Christian Services
If you are interested in any of the ministries listed below, please email volunteer@saintchristopherparish.org
Advent Giving Tree: This is a parish endeavor to provide 70+ families (with approximately 300 children) for needs of their children at Christmas. We help people within our parish boundaries, other parishes and Catholic Charities Christmas Store. Many members participate with gifts of clothing, toys or money.
Bus Drivers: Each weekend, volunteer drivers bring parishioners who live in various retirement/assisted living homes to the weekend liturgies. Roland retirement residents must contact the office to schedule a Mass pick-up; residents of Crestwood and Lakeview are brought to Mass on Sundays at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.; Crestwood, Lakeview and Summit Place residents are brought to the 10:30 a.m. Mass.
Caregivers: These volunteers offer respite care for a few hours a week for someone who is caring for a loved one. This may be staying in home, providing transportation for doctor or therapy visits, or to the grocery store.
Funeral Meals: A luncheon is available by request and served in Damascus after the funeral for a member of a parishioner’s family. Over 150 members provide the food and several members coordinate and serve the lunch.
Sunday Nursery: Volunteers provide childcare for infants and children through age three during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Volunteers are scheduled on a rotating basis.
ElizabethMinistry: The Elizabeth Ministry matches up women one-on-one who have had similar experiences with childbirth or child-related issues in order to provide companionship and support on the journey. The Elizabeth Ministry covers a wide range of experiences including pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, infant or child death, infertility, hysterectomy, adoption, infant or child crisis, and grandparent support. The commitment on the part of the Elizabeth Minister is for 6 months’ time, with a contact to be made at least once per month. The role of the Elizabeth Minister is not as a doctor or counselor. Rather, she is the parish’s representative and a listener – a companion on the journey.
Ministry to the Sick and Shut-Ins: Eucharistic Ministers visit nursing homes, retirement facilities, and homebound individuals. Communion Services are held weekly at the Harrison Retirement Community, Westside Garden Plaza, and Eagle Valley Meadows. A Communion Service or Mass is held two times each month at Lakeview Manor. A Eucharistic Minister visits our homebound members once a week. Greeting cards are sent to those who are ill, to shut-ins on birthdays and to those who have lost a loved one. Follow-up phone calls are made to those released from hospitals. Each month, shut-ins receive a mailing that includes a letter encouraging the reading of Scripture and activities based on the weekly readings for that month.
St.Vincent de Paul: Members of this ministry receive calls for food and gas along with calls for furniture. In addition, food and clothing for transient families and individuals is provided. Food baskets are put together and distributed for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. Our food pantry is supplied by the generous donations of food by the parishioners, Gleaners Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank. The St. Vincent dePaul warehouse has several volunteers who join together every sixth Saturday. The volunteers service families with furniture and appliance needs on a Saturday morning.
The Beggars for the Poor van is staffed with the coordinator and several volunteers that give sandwiches, hygiene items and clothes to mostly homeless men in the downtown area. This happens every fourth Saturday of the month.
Shawl Knitting Ministry: Women gather to create shawls and lap blankets for parishioners in need of prayers or support. The shawls are lovingly tended with prayers for the recipient throughout the process. Once a shawl is complete, the entire group prays for the recipient over the shawl. This group also knits and crochets baptismal blankets which are given at the time of baptism. Many, unfamiliar with knitting, joined and with the help of experienced teachers discovered knitting to be a wonderful way to relax.
SHINE: This group helps coordinate service projects and initiates new outreach ministries.
Substance Addiction Ministry (SAM):
Our SAM team provides a safe, confidential place for parishioners to call for help and referral for individuals or families that are afflicted with addiction. Their ministry is to increase awareness of addiction through education to various ministries and groups of people in the parish and in the community. This group also sponsors evenings of education for the parish and the Westside community.
If you are interested in any of the ministries listed above, please email volunteer@saintchristopherparish.org