"We
have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to
bring home those who have lost their way."
The Social Concerns Ministry in our parish offers several
ways to serve. Following are descriptions of each ministry and
the name(s) of the Coordinators:
SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE
The Social Concerns Ministry has a two-fold mission—FIRST to provide information or educate the parish on the position of the Catholic Church on matters of social justice and the needs of the poor and vulnerable; and, SECOND to encourage parishioners to respond by:
1) Supporting the church on issues of public policy related to social justice; and,
2) Providing opportunities for the parish to reach out in specific, tangible ways to those in need
The ministry reaches out to parishioners in need and supports relief and justice efforts for the poor and vulnerable locally and worldwide.
Duties: Variable
Time: Core Committee meets quarterly for 90 minutes
Special Skills: Willingness to work with others to advocate for social justice and to serve people needing our help.
Coordinator: Charles McCarthy, (301) 840-1407, ext. 11
HAITI COMMITTEE
The Haiti Committee is a group of concerned St. Francis of Assisi parishioners
who oversee our relations with our sister parish, St. Paul’s in Leon, Haiti,
and work to provide for the spiritual, educational, material, and medical
needs of its parishioners. Quarterly donations are taken up to support this
work. St. Francis also supports three medical missions—teams of physicians,
nurses, and other volunteers—who travel to Haiti to provide medical care for
thousands who otherwise would receive no treatment whatsoever.
Duties: Variable
Time: Haiti Committee meets once a month for an hour and a half.
Special Skills: Willingness to travel helpful
Coordinators: Pat Labuda, 301-990-8292 and Frank Nice (Medical Mission), 301-496-9527
HEALTH MINISTRY
The Health Ministry encourages wellness and the healing of body, mind and spirit in the parish community. Services include: blood pressure screenings, blood drives, health information and education.
Duties: Variable
Time: As scheduled
Special Skills: Nursing skills helpful but not required
Coordinators: Betty Baklarz, 301-738-7985 and Kathy Brown, 301-977-1245
We ARE THERE FOR YOU
Duties: Work together with a team to provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support for parishioners in times of hardship. Volunteers will be asked to do what they enjoy doing for others, when they are able, in an organized way, with a built-in support system
Services we offer include:
1. Meals—an evening meal prepared and delivered during times of crisis, such as illness or hospitalization
2. Transportation—to Mass, doctor appointments or emergency errands
3. Support teams—to help with unique situations that arise
Time: As little or as much time as you have to give.
Special Skills: A willingness to answer God's call to serve others in a small way
Coordinators: Betty Baklarz, (301) 738-7985, lbbaklarz@yahoo.com
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS
This is a group that works to reduce the commercialization of Christmas by providing a Christmas catalogue of gifts from local charities that may be purchased for loved ones in place of gifts from commercial merchants.
Duties: Filling parishioner card orders during three (3) weeks in Advent.
Time: Five hours during Advent working in a group
Special Skills: Willingness to help make Christmas Christ-centered
Coordinators: Patricia O'Connor and Carol Lindsey, 240-631-8180
FRIENDS IN ACTION
An outreach program funded by Community Ministries of Montgomery County (CMMC) to provide friendship and supportive services to empower low income families move torward financial indpendence. CMMC provides a liaison/case worker for the family and mentoring team. CMMC also offers training/classes, resources, holiday celebrations, and more to support the family as well as the St Francis FIA mentoring team.
The current mentoring team could use additional members to help mentor their current family. If enough volunteers are interested, an additional team could be formed to mentor an additional family in the FIA program.
Duties: The St Francis team(s) is made up of five to ten parishioners or friends who build a friendship and help one family for one year. We help build skills (budgeting, meal planning, parenting, and career planning), research services (School, medical, social, and providing services), and advise and advocate as needed.
Time: One year commitment with one mentored family
Special Skills: Training provided by CMMC. Mentors, using their own gifts and talents, should have an interest in encouraging, guiding and empowering the family members to meet their goals. Each team member bring different talents to the team -- special skills might include: tax preparation, budgeting, parenting, tutoring, resume writing, children's academics or enrichment activities, and other life skills to help a family maximize their independence and reach their goals.
Coordinator: Mary Dixon, 301-330-4382
ASSUMPTION PARISH/CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TREE
A special collection is taken up once a month in support of Assumption Parish in Washington, DC. In addition, during Advent, St. Francis parishioners purchase Christmas gifts for families whose names and gift requests are hung on our "Spirit Tree".
Duties: Variable
Time: Several hours around Christmas
Coordinator for Spirit Tree: Sally Heaney, 301-330-6498
CARE OF GOD’S CREATION
Parish volunteers work on parish and community projects that help preserve and care for our environment.
Duties: Work on making parishioners aware of environmental hazards and steps that families can take to care for God's creation.
Time: Variable
Coordinator: John Combs, 301-929-3316
RESPECT FOR LIFE TEAM
A group of parishioners that strive to foster appreciation for life from conception to natural death.
Duties: Help out with fundraisers and with collecting needed provisions for the Shady Grove Pregnancy Center
Time: Meeting once a month for 90 minutes. Events scheduled three to four times per year.
Special Skills: Respect for all life from conception to natural death and willingness to work in support of this value
Coordinators: Harry and Marianne Bullen, 301-963-3420
LEGISLATIVE NETWORK
A confraternity of Catholics from throughout the Archdiocese who advocate for local and national laws that support Catholic Social teaching.
http://capwiz.com/adw/mlm/signup/
Duties: Send letters, faxes, emails and/or make telephone calls to legislators on important issues
Time: 12 hours per year and annual President's Day trip to Annapolis
Special Skills: Training available annually through the Archdiocese; written materials available; anyone with a desire to advocate
for people who have no voice in the political system is welcome
Coordinator: Marie Yeast, 301-869-3587
ST. MARTIN’S FOOD PANTRY
St. Francis supports St. Martin’s food pantry which provides free food to the poor in the Gaithersburg area.
Duties: Collect and deliver non-perishable food one week out of the month to the pantry at St. Martin of Tours in Gaithersburg
Time: Weekly
Special Skills: None needed
Coordinator(s): Betty Egan, 301-948-0847
REBUILDING TOGETHER
Rebuilding Together (formerly known as "Christmas in April") is a program in which parishioners help restore homes of those in need in Montgomery County.
Duties: Help restore a home owned by low income resident, with special focus on the elderly, disabled, and/or families with children, residing in Montgomery County
Time: One Saturday in April
Special skills: Any experience working on houses is a plus. Teens are encouraged to participate.
Coordinator: John Vilgos, 301-869-6644, e-mail: johnv77@juno.com; Web site: www.rebuildingtogethermc.org
HEARTS AND HANDS
Hearts and Hands is similar to Rebuilding Together. It meets one Saturday of each month to perform minor home repairs as well as install ramps and railings for those in need.
Duties: Work on a house.
Time: One Saturday of each month
Special skills: Construction experience is a plus. Teens are encouraged to participate.
Coordinator: John Vilgos, 301-869-6644, e-mail: johnv77@juno.com; Web site: www.heartsandhands.org
RESPITE MINISTRY
The Respite Ministry of St. Francis provides support and encouragement to those parishioners who have responsibility for a homebound family member. We give practical
assistance so that primary caregivers can enjoy a few hours out, knowing their loved one is being looked after.
Duties: Help support caregivers
Time: 2 hour commitment, once a month
Special Skills: Training in respite care or nursing is a plus.
Coordinator: Charles McCarthy, (301)-840-1407
SOPHIA HOUSE
Sophia House, a Community Ministry of Montgomery County, is a congregation and community-supported program of rehabilitative services for homeless women.
Duties: Prepare, deliver and serve a meal for 30 women
Time: A couple of hours once a month
Coordinator: Pat Badolato, 301-840-9196, e-mail: pattibad@comcast.net
OUR LORD’S TABLE SOUP KITCHEN
Our Lord’s Table is a soup kitchen at St. Martin of Tours parish in Gaithersburg. Our parishioners serve once meal a month there.
Duties: Help prepare and serve a hot meal at St. Martin of Tours Parish.
Time: Third Thursday of every month, 3:30-5pm
Coordinator: Charles McCarthy, 301-840-1407
