Outreach
Update January 2008:
We are in desperate need of parish nurses.
Update January 2008:
We could use a couple volunteers to help sew Prayer Blankets.
To assist with outreach ministries, call Chuck or Sharon Kampa at 253-3832.
BeFrienders are specially trained volunteers who go to our parishioners who have suffered a loss, illness or a major change in their lives who need someone they can confide, in complete confidentiality, about their situation to help them get through the diffcult time.
Home Visitors are specially trained volunteers who visit our parishioners who have a hard time getting out or are lonely and would like to talk with a friend.
Hospital Visitors are volunteers who visit one day a week and pray with our parishioners who are hospitalized, and give a Prayer Blanket to them from St. Mary's stating that they are in our prayers.
Homebound Communion has volunteers that take communion to our homebound parishioners that request this service, once a week and pray with them.
is a celebration of our senior community, by having a mass, dinner and entertainment in the lower church four times a year. The volunteers escort people to the pews, attend mass with them, serve the meal and clean up afterwards. The majority of parishioners that attend are from nursing homes and assisted living establishments, but any of our senior parishioners are encouraged to attend when they can.
The Raphael Dinner is normally held the first Friday of March, May, October, and December.
Parish Nurses are volunteers who help to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the parish family. They assist in being a health educator, counselor and advocate that help members navigate through healthcare questions.
Nursing Home Visitors are volunteers who visit our parishioners living in nursing homes. They visit with them and sometimes bring communion.
Prayer Blankets are made of fleece with a label stating, "They are covered in prayers from Saint Mary's Cathedral Parish."
Volunteers gather food that is donated, assemble the boxes of food, and deliver the the boxes to the parishioners in need that year.
Many of our parishioners are elderly. Sometimes people are hospitalized or have surgery and are unable to do small tasks for themselves as they recover. This is a simple "people helping people" service we are trying to offer our neighbors. We are not trying to take the place of Social Services or nursing care services but to supplement a bit in simple ways (grocery shopping, changing a light bulb, etc). If you would like to join the list of those who would be willing to help someone or are in need of help yourself, call 251-1840 ext 160 and leave a message.
When people have special needs or intentions, they are invited to call the Parish Prayer Line to request prayers. A phone-tree network is set up so that requests for prayer can be announced. Call Ellen Voigt at 251-6412 to join the Prayer Line or to request prayers for a particular intention.
As part of our service to the larger community, we provide a meal for thosewho are in need on the fourth Sunday of the month at 5 pm. If you would like to help with this meal, call Maureen McNaughton at 203-9761.
Several of the church communities in Saint Cloud participate in "Church of the Week". Each takes a one-week turn in winter, providing shelter and meals for the homeless.