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below to learn more details about our Ministry Opportunities
St. Thomas of Villanova Parish Community
TIME AND TALENT
UNDERSTANDING STEWARDSHIP 07-08
Staff contact: Dr. Ernie Sherretta 610-525-4801 x 204 rel.ed@stv.comcastbiz.net
BIBLE STUDY FACILITATORS Adults needed to facilitate small Bible Study groups. Length and dates of the sessions are designed according to the participant’s schedule. Location can be the Parish Center or a parishioner’s home. Training and materials are provided. FAITH SHARING DISCUSSION GROUP FACILITATORS Adults who will facilitate faith sharing, using program materials, spiritual books or other approved material. Schedule of times and dates as well as the location are determined by the participants. Training and resources are provided. RCIA CATECHISTS Adults, who join the RCIA team, will guide/teach other adults interested in becoming Catholics. Sessions are conducted in small groups on Sunday mornings, from 11:45AM to -1:00PM, in the Parish Center. Training and resources are provided.
Staff Contact: Father Rich 610-525-4801 pastor@stv.comcastbiz.net
TECHNOLOGY/PHOTOGRAPHY COMMITTEE Individuals are needed to photograph and document various parish events and ministries to keep a record of what is being accomplished as we share our time and talent. Communicating these accomplishments using various technologies helps to strengthen the awareness of the parish community. Parishioners with skill, knowledge and expertise are needed. OFFICE ASSISTANT Help answering the phone and light computer knowledge needed.
Staff Contact: Anne Murphy 610-525-4801 x 205 service@stv.comcastbiz.net
ADVENT GIVING TREE Buyers, wrappers, sellers and delivery people are needed for this ministry. During the advent season, angels will be sold after each liturgy. Buyers then purchase specific gifts for parishioners in four inner-city parishes. Cost is fully covered. Gifts need to be wrapped during pre-scheduled times. Wrap sessions are usually 2-1/2 hours long. On the last Sunday of Advent, one or two car loads of Christmas gifts need to be delivered to one of our inner-city parishes. BLESSED SACRAMENT MENTORS Teens and adults are needed to work as a weekly one on one tutor every Tuesday from 2:30PM until 4:30PM for the children of our sister parish, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament or volunteer to work with the arts and crafts enrichment program of the after-school program. No experience necessary and transportation can be provided. BLOODMOBILE The American Red Cross holds a bi-annual bloodmobile in the parish. Coordinator, donors and volunteers are needed. Dates and times for these drives are pre-announced in the bulletin. BREAD FOR THE WORLD Our parish is a member of Bread for the World, a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying our nation’s decision makers. A letter writing parish campaign takes place the last two weeks of May. Teens and adults are needed to distribute packets and to staff tables to encourage participating at Liturgy. CLOTHING DRIVE Volunteers are needed to coordinate the clothing drive for Project H.O.M.E. held in January. Tasks include collecting, and delivering these donations. Dates and times are announced in the bulletin. CASSEROLES FOR ST. JOHN’S HOSPICE Casseroles are prepared by parishioners (as many as you want to make each month). Suggested recipes are available. These casseroles can be dropped off during the parish center business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm) or after the 9:00am liturgy or 5:00pm Vigil in Rosemont. The casseroles are then picked up by the staff of St. John’s Hospice, a shelter and meal center for transient men in Philadelphia. DAY OF SERVICE – MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY Parishioners join hands in service on Martin Luther King Day in a full day of service projects in the Parish Auditorium and in outreach all over Philadelphia. Activities include a children’s global craft fair, several outreach trips, as well as fellowship activities which join together our young teens with teens from the inner-city for lunch and stewardship projects. Parishioners are needed for all of these events. Information on this day is presented in the bulletin beginning in mid-December. DINNERS TO THE DOORSTEP Dinners (made by a different volunteer each night) are delivered to the home of a family with a new baby or to a family in crisis. Two parish coordinators keep a list of anyone who volunteers for this ministry and these parishioners are called as needed. ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) The ESL program will pair volunteer tutors with adult immigrants seeking to gain English language skills to better prepare them for learning and job skills. Commitment will be a 3 hour training course and a 3 hour per week tutoring session with a client in a convenient location. FAIR TRADE COMMITTEE Help is needed to design and implement the sale of Fair Trade Coffee through the parish website and at parish activities. Fair trade coffee is offered through Catholic Relief Services and helps our brothers and sisters overseas. A Fair Trade/Alternative Gift Fair will be held on site in the fall. FEED THE HUNGRY Feed the Hungry at the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County in Upper Darby. Volunteers are needed the first Saturday every other month from 6:00PM-9:00PM, to serve dinner at the Life Center in 69th Street. You can choose the date/dates that work for you. Parishioners are also needed to prepare food that will be taken to the Life Center, including meat, potatoes, dessert, pre-made wrapped sandwiches, etc. GOOD STEWARDS CAMP The Good Stewards Camp is a parish week long camp one week in June from 10:00am until 2:00pm daily. It is open to all middle school students grades 6, 7 and 8. We will learn about stewardship, homelessness, and social justice issues that are pertinent to middle schoolers. The week ends with a trip to Dorney Park. High School age parishioners are needed as counselors during this week. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Parishioners, no experience required, are scheduled for a Saturday; dates will be listed in advance in the bulletin. Parishioners meet in the Rosemont Chapel parking lot at 7:45AM and go to Habitat for Humanity in Norristown to help in preparing the houses for family living. You must be at least 18 years of age and can work the date/dates that accommodate your schedule. HOLIDAY HUGS FOR HERO’S Christmas collection of personal items, CD’s, phone cards for our brave men and women in the military serving in Iraq. We need organizers to pack and mail items. The drive will begin in late October. HONICKMAN MINISTRY We are looking for parishioners to train to be one-on-one tutors for adults who are striving to reach personal goals – which may be obtaining a GED or learning to read or write or to improve basic computer skills. Training and materials will be provided. Ministry commitment will be on Wednesday afternoon from 12:30pm-3:30pm at the Honickman Center in North Philadelphia. We carpool from the Parish Center and return by 4:00pm. INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK Every ten weeks our parish hosts homeless families for one week. Overnight hosts, cooks, dinner hosts, furniture movers, etc. are needed. The families move in on a Sunday afternoon and leave the following Sunday afternoon. Movers are needed for light lifting and moving during these Sunday hours. Once our guests are settled, our parishioners provide a welcoming environment for them to enjoy. Meals are prepared each night, and two of our parishioners stay overnight to accommodate our guests. KIDS CARE CAMP Kids Care Camp is a summer week long camp in July, for children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades to teach stewardship principals and caring for all God’s children in need. High school counselors are needed to help. LAZARUS MINISTRY Ministers visit bereaved families after the death of a parishioner and offer continued support. Ministers serve as acolytes at the funeral liturgy. Our parish coordinator maintains a list of Lazarus ministers to be called as needed for funerals. MANNA FOOD DRIVE This drive is held in the middle of May each year. Distribution of food bags at the Liturgies encourages our parishioners to bring the filled bag back the following weekend. Families are needed for both weekends to distribute and collect the food donations which are used throughout the summer in the Archdiocesan food closet. Information on how individuals and families can volunteer is published in the bulletin a few weeks before the drive. OUR BROTHER’S HOUSE- part of the Bethesda Project Parishioners are needed to work on a rotation basis on Monday mornings preparing and serving lunch for approximately 200 homeless men who come in for lunch each day. We meet at the Parish Center and carpool to 907 Hamilton Street, Philadelphia. FOOD CUPBOARD MINISTRY Parishioners are needed to help maintain the food donations for the food cupboard in the Auditorium. This includes helping to sort and deliver large canned food donations that are given to the parish throughout the year. This food is distributed at our sister parish in West Philadelphia. PHILABUNDANCE - SHARE THE HARVEST Parishioners are needed to staff a table at Smith and Hawken and collect fresh fruit and vegetables on Saturday mornings throughout July, August and September. Information is listed in the bulletin during July and August with details about the collection and distribution. PRAYER LINE Be a part of the integral life of our community. Assist those in need of special prayer. No special qualifications! Just be available or have a tape machine when called upon to pray for special needs and intentions and be willing to call the next parishioner on our phone chain. PROJECT H.O.P.E. Drive parishioners during the week, to marketing and to medical appointments. We will work with your schedule and you can be on call only one week a month. ST. FRANCIS INN MINISTRY Parishioners work on scheduled Sundays throughout the year at the St. Francis Inn in Kensington, serving mid-day meals to several hundred impoverished families. Information on these scheduled dates and how to join is listed in advance of the trip, in the bulletin. We leave from the Rosemont Chapel after the 9:00AM Liturgy and return approximately 2:00PM. You can join us for the dates that work with your schedule. PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE Our two neighboring Augustinian parish communities have come together to nurture and support the Church’s social teachings on justice and peace in our own communities. Our two communities share a mutual call to stewardship in our mission statements. We will look for ways to encourage our communities to act both in direct ministry and advocacy to bring about justice. We will use a variety of approaches to do the above, including prayer, Bible study, speakers, presentations, and bulletin boards. We meet monthly to plan and implement the Peace and Justice Mission statement. Dates are announced in both church’s bulletins. TURKEYS TO THE TABLE Parishioners put together a complete turkey dinner (just what you would put on your table) box it and bring it to either church. Dates of pick up will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Parishioners are also needed to transport numerous turkey dinner baskets to our sister parish, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in West Philadelphia on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Staff Contact: Anne Murphy 610-525-4801 x 205 service@stv.comcastbiz.net
FAMILY LIFE COMMITTEE The Family Life Committee meets quarterly to plan and implement ministries designed to strengthen our families in faith. Throughout the years, Family Life Committee has sponsored programs that support marriage, families with young children, and parenting in today’s world. Committee members are needed to plan and implement these programs. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA For our little parishioners, we will host a Saturday breakfast with activities and entertainment. Adult hands are needed. BRIDGE OF FAITH COMMITTEE Parishioners are needed to serve on this committee which meets four times a year. The committee is made up of parishioners from our parish, Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish and our sister parish, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. The committee plans joint liturgical and social gatherings, ministry and advocacy efforts. FAMILY NIGHTS In the spring and fall (on a Sunday evening) families join to have a casual dinner, hear a parent educator or Marriage Enrichment speaker while volunteers provide babysitting. Parishioners are needed to help coordinate and run these evenings. Information on volunteering is presented in the parish bulletin prior to the event. ICE SKATING PARTY An ice skating party for parish families will be held in January at a local skating rink. Help is needed in a variety of ways – registration, set up, breakdown. LIVING IN LOVE- PARISH BASED RETREAT FOR MARRIED COUPLES A delightful experience designed to put the fun and romance back into marriage. This retreat (held in October and February) affirms, energizes and frees husbands and wives to live in love the way they always dreamed that they would. Parish teams set up, register, facilitate talks and provide a romantic candlelight dinner. Information on the event is published in the bulletin weeks before the evening. MOTHER’S OF YOUNG CHILDREN Young mothers gather monthly, September through May, to hear speakers on issues relevant to mothers. Help is needed with refreshments, recruitment, organizing coffee and children’s events. PALM SUNDAY BRUNCH This annual brunch is held to enjoy community and to teach young children the value of reaching out to others through craft activities. Help is needed with setting up and creating crafts. Information on this event is published a few weeks before Palm Sunday in the bulletin. PARISH MINISTRY TO THE ENGAGED “Preparing to Live in Love” matches an empowered and specifically trained parish couple one-on-one with an engaged couple. They meet once a week for seven weeks at the home of the mentor couple to work through a refreshingly relevant, positive and extraordinarily helpful marriage education course. This is a perfect ministry for young married couples who do not need to leave the comfort of their own home or arrange for babysitters and can schedule the evenings at their own convenience. The engaged couples have been thrilled to make such wonderful friends and feel so connected to the community. They gain great hope and confidence from the witness of a couple living in love in a joyful sacramental marriage. The mentor couples delight in their exposure to young love and the opportunity to reflect on their own relationship. Mentoring is a great source of renewal that continuously revitalized their marriage. Training for this ministry includes the initial mini retreat workshop (“Living in Love”) and eight two hour training sessions. SENIORS LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES AND HOLIDAY LUNCHES This series is held quarterly after the 12:05PM Liturgy in the Parish Center Auditorium. Parishioners are needed to help organize and serve the lunch. Information on these lectures and how to volunteer is listed in the bulletin prior to the event. SPLASH PARTY A splash party for all ages will be held in July at a local swim club. Help is needed for set up, serving dinner, games and clean up. Information on how to get involved in this event is listed in the bulletin beginning in June. WINTER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DAY AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Tickets, games, fun and food are available for Family Day in January.
Staff Contact: Don Giannella 610-519-4089 Email: don.giannella@villanova.edu
BELL CHOIRS Inter-generational music groups; play at seasonal liturgies and concerts. Genesis Bells is a group for people from high school seniors on up, with a basic ability to read music. This group will augment our worship life, play at concerts and other parish functions. Rehearsals are held weekly, on Monday evenings. Golden Belles is a group that does not require musical knowledge and is open to senior citizens. This group will also augment our worship life and play at parish functions. Rehearsals are held weekly during the day, on Tuesdays. CANTORS Cantors serve as the primary music leaders at the weekend liturgies. They need to have some rudimentary music training. A two hour monthly rehearsal is required to support this ministry. CHOIR The choir is a four part choral group which leads the assembly in song at the 10:30AM Sunday liturgy. The choir learns music from the broad spectrum of liturgical music, from traditional to contemporary. Prior choral experience is helpful, but not necessary. Practice is held Tuesday evenings in the church. INSTRUMENTALISTS Brass, Percussion, Pianist, Organist, Guitar, or Flute Instrumentalists accompany the rich musical repertoire of the liturgy. Ordinarily instrumentalists play in the ensemble with other instruments and vocalists. Occasionally, instrumentalists might play a piece solo or accompanied by one other instrument. Proficiency in the particular instrument is expected. Weekly rehearsals are also expected.
Staff Contact: Debbie Moreno 610-525-4801 Ext. 209 nurse@stv.comcastbiz.net
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS Blood pressure screening takes place on the first and third Tuesday of each month after the 12:05PM Liturgy in the Rosemont Chapel. Nurses are also needed to take blood pressures on an occasional basis during parish events. ELIZABETH MINISTRY A parish based outreach to women in special times of motherhood. Through the Elizabeth Ministry, women become mentors to other women, offering companionship, encouragement, support, prayers, and understanding through personal visits, mail and/or telephone contacts. Very little training is needed. You come to support another woman having an experience that was part of your own journey. You understand what she is feeling because you were there. Time commitment is limited. HEALTH AND WELLNESS CABINET Parishioners willing to work on health and wellness related ministry activities which will be developed with the parish are invited to join this ministry. The cabinet meets three to four times per year to work on these issues. HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM Parishioners are needed to present health education programs to our community. The topics should be health related with an emphasis on treatment, prevention, and ways to deal with an illness. PARISH RECYCLING PROGRAM Parishioners are needed to help collect and transport recyclables from the parish to Villanova University’s Recycling Center (behind the stadium – open 24 hrs. /day).
Staff Contact: Ernie Sherretta 610-525-4801 x 204 rel.ed@stv.comcastbiz.net
Our Parish Religious Education Program meets weekly on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. RECEPTIONISTS Parishioners are needed to greet families as they enter, record attendance slips, assist teachers with directing children, getting supplies, etc. each week during our class times, SUN 10:10AM–11:25AM or WED 4:30PM- 5:45PM. You must be age 16 or older. TEACHERS & ASSISTANTS Teachers and assistants are needed each week during our class times, SUN 10:10AM–11:25AM or WED 4:30PM-5:45PM, for a weekly commitment to teaching our children. Training provided, no experience required. We need confirmed adults, age 16 or older. DOOR MONITORS Monitors are needed each week during our class times, SUN 10:10AM–11:25AM or WED 4:30PM-5:45PM, to assist with the drop off and pick up of students. You must be age 16 or older.
Staff Contact: Pat Bogdan 610-525-4801 x 203 liturgy@stv.comcastbiz.net
ALTAR SERVERS Our young parishioners assist at the celebration of the Sunday Liturgy and special liturgical events. They are responsible to fulfill all assignments, to secure a substitute when necessary, to dress appropriately and, to attend 1-2 general meetings. Training is provided. This ministry is open to all the baptized, 6th grade and over. BAPTISM TEAM MINISTRY This ministry offers an evening of preparation every other month for families seeking the Sacrament of Baptism for their babies. Team members are present and assist with the celebration of the Sacrament twice each month. Members of this ministry serve in these capacities on a rotating basis. The team meets on a yearly basis for up-dating and review. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPEDITORS For Lent/Easter and Advent/Christmas many hands are needed to put together the church environment. No meetings involved!!! Pick a season, sign-up and you are contacted with date and time to get the job done. LAUNDRY ANGELS Parishioners are asked to pick-up the linens used each week at liturgy and launder them for a one month period of time. Linens are picked up from and returned to the Rosemont Chapel. After signing up, a schedule will be mailed to you. LECTORS This ministry requires well prepared, reverent proclamation of the word of God for Sunday and special liturgical celebrations (Triduum, holydays, reconciliation, etc), three year term. Training is provided. This ministry is open to all fully initiated parishioners. MINISTERS OF HOSPITALITY This ministry is present with a “Good Morning” and a willingness to help people find their place in the Sunday Assembly. It is a ministry that is a consistent, friendly, welcoming presence each time we come together to celebrate liturgy. Time commitment involves arriving 20 minutes prior to the beginning of Mass and attending meetings one to two times each year. Ministers serve at the liturgy of their choice. PARISH WORSHIP COMMITTEE Members prepare and evaluate the liturgical seasons; evaluate the over-all liturgical life of the parish using the liturgical documents. Members are a consultative committee to the Director of Liturgy and to the Pastor. ROSEMONT & VILLANOVA ENVIRONMENT TEAMS This ministry asks parishioners to carry out flower arrangements for the Rosemont Chapel and Villanova church on a rotating schedule and to design and carry-out seasonal environments for our churches. You are asked to attend approximately 3 meetings a year. WORD OF GOD This ministry involves working with two different age groups: 3, 4 and younger 5 year olds and requires a hands-on activity for the little children based in the Sunday/seasonal scripture; older 5, 6 & 7 year olds and requires the ability to proclaim and preach the Word of God on their level. Ministers are scheduled and resources are provided. Word of God takes place during the 9:00AM Liturgy in the Rosemont Chapel from September through early summer. USHERS At Sunday Liturgy this ministry takes up the collection, assists with the Communion Procession, and distributes the bulletin. Ushers also assist with emergencies and inquiries and ministers in close association with our Hospitality Ministers.
Contact: Karen Noonan YOUTH GROUP The St. Thomas of Villanova Youth Group consists of a middle school (7th & 8th grade) and high school (9th -12th grade) group. The three goals of the youth group are summarized as Empowerment, Participation and Growth. Empowerment is to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. Participation is to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community. Lastly growth is to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. The youth group holds bi-weekly meetings during the school year focusing on the above three goals. The meetings range from simple discussions amongst the group to service projects off-site. The typical meeting night is on Tuesdays from 7:30-9:00pm. The youth group is run by a group of dedicated volunteers who enjoy teaching and assisting the church’s youth in their post-confirmation catholic development. If you are interested in joining the youth group or joining the youth ministry team, please contact Karen Noonan.
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