Social Ministry

Social Ministry Committee

This committee promotes information and an awareness of the Catholic Social Teachings of the Gospel. The committee enables parishioners to respond to the Gospel challenges of justice, peace, Consistent Life Ethics and compassion. This may take place through direct service, special events, consciousness-raising activities, or by providing information to advocate on contemporary issues when there is a need for a prophetic and active Christian response from the parish.

Executive Steering Committee: Fr. Bob Werth [POC (W)], Pete Chesterton [St. Ambrose (SA)], John Driscoll [St. James (SJ)], and Bob Genthner [St. John the Evangelist (SJE)]

• SMC Agenda: Executive Steering Committee
• SMC Bulletin Board: Bob Genthner (SJE)
• SMC “Road Show”: Bob Genthner
• Web Page – SMC Support: Bob Genthner
• Social Ministry Center- resource room: TBD
• Liaison to Catholic Family Center – Marvin Mitch/ Bridget Hurly: Bob Genthner
• Future “Minutes for Ministry” at Sunday Liturgies: TBD

Activities and Contacts

Under the umbrella of the Social Ministry Committee parishioners are enabled to respond to the Gospel challenges of justice, peace, Consistent Life Ethics and compassion through our active focused ministries at Peace of Christ Parish (POC).

1. Clothing and Shelter Ministry - focuses on parishioners and others needing comfort through difficulty times in their lives.

• Clothing and Shelter Ministry: (CS)
  1. SJ- Clothing collection and transportation to the House of Mercy monthly: Kathleen Babij
  2. W- Habitat for Humanity work days twice a year: Pat Callahan
  3. SJE- WISH List project: Bob Genthner
  4. SJE- Future Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality (RAIHN) Network shelter support: TBD
  5. W- Affordable Housing (Public Policy initiative 2/04): Bill Dewart
  6. SA - Hope Lodge - Redecorating and updating housing for cancer patients and loved ones: Laurie Maier

2. Comfort with Love Ministry - focuses on parishioners and others needing comfort through difficulty times in their lives.

• Comfort with Love Ministry: (CL)
  1. SJ/SA- Attend wakes and funerals in the name of the parish: Kathy Babij (SJ)
  2. SJ- Follow up meetings with bereaved parishioners: Kathy Babij
  3. SA/SJ- Notifies staff of situations of parishioners needing attending: Kathy Babij (SJ)
  4. SA/SJ- Writes letter/ sends cards to recently bereaved parishioners: Kathy Babij (SJ)
  5. SJ- Liturgy Committee’s Advent Giving Tree in support of CL named recipients: Grace Zanche
  6. SA- Sacrament of anointing of the sick and caregivers: TBD
  7. SJ- Sacramental Anointing of Sick and Homebound: Sr. Marlene
  8. SA/SJ- Parish Visitors and Cards sent to Parishioners in Health Related Facilities, Sending cards, correspondence to the sick, recovering from illness, homebound, and in nursing homes: TBD (SA) / Sr. Marlene Vigna (SJ)
  9. SA- Lights of Love, donations made in memory of deceased loved one, support various agencies: Mary Kay Oberst
  10. SA Faith Formation’s Advent Giving Tree – Lights of Love to benefit Fr Dominic (Ghana): Vicki Iannettone
  11. SA/SJ Home Ministers of Communion and cards sent to homebound parishioners: TBD (SA), Sr. Marlene (SJ)
  12. SJE- Community Life’s Christmas package of cookies & Poinsettia plants to homebound/ nursing Home parishioners: TBD
  13. SJ- Visiting the sick, serve as Eucharistic Ministers, send bulletins and notes to shut ins: Sr. Marlene 2

3. Haitian Outreach Ministry - supports the parish’s engagement with the St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Borgne, Haiti, providing assistance where we can. Includes working with the local H.O.P.E organization.

• Haitian Outreach Ministry: (HO) Joan Aiello
  1. SJE- School Supplies for St. Charles Borromeo, Borgne, Haiti: Joan Aiello
  2. SJE- High School Scholarship Program, 3-year Tithing (2002,03,04): Joan Aiello
  3. SJE- Haitian Outreach Pwoje Espwa (H.O.P.E.) participant: Joan Aiello
  4. SJE- Support the November Haitian “Konbit” of H.O.P.E.: Joan Aiello
  5. SJE- Maintaining the H.O.P.E. Gift Card display at SMC Bulletin Board area: Walter Ruehle

4. Healthcare Ministry - Advocacy for healthcare support issues and concerns. POC project to help the health center at Mercy Outreach Center (MOC)

• Healthcare Ministry: (HC) Pete Chesterton
  1. W- MOC renovation work project - Saturday work days monthly throughout the year: Bob Genthner
  2. W- Support of annual MOC Bowl-a-thon to raise money for MOC projects: Pete Chesterton
  3. W- Secure items on a Wish List as needed for the MOC: Pete Chesterton
  4. W- Public Policy advocacy Healthcare Access petition project: Pete Chesterton
  5. W- Healthcare professionals from POC volunteer services to MOC: Pete Chesterton
  6. W- Liaison to MOC Board of Directors: Pete Chesterton
  7. SA/SJE- Red Cross Blood Drive: Colleen Griffith (SA), Bob Genthner (SJE)

5. Human Rights & Development Ministry - participants respond to the Gospel challenges of justice and peace through support of local and global rights organizations, ideals, and advocacy activities.

• Human Rights Ministry: (HR) Bob Genthner
  1. SJE- Amnesty International’s Urgent Action Network: Judith Boyd
  2. SJE- Peace and Justice Prayers of Faithful Team: Frank Fields
  3. W- Public Policy Advocacy Team: Bob Genthner
  4. W- Children Issues Awareness: TBD
  5. SJE- Alliance for Democracy’s celebration of Human Rights Day /Earth Charter, co-sponsor: Bob Genthner
  6. SJE- Parish Tithing Allocation Team: Mary Casey
  7. SJE- Women Empowered Against Violence Everywhere (WEAVE): Debbie Bridge
  8. W- Education effort to heighten awareness of and solidarity with Africa (Public Policy Issue): TBD 9- SJE- Liaison Rep to The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester (TIFAR): Bob Genthner

6. Hunger & Harvest Ministry - focused on world and local hunger, poverty and the plight of the Farm Workers/ Immigrant. Effort includes monthly food collection, Fair Trade Coffee, Christmas Baskets, Operation Rice Bowl and support of local soup kitchens and emergency food cupboards.

• Hunger & Harvest Ministry: (HH) Mary Casey
  1. SJE- Dimitri House Food Cupboard Collection (monthly, 1st Sunday): Pat O’Hara
  2. SJ- Food Collection and transportation to various pre-designated places: Carolyn Conrow
  3. SA- St. Andrew Area Food Cupboard Collection (during the year): C Griffith
  4. W- Christmas Food Basket Project: Karen Francati, Lisa/Dan Dwyer, Sally Krowl (SA-Co-leaders), Kathy Babij (SJ), Frank Fields (SJE)
  5. W- Ash Wednesday Soup Supper before the POC ’s 7:00 PM Mass at SJ: Mary Casey
  6. SJ- Easter Baskets supporting Jennifer House, The Women’s Care Center, House of Mercy and families in the parish needing special help: Kathy Babij
  7. SJ, SJE- Diocesan Operation Rice Bowl Project: John Driscoll (SJ), Bob Genthner (SJE)
  8. SJE- SOUPER Bowl Loose Coin Collection Project: Frank Fields
  9. W- Farm Workers/Immigrant Awareness, Project Unity’s Migrant Center (Sodus, NY), Rural & Migrant Ministry: Mary Casey
  10. SJE- Southeast Ecumenical Ministry’s Emergency Food Cupboard Support: TBD
  11. SJE- Fair Trade Coffee Parish Sales Project and parish purchase policy: Joan Aiello
  12. SJE- Blessed Sacrament Soup Kitchen Team (Dinner): Joyce McAndrew
  13. SJ- Sts. Peter and Paul Kitchen Team (4th Friday Lunch): Dorothy/John O’Flynn
  14. SA- St. Martin Kitchen volunteers and donations: TBD
  15. SJE- Rochester ROOTS Inc. support for local activities: Bob Genthner
  16. W- CROP Walk Support Project: Alan Gefell 3

7. Parish Neighborhood Ministry - this committee works to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with those residing within the parish boundaries; working with the residents of our neighborhood to promote dignity, respect and a high quality of life; and establish a working relationship with government, volunteer, business and church organizations with similar goals.

• Parish Neighborhood Ministry: (PN) Bob Genthner
  1. SJE- NET Works with NET Sector E: Bob Genthner
  2. SJE- Liaison to Neighborhood Associations, i.e. NEAD, BNA, NWVA, etc.: Bob Genthner
  3. SJE- Summer beautification project with North Winton Village Association (June-Sept): Bob Genthner
  4. SJE- Crime surveillance Cameras with NBN: Bob Genthner
  5. W- PCIC with Rochester Police Department: Bob Genthner
  6. SJ- Weekly Community Coffee Hour open to the neighborhood and the community for socializing, exchange ideas, meeting collaboratively to plan community events: John Driscoll
  7. SJE- Volunteer Service Outreach - local “Volunteer Opportunities” via SMSC Bulletin Board: Bob Genthner
  8. SA- Soup Suppers at Advent, Lent with speakers on Neighborhood topics, free will offering: Pete Chesterton
  9. SJE- Member of Rochester Voter Alliance (RVA), voter registration coalition: Bob Genthner
  10. SA Prayer Vigils for Homicide Victims: TBD

8. Prison Ministry - support local in-prison, spiritual and self-help programs that lead to improving the lives of incarcerated men, women and adolescents as they work towards their successful transitioning from incarceration into the community.

• Prison Ministry: (PM) Bob Genthner
  1. SJE- Step-By-Step Christmas Party Giving Tree Project & support of their special fund raiser projects: Bob Genthner
  2. W- Residents Encounter Christ (REC): (Retreat, Stoles, Prayers) Joyce McAndrew
  3. SA- Collect reading materials from parishioners for inmates at City Jail Communion Services: Kevin Marren
  4. SJ- Diocesan Jail Ministry magazine collections: Dolores Logar
  5. SJE-Ex-offender Re-entry Ministry, (CFC’s Mentoring “Walk With You”, Bethany, Cephas, Step-by-Step, Judicial Process Commission & Transitional Programs): Bob Genthner

9. Refugee Resettlement Ministry - provide a welcoming with direct hands-on assistance and mentoring for refugee families to fully acclimate and become responsible members of our community during their very difficult transition into this strange new land.

• Refugee Resettlement Ministry: (RR) Dick Kurz
  1. SJE- Kosovo (1999/present): Gene Oliver [Sahiti Family], Dick Kurz [Ilazi Family]
  2. W- Bantu (2004/present): Dick Kurz

10. Respect Life Ministry - support Consistent Life Ethics and compassion from conception through Aging. This involves support for the Parish’s “Pledge for Life” Diocesan commitment, Parish awareness of End-of-Life Care, and advocating the moratorium on the Death Penalty.

• Respect Life Ministry: (RL) Bill Dewart
  1. SJE- Parish adoption of Diocesan “Pledge for Life” Document: Bill Dewart
  2. W- Birthright’s Walk for Life Project: Pete Chesterton (SA-Leader), Bill Dewart
  3. SJE- End of Life Care Awareness: Frank/Pat Fields
  4. SJE- CLE Monthly Calendar Bulletin insert Project: TBD
  5. SJE- Moratorium on the Death Penalty awareness: Bob Insull
  6. SJE- Mercy Center with the Aging support: Ray Hebing
  7. SJ- Pro-Life letter writing, advocacy for the unborn, collect baby items for Problem Pregnancy: Bunny Kleinhammer
  8. SA- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: Laurie Maier
  9. SA- Daffodil Sunday, support cancer research: Laurie Maier
  10. W- Education on the bioethics of research on embryonic and adult stem cells (Public Policy Issue): Bill Dewart
  11. W- October’s Crib of Life donations of infant clothing Collection (Mercy Residential, Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Birthright): Jo Ellen Shaffer
  12. W- Diocesan Life Issues office support: Bill Dewart

11. Samaritan Ministry - provides for the St. James parish contacts for the following home maintenance work:
Heating; Electrical; Plumbing; Roofing; Home Improvement; Upholstering; Seal Coat and Paving; Snow removal
and Lawn Work; Tree Service; Painting; Local Moving; Locksmith; Window Washing; Wall-Papering; Auto
Repair.

• Samaritan Ministry: (S) Dolores Logar
  1. SJ- Home Maintenance contact Project: Dolores Logar
     

12. Father Feeney and Father Bradler Scholarship Program - The Father Feeney Scholarship is made
available to high school age students and is granted for the four years of high school without re-application. To
qualify students must apply in writing and also be actively involved in the life of the parish. The Father Bradler
Scholarship is made available to elementary school students and must be applied for each year. Students who
qualify must also apply in writing and be actively involved in the life of the parish.

• Fr. Feeney and Fr. Bradler Scholarship Ministry: (FB) Rita Lee
  1. SJ- Father Feeney Scholarship - High School age Students: Rita Lee
  2. SJ- Father Bradler Scholarship - Elementary School Students: Rita Lee