Community Support at St. Charles Borromeo

Elizabeth Ministry

Below you will find a list of ministries that can be contacted if you or someone you know needs assistance.  If you would like further direction you may contact our front office at (609) 466-0300      You may also view our staff directory by clicking here  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MINISTRY DIRECTORY

    

Elizabeth Ministry Women's Evening of Prayer Monday January 30th , 2012 Each January the Elizabeth Ministry hosts an Evening Prayer celebration. All women of the parish are invited to come together for song, prayer and sharing. A highlight of the evening is a candle lighting ceremony where woman gather around the altar and take turns lighting a candle and mention a blessing in their life. Refreshements are offered afterward and it is always an enjoyable and memorable evening.

Bereavement Ministry - Family Ministry - Caregivers’Group -           Prayer Ministry  -  Celebration of Birth - Prayer Shawl Ministry -  Eucharistic Ministers to Homebound - Women's Health Bereavement Ministry The Bereavement Ministry provides one to one support to women who have lost a loved one.  This includes a visit and phone calls or notes throughout the first year. We also run parish-wide programs throughout the year such Bereavement Support Groups, Mother’s Day Remembrance Program and hospitality after the All Souls Mass.   In addition, we have a team of ministers who volunteer to help at funerals. If you would like someone from the ministry to contact you please call Pam Mayewski: 908-874-8524 or Mayewskifamily@msn.com                                                                      Caregivers’ Group  The caregivers’ group provides an opportunity for men and women to meet twice a month in a non-judgmental, confidential environment to share their stories, to express their concerns and to ask questions that they may have about caring for their loved ones.  The members of the caregivers’ group are both present and past caregivers who share their own experiences and often offer practical suggestions and resources that they have found to be helpful.       The caregivers’ group holds one daytime meeting and one evening meeting each month.     All present and past caregivers are welcome to attend our meetings.  Contacts: Charlene Dowd: 908-295-9787 (cell), kobblersgirl@yahoo.com; Chris Tuday: 908-612-7423 (cell), ctuday@comcast.net ;  Maura Ryan: 908-625-8781 (cell) Irishmaura712@yahoo.com.   Celebration of Birth Ministers greet the family prior to Mass to help present a hand-knitted blanket and then attend the Baptism Mass as a representative of the St Charles Community to welcome the child.  Time commitment is about two hours ( arrive 45 minutes prior to Mass, and attend Mass), and ministers are called upon several times a year, depending on number of baptisms scheduled and their own availability, Ministers are asked to make a follow-up phone call to the new mom several weeks after the baptism. Social gatherings for moms of preschool aged children are scheduled once a month on Wednesdays from 9:30 –11:30 in the Elizabeth Seton Room.  Ministers are welcome, but not required, to attend. Upcoming dates of coffees are June 16th. Contact: Helen Corvelyn at hmsearth77@aol.com    Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound  This is a ministry of prayer and presence.  Every Thursday after the 9:00 A.M. Mass or communion service, ministers bring the Eucharist to members of our parish who cannot attend weekend Mass due to age, infirmity or temporary disability.  Ministers are taught reverential transportation of the Eucharist as well as prayer formulae. This ministry brings the community of St. Charles to our homebound as well as the sacred presence of Jesus. Time commitment is about one visit per month. If you would like someone to visit please call the parish office 609-466-0300   Family Support / Comfort Food Ministers help as needed to provide comfort meals (preparing meals and/or helping to deliver them), transportation (rides for those who can not drive themselves), respite care (short intervals of time to give caregivers a break) and friendly visits to those in the parish who are in need of these services due to illness, birth of a child, or other family situations. Time commitment varies and is very flexible. Contact: Beverly Caropreso (908) 874-3387 or bacaropreso@gmail.com. or Laura Heil (908) 359-2875 or ljhmomof4@aol.com     Prayer Ministry  Members of our St. Charles’ community often request prayers for family members and friends in need of  comfort and healing.  The prayer ministers are regularly called upon, mostly through email,  to offer their prayers and good works for those mentioned in these requests. Contact: Charlene Dowd: 908-295-9787 (cell), kobblersgirl@yahoo.com   Prayer Shawl Ministry, "The Purling Angels" Small groups of women meet on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings every month for a prayerful time of sisterhood and knitting or crocheting. These women prayerfully create shawls that are "tangible prayers" from the handcrafter to one who is in need of consolation or for a time of celebration. This ministry has been active for more than five years and has produced about 1,000  shawls which have been given to Veterans at local hospitals, every baby baptized at St. Charles, brides who are preparing for married life, people who are ill, widows, and those who need comfort in a time of despair. We always welcome beginning and experienced knitters and crocheters to our ministry.For information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry contact: Bonnie Giacobbe: 609.466.2236  email: tombongiacobbe@aol.com Pat Rose: 609.443.6166  email:  PMRBiol@aol.com.  Women's Health Ministers provide one-to-one meetings, phone calls or letters of support to women experiencing health issues, physical or emotional. Please contact us if you are experiencing a health challenge and would like to some support in any form.    We also would like to speak with you if you are interested in ministering to women in need by providing understanding and encouragement.      Contacts: Bonnie Hurley (609) 466-3342   hurleyh3@aol.com    or Charlene Dowd: (908) 295-9787    kobblersgirl@yahoo.com