular media are brought to light by this Ministry. Members support and encourage women who have had abortions to seek healing as well as educate and encourage young people to be pro-life activists.
Ministers gather a few times, yearly, and occasionally participate in activities ore attend seminars and lectures.
Social Justice
The aim of our Social Justice Committee is to help lead the way in social reform and the need for justice in our society by engaging more Catholics in the Church's social mission. The Committee empowers parishioners to answer God's call to protect and enable vulnerable persons in our society -such as the poor, disabled, dying and elderly.
Members must understand that they are to lead with their faith, not their politics, and not search for projects to do but rather see their role as that of enablers.
Stewardship Team
Stewardship is a way of life, an every day Discipleship. This Team develops and implements ways to advance Parishioners' awareness and understanding of Stewardship as well as to encourage and provide year-round opportunities to share their Time, Talent and Treasure. The Team advocates for the realization that we are curators of al God's gifts, not owners of them, and that God intend us to utilize these gifts not only to benefit ourselves but to help all His Creation.
Tasks are varied and numerous...and can be short term or long term...such as taking photos; decorating a bulletin board; writing Bulletin columns, website features or a press release; planning Mass announcements or helping at Ministry Fair or with other Stewardship initiatives.
Urban Ministry
This 12-year old program, empowered by Dell, has numerous goals for the disenfranchised, young, poor children of Newark: to use Technology to help one student at a time to break the cycle of poverty; to mentor and provide a father figure to children without fathers; occasionally to garner financial resources to put food on the table and help pay the rent.
Responsible adults are needed to devote 2 hours weekly to this critical Ministry.
Video Team (Mass)
This Ministry enables the homebound faithful to be comforted and nourished by viewing the Mass on local Cable TV.
Individuals are needed to videotape Sunday Mass at St Catherine's.
You may serve on a rotational basis.
