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Gift of Love:
Gift of Love provides Christmas presents for needy families in our parish.
Parishioners “adopt” families and buy gifts for each family member. The Gift of
Love Committee works with the Minister of Care to send out all the mailings
needed to make this happen.
Meal Assistance:
A good meal always helps bring people together, and those involved in meal
assistance provide the means to do just that! These meal ministers provide food
for families of those who are ill and also for funeral luncheons. Always subject
to their availability, these volunteers provide a salad, casserole or dessert.
Easter and Thanksgiving
Basket Programs:
Parishioners purchase holiday dinner items for area needy families and bring
them to the parish distribution location. Help is also needed to match donor and
recipient families for both programs.
Angels for Angela:
The St. Thomas parish community collects gifts and food for the people of St.
Angela. One Saturday morning in early December, a caravan of volunteers drive
the donations to the parish and share our time, gifts and presence with them.
Bereavement:
Bereavement Ministers are present to those experiencing the loss of a loved one.
They help the family to prepare a meaningful funeral mass and are loving
companions during the grieving process. Those called to this ministry often have
also experienced a painful loss and have grown through the stages of grief.
Training is provided for those interested in this ministry.
Homebound Visitation:
Trained ministers visit with homebound parishioners and bring Jesus through the
Eucharist on a weekly basis. Arrangements are made through the Ministry of Care
office.
Hospital and Nursing Home
Visitation:
Ministers to hospitalized parishioners and those in nursing homes provide both
personal and spiritual support. Their loving presence helps strengthen both body
and spirit. These ministers are also trained through programs provided.
Sharing Parish - St. Angela:
St. Thomas maintains a sharing relationship with St. Angela's Parish School, our
neighbor in the city. People are always needed to develop and carry out
activities to support the school. In addition we help support St. Angela School
financially.
Food Pantry:
St. Thomas maintains a food pantry at the parish office. Food is collected at
all the masses on the first weekend of the month to assist those in need in our
area.
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