Human Concerns
The St. Michael Human Concerns Ministry strives to wholly embrace Christ in Word, Sacrament and Community...to catechize as we hear, speak and live the gospel, to celebrate faith-filled relationships with each other, and to commit to outreach within and beyond our parish boundaries.
The most important part of this ministry is you, the parishoner. Without you giving of yourself, this ministry cannot be successful. Please consider sharing your time and talent. There are many ways to do so; long-term, short-term, and one-time-only commitments are available.
Karen Hannon, Coordinator
874-4591
khannon@saint-mikes.org
Administrative Support
Administrative support is needed for several ministries. This can be done at church or at home; on a very flexible schedule. Please call for more information. Some sub-ministries need help preparing promotional materials for the Ministry Fair that is done during Lent.
Special Events
Special events sponsor the Giving Tree during Advent that supports many of our ministries. They also sponsor the Stepping Stones program during Lent that benefits the Guardian Angel Fund, which is used to support our parishioners who have a special financial need.
Haiti Twinning
Loretta & Dave O'Donnell, 270-4426 (lorettaodonnell@aol.com)
We are proud and extremely grateful for the gifts of time, talent and treasure that so many of you have given to change the lives of our brothers and sisters in Dos-Palais, Haiti. The Leadership Team and all of the people involved on the various committees will continue to keep you updated. Read the weekly Haiti Corner in The Defender and/or the Haiti page on the Saint-mikes.org website. If you have any question, please don't hesitate to call.
Appalachian Ministry
Michael Smith, 310-6097 c. (Malliepoint@aol.com)
See the slideshow from our visit to St. Elizabeth's on November 3rd and 4th.
This ministry has formed a wonderful "twinning" relationship with 4 cluster parishes in Southwest Virginia. Through your generous support we have been able to support each church in their outreach ministries with food, school supplies, clothing, gift cards for the medical clinic and much more. The Cabbage Roll Festival was an additional blessing.
C.A.R.I.T.A.S.
Kathe Henke 756-7440 (khenke@sleepcenter.org)
Diane Versfelt 527-0255 (dianevers58@msn.com)
We are blessed to provide shelter, food and fellowship for up to 40 guests twice a year here at St. Michael's. Captains (one or two people to coordinate one night of the week) are always needed, as are people to spend the night. In addition, we are occasionally called to help another congregation with their week of CARITAS.
A possible next step - supporting former guests who are moving into housing by sponsoring a POD. We would fill it with household items and then unpack it at the CARITAS Sharehouse. We can also help people shop and then move them into their new home - ending with prayer and a house blessing.
Conrad House
(part of the Freedom House organization)
Donna Compton 360-7368 (donna.compton@comcast net)
We serve dinner to the homeless and working poor every 4th Thursday of odd months and 5th Wednesday of each month. This is a small time commitment with great rewards. The youth also do a special collection on Souper Bowl Sunday that benefits Freedom House.
Richmond Friends of the Homeless
Mary Jane Hansen, 270-1739 (hcs00mjh@comcast.net)
We provide and serve lunch to approximately 140 homeless people each seating on 4 Fridays a year and the 3rd Tuesday of every month at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Volunteers and food donations are always needed.
Prison Ministry
Paul and Peggy Spera 556-6811 (peggypaul@comcast.net) Volunteers join the ladies at the Virginia Correctional Center for Woman in Goochland County (on Route 6) on the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM for Eucharist (plus at a condensed version of Holy Thursday and Good Friday services on the Wednesday evening of Holy week, and the same for the Vigil service on the Saturday morning before Easter). Families are encouraged to attend, as most of the women miss contact with their own children.
This is a safe, rewarding and amazing ministry - something to try at least once. The Goochland prison is a low security facility. We partner with St. Mary's (who has the lead) in this ministry; and St. Michael's provides gift cards through the Christmas Giving Tree. A revised Monday night discussion group follows the RCIA program for inmates interested in the Catholic faith; not necessarily for conversion, but to better explain our faith to other denominations.
Boaz and Ruth
Toni Schmiegelow, 754-3964 td754@comcast.net
Boaz and Ruth is a ministry that focuses on rebuilding lives of ex-offenders. This is an outstanding program, with many outreach opportunities.
Refugee & Immigration Ministry
Lisa Pedraja, 355-4559 x14 (lpedraja@richmonddiocese.org)
Contact for tuition program for Sudanese Young Men: Paul & Jenni Sauer, 364-0241.
St. Michael's has a long, award winning history of welcoming people to this country and this community. This is an ongoing ministry that always welcomes new volunteers. The Diocesan Refugee & Immigration Service office has short and long-term volunteer needs. For more information you can contact Lisa at 355-4559 (ext. 14).
Our parish, with the Diocesan Office for Refugee and Immigration Services, is preparing to welcome three new arrivals to the Richmond area. These three men are refugees from Burma, a country nestled between India and Thailand in Southeast Asia. They come here leaving behind friends and family and will need lots of friendly support upon their arrival. Fellow parishioners John and Vanessa Hoang have graciously offered up their home to the Burmese as they transition to new lives in America. They will be arriving in early June, and will hopefully come to visit the parish soon after. If you would like to learn more about these men, please check out the presentation or call parishioner Abby Sine with questions at (804)355-4559 x 22. Find out more information by viewing this YouTube video.
Coal Pit Learning Center
Kelly Aldinger, 364-7218 (kmaldinger@comcast.net)
Currently volunteers serve hot lunches to 16 pre-school children every Monday (following Henrico calendar). Through Giving Tree donations they provide gifts and host Santa for a special luncheon for children and parents. We need a Santa this year. In June, they shop and serve for the graduation ceremony or the children and their parents at the Belmont Recreation Center.
Food and Clothing
Greg Riggs, 747-1529 (foodandclothing@comcast.net)
Volunteers are needed to collect and deliver donations. This is a great project for families and teens. We do five food drives per year, food basket sign ups for Christmas and Easter and one clothing drive during lent.
We support Our Lady of Lourdes Food Pantry and Catholic Charities with our donations.
Pregnancy Resource Center of Metropolitan Richmond
(formerly Crisis Pregnancy Center)
Miriam Lindsey 741-2016 (bentiger17@aol.com)
Events - Baby Bottle Campaign - just completed with Religious Ed children.
Walk for Life, May 2009 Also - new baby items and maternity clothes can be donated at any time.
Respect for Life
New chair needed.
Volunteers needed to expand this ministry; to keep people informed about legislative issues, bring in speakers and support the annual Prayer Service for Life.
Friends of L'Arche
Contacts: Marybeth and Anne Meacham, 273-9533
Members of "Central Virginia Friends of L'Arche" are exploring the possibility of forming a L'Arche in our area. L'Arche ("The Ark" in French) is a spiritual community of persons with and without disabilities. L'Arche provides family-like homes where persons share lives with comfort, respect, celebration, and prayer. With 135 communities around the globe (16 in the USA), L'Arche makes a lifetime commitment to each resident with disabilities. Run through the Catholic Church, L'Arche is a mission, not a business.
Blood Drive
Rick Pleasants 798-4810 (apdchief@aol.com)
Blood Drive Ministry hosts 4 drives for Virginia Blood Serve to help them replenish blood supplies for the Richmond area hospitals throughout the state. Each pint of blood can save three lives. Donors always needed. Baked goods and prizes also needed during blood drives. Goal is 100 pints per drive.
Cross Over Ministry Medical Mission Trip
Ivonne Gordillo 968-4578 (bonymanuel@verizon.net)
Volunteer health care professionals from St. Michael's will provide medical and dental care at the Cross Over Clinic near Regency Mall (schedule to be determined - probably 4 Saturday's per year).
Meals on Wheels
Larry Gidley 360-5429 (finefred1@verizon.net)
Meals are delivered one weekday selected by the volunteer per month. This is a small mid-day commitment, approximately3 hours. Driver and partner select and retain the same route and as a result become familiar with directions and clients. The meal and your presence means so much to the clients served. MOW is a well run organization performing a basis service for many deserving clients, and the need for additional volunteers continues to grow.
Virginia Home for Boys & Girls
Contact: Louise Preiss, 750-2940
St. Michael's had had a long history of support the Virginia Home for Boys & Girls. The current need is to help with and support their fund raising activities (Art Show, etc.) and to provide gift cards that are used to purchase school supplies.
As the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS provides humanitarian relief and development assistance in 98 countries worldwide.
|
