Faith In Action

Parish Ministry Writings from Group Coordinators

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

St. Vincent de Paul has undergone some changes beginning a few years ago. Formally known as the "St. Vincent de Paul Store", our former members served for several years in a community-centered store that was valued greatly in our community and whose legacy "lives on". Our goal remains serving "the needy", however, no physical store or office exists. Our ministry strives to assist Richland County area residents with monetary and spiritual support in ways other community agencies cannot. Some examples of this assistance have included paying for car repairs, furnace/gas line repairs, buying/finding appliances, gasoline assistance, bus tickets and support with rent/utilities when agency funding is not available.

Our members consist of a diverse group of individuals, some whom are parishioners of St. Mary's and Resurrection parish, who in faith, share a calling to help "the needy" personally and prayerfully as well as share the direction to aid the suffering of our fellow man. It has been a blessing for me personally to be able to serve in this ministry. I have been blessed with developing more intimate relationships with the great group of present members and fellow parishioners. Equally, I am blessed to enjoy the gratitude given by the many individuals and families the ministry has served and humbled that our prayers for them are received willingly. We are sincerely grateful for the ongoing support received by the parishioners both monetarily as well as in-kind support through "blue barrel" collections for Catholic Charities and the "Giving Tree".

We are always open for new members' willingness to serve in our ministry. Please contact the Parish Center at 419-524-2572 for additional information.

Laurie Jordan

CENTERING PRAYER GROUP

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of Contemplative Prayer by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. It is an attempt to present the teaching of earlier times in an updated form. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. It is at the same time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to Contemplative Prayer, is the indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. It tends to build communities of faith and bonds the members together in mutual friendship and love.

The Centering Prayer Group at St. Peter's Church meets every Monday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Parish Center. The group welcomes all who feel called to Silence.

Anita Donnan, Coordinator (419-525-3243)

SERRA CLUB

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Mike Santoro, President

Pete Dignan, Communications Vice President (419-756-2940)

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CLUB

The Catholic Women's Club is celebrating over fifty years of fellowship, friendship, and fun. Originally founded by the Little Flower Study Club in 1950, our purpose is to welcome and assist all Catholic women in a social atmosphere.

We currently have over 100 members from St. Peter's, St. Mary of the Snow, and Resurrection Parishes. We welcome all Catholic women of the Mansfield area and any non-Catholic, married to a Catholic, who is interested in joining.

Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month from September through May. Social hour begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch served at 12:00 noon. A short meeting/program follows.

For more information or to register for an upcoming meeting, contact Roxanna Friebel @ 419-528-4447 or Rosemary McCue @ 419-756-8200.

Roxanna Friebel, President

DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA

The first circle of the Daughters of Isabella was formed in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1897 as an auxiliary of the Reverend John Russel Council of the Knights of Columbus for the purpose of uniting all catholic women in a fraternal order for spiritual benefits and to promote higher ideals within society. Over the years, the Daughters have continued to prosper and establish bonds of unity among Catholic women throughout the world.

Membership in the Daughters of Isabella is open to Catholic lay and religious women at least sixteen years of age, who love and support the Church and desire to participate in spiritual, social, and charitable activities. There are three levels of the organization: international, state, and local.

The local circle, Joan of Arc Circle #380, is one of over 800 local chapters in the United States, Canada, and Japan and meets the second Tuesday of the month, usually in Assisi Hall, at 7:30 p.m. Our purpose is to assist members obtain spiritual benefits, to promote the welfare of the community, and to follow in mutually supportive ways the teaching and rules of the Catholic Church. A traveling vocation cross is taken monthly by members to pray for vocations and for our priests. Helping others is a way of life for the Daughters of Isabella and Circle 380 contributed 4,097 hours in 2005 to various activities in many settings.

Financial assistance is given to our local parishes. Donations are given yearly to various helping agencies or organizations. Gifts for local needy families are given through the Giving Tree at Christmas. Baby items are given yearly for local, state and/or international meetings. A scholarship is given yearly to the outstanding female graduate from St. Peter's High School.

Deceased members of the circle are remembered each June in a special Mass celebrated by our chaplain, Father Tony Borgia. Covered dish meetings are held in July, August, and December.

Current membership is 50. We invite all women of the various parishes to join.
Contact the parish office at 419-524-2572 for more information.

PRAYER PIPELINE

The Prayer Pipeline is a spiritual ministry to connect members of St. Peter's Parish through prayer and telephone. Our program is an adaptation of one which originated in Chicago and one started in Findlay, Ohio. It began in March of 1991. The idea was to involve our shut-ins and elderly in a prayerful way.

Each week the director (Sister Angeline Hoffman, CPPS) compiles a list of intentions from those called in and some of which she supplies. These prayer intentions include the names of the sick, the elderly, the handicapped, etc., as well as the names of those who have died. She in turn calls the Prayerline coordinator who in turn calls these intentions to a team of captains who in turn call them in to those members who have agreed to become part of the pipeline of prayers.

Members are mailed a prayer booklet containing prayers they may use and each is mailed a quarterly newsletter for further connection. It usually includes an article of spiritual nature, something that will encourage the elderly in their acceptance of limitations, as well as to inspire them to continue their growth spiritually, deepening their relationship with God. It will include the names of all those who have died (many for whom they prayed) since the last newsletter . . . perhaps some jokes . . . and an article by the coordinator . . . and other items that speak of gratitude for their participating in this ministry. Newsletters are also taken to some in nursing homes; others are sent to those members of the team who are callers or who receive calls.

There are no meetings attached to this ministry since most of the "business" is conducted over the phone. And it is no longer limited to the housebound; it is open to anyone ni the parish, especially to those unable to be involved in active ministries . . . anyone may join, either to submit prayer intentions or to become callers osf those intentions. Please call 419-524-2572 or 419-756-6417 to become involved or for more information.

Angela L. Scurci, Coordinator

FEED THE NEEDY

We are in our 13th year of feeding the hungry and needy of our community. We feed between 900 to 1,000 meals in the first full week of every month. We also have a Thanksgiving meal every year in which 800 or more meals are served. This is all accomplished by volunteers of our parish and by donations from individuals, parish, and businesses. For more information on this ministry, please call Dick Renie or Paula (coordinators) at 419-756-4483.
Dick Renie, Coordinator

RESPECT LIFE

As a Respect Life group, we have gained much knowledge and become all the more aware of the seriousness and dangers of the culture of death and how vital it is to promote the culture of life. Pope John Paul II used this theme often in his speeches and writings. It brings great satisfaction, both as a group and as individuals, knowing that we represent LIFE. This is easier with fellow-support and we do have much of that.

Prayer is the most important segment of our chapter. Besides beginning and ending our meetings with prayer, we have "Prayer Time for Life" bi-monthly that is open to all. The rosary is also prayed every Saturday morning from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in front of Planned Parenthood on Park Avenue West. We educate with periodic flyers and seminars. We honor the students of the month in St. Peter's Grade School Virtues in Practice program. It is also important to celebrate life which we do on certain holidays.

During Advent and Lent, we distribute booklets to area nursing and assisted living homes, and also to MANCI and RICI through our deacons. Our Spiritual Adoption program is a daily effort through prayer to save a preborn baby from abortion. In October, Students for Life was started in St. Peter's High School. To also celebrate life, we send a congratulatory card to the parents of newly baptized infants, and the list goes on. One can obtain a listing of our accomplishments in the parish center.

We are determined through the Holy Spirit to change the minds and hearts of St. Peter's Community so that all will embrace the "Culture of Life" even if it is only one at a time. For further information, contact the Parish Center office at 419-524-2572.

Website information: (Priests for Life at www.priestsforlife.org) (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.usccb.org) (Catholic answers at www.catholic.com) (American Life League at www.all.org) (National Right to Life at www.nrlc.org) (Ohio Right to Life at www.Ohiolife.org)

Barbara Riley, Coordinator

MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (MYC)

MYC is in its 6th year at St. Peters Parish. We are a group of mothers with children that meet on the second Thursday of each month. We focus on four S's: Support, Social, Service, and Spiritual.

Support: We as mothers share many of the same concerns about our role as mothers. MYC helps us realize that we are not alone when we feel overwhelmed with being a mother. We share stories, ideas, and solutions to problems that make us stronger mothers.

Social: We have social gatherings throughout the year that include moms only, families, and mom and dads only. We do activities such as moms night out, bowling, and adult only Christmas party.

Service: MYC does fundraisers throughout the year so we can provide service to our church and our community. We provide the luncheon each year for the second graders making their First Communion and their families. During the holiday season we adopt families and provide them with food, clothing, toys, etc. for Christmas. We also donate to Catholic Charities. MYC mothers also volunteer their time to different church activities such as the festival during the summer.

Spiritual: We have prayer groups during the year that meet either on a designated morning or evening. We have speakers at our meetings that cover a wide range of spirituality.

MYC is truly a wonderful group of mothers who have formed long lasting friendships and a spiritual bond that will last a life time. For more information contact Andrea Thompson at 419-756-7770 or Tiffany Gavula at 419-756-2776.