OUTREACH COMMISSION
Ministry Head Guideline Booklet
Contents
OUTREACH COMMISSION
MISSION STATEMENT
SUMMARY
OUTREACH COMMISSION MINISTRIES
BLOOD DRIVE MINISTRY
CHRISTMAS ANGEL MINISTRY
CORRECTIONAL MINISTRIES
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
THE GABRIEL PROJECT
GRIEFSHARE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – LUNCHMAKER/DRIVER MINISTRY
JOURNEY OF HOPE - DIVORCED CATHOLICS
MISSION OUTREACH COMMITTEE – GUATEMALA
NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES (NAM)
NAM - INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
RESPECT LIFE
SANDWICH MAKERS
SECOND FAMILY
SENDING OUT SERVANTS
SOCIAL JUSTICE
ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
SECURITY
IMPORTANT FORMS
INTRODUCTION
The Outreach Commission of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Community has compiled this booklet in order to accomplish its 2012 goal of providing guidelines to all ministry leaders under its umbrella. The guidelines contain a mission statement and information summary for each ministry as well as a section on administrative “how tos” to make current and future leaders’ duties easier to facilitate. In doing this project, we learned a great deal about the ministries and welcomed the interaction between ministry leaders and their representatives with our Commission. We believe this will lead to a better understanding of the role of each in ministering to the needs of our parish community.
OUTREACH COMMISSION
MISSION STATEMENT
Outreach, a community-based mission, extends the parish motto “A People for Others”. The Outreach Commission nourishes the mind, body and spirit of not only the people of St. Ignatius but the surrounding community as well. The Commission supports ministries that provide services and information to those in need of emotional, physical, or financial assistance.
SUMMARY
What is the Outreach Commission?
The Outreach Commission includes the ministries of pastoral care, social services, evangelization and peace and justice. Its scope includes outreach to both the parish membership and the community.
The commission is comprised of nine members, each serving a three year term. Each year three new members are elected and the third-year members roll off of the commission. The Commission meets with the ministries under its umbrella to review needs and resources available within the parish.
Each of the ministries has a chairperson or co-chairpersons. A commission member is assigned as a liaison to one or more ministries and will contact the chairperson of the ministry each month prior to the commission meeting to gather information concerning the ministry’s needs and/or concerns. The commission member can invite the ministry chairperson to present at the commission meeting.
OUTREACH COMMISSION MINISTRIES
Blood DriveAlex Barrera
Christmas Angel MinistryMarv & Sandy Peterson
Correctional MinistriesDave Stivers
Financial EducationOutreach Liaison
The Gabriel ProjectRose Mary Finley
GriefShareBarry Zubke & Patty Jiminez
Habitat for HumanityOutreach Liaison
Journey of Hope – Divorced CatholicsKrys Miller
Mission Outreach Committee – GuatemalaTony & Diana Rodriguez
Northwest Assistance MinistriesLuci Reed
NAM – Interfaith Hospitality NetworkJolly Guidry
Prayer Shawl MinistryChris Keenan
Respect LifePat Finley
Sandwich MakersKris Conner
Second FamilySharron Murphy
Sending Out ServantsConnie Braren
Social JusticeOutreach Liaison
BLOOD DRIVE MINISTRY
MISSION STATEMENT
St. Ignatius Loyola and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center have partnered since 1998 to save lives by providing blood products for those patients needing blood in the greater Houston area. Each day the Blood Center needs to collect more than 1,000 units of blood to fulfill the needs of patients in 170 healthcare facilities in the neighboring 26-county region. Since our partnership began, parishioners have donated 3,048 pints of blood, an average of 50 pints per drive.St. Ignatius’ mission is to be "A People for Others", and the donors of this ministry strive to live this mission. Tee shirts and other incentives are rarely given to the donors at our drives; thus the blood donations are given primarily for the sake of giving.
SUMMARY
The St. Ignatius Loyola Blood Drive Ministry has been, and is currently chaired by a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 10861. Usually around March of each year, potential blood drive datesfor the following year are obtained from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center coordinator. These dates are sent to the Parish scheduler to check for available space at the Church. Once approved by the Parish scheduler, the finalized dates and locations of the drives are published. St. Ignatius Loyola hosts 5 blood drives annually, with each drive scheduled at least 8 weeks apart from each other. This ministry has no formal meetings. All correspondence is handled by email or phone calls.
This ministry has 4 active members, whose main duties are to assist with:
- Donor sign ups in the Narthex of the Church (usually the weekend prior to the drive date)
- Working a shift on the drive date (at minimum, a 2-hour shift)
- Stewardship Weekend (recruiting new members to assist with future drives, or to sign up donors for the next blood drive)
The drives begin at 8:00AM, and end around 12:30PM. The specific tasks of the blood drive volunteers include:
- Assist with set up and take down
- Greet and check in donors against the signup sheets
- Obtain contact information if the donor has not given before
- Keep track of arrival time of donors to ensure orderly screening progression
- Ensure that donors get snacks and are well enough to leave after donating
The Blood Drive Committee has an annual budget of $500 to provide sandwiches and drinks for the volunteers and the workers of the Blood Center. Signage for blood drives is provided by the Blood Center prior to the blood drive date.
CHRISTMAS ANGEL MINISTRY
MISSION STATEMENT
The St. Ignatius Loyola Christmas Angel Ministry anonymously matches parish and local families who find themselves in a difficult situation at Christmas time with "angels" who provide food and/or children's gifts for them. As a “People for Others” we have opened our hearts and hands to those in need since 1994. This ministry has grown from helping a handful of families to helping over 100 families annually.
SUMMARY
Christmas Angels are individuals, groups, or families who would like to share the blessings they themselves have received over the years from friends, family and even strangers. In the past few years, community groups not affiliated with St. Ignatius have joined in our program and sponsored families.
The program is dedicated to our Blessed Mother as a Christmas gift to the Infant Jesus. We ask her to send us all who need help...and angels to provide that help.
Angels also bake cookies, purchase gift cards, make cash or check donations, or help set up for delivery day. We need a lot of prayers and helping hands to make this ministry a success.
More information is given out at various times in the bulletin from September thru November. Our budget depends on donations from our angels. This is a yearly event.
Delivery date of Christmas food and wrapped gifts this year is usually in earlyDecember of each year. Angels deliver their food and gifts in the morning to the Christus Center and are gone before the receiving families arrive for pick-up in the early afternoon.
CORRECTIONAL MINISTRIES
MISSION STATEMENT
The Correctional Ministries provide pastoral services to more than just those who are incarcerated in our prisons and jails; we serve their families as well. Our staff and volunteers reach out to the victims of crime and violence, as well as to the families of law enforcement personnel. Crime and violence touches the entire Body of Christ in one way or another. Correctional Ministries seeks to bring Christ's healing to everyone affected by crime and violence.
SUMMARY
Our office is the focal point and coordinator of the sacramental pastoral care for adult Catholics who find themselves incarcerated in the 26 State prisons, 10 County jails, 1 Federal facility, INS detention and numerous city jails within the boundaries of the Archdiocese. At any given time, there are 60 to 70 thousand people imprisoned in these facilities. The reality is that 28% of these incarcerated men and women are Roman Catholic!
For men and women who would like to volunteer during the day, the greatest need is at the Harris County Jail located in downtown Houston. For men who are unable to volunteer during the day, but can do so in the evening, the greatest need is at the State prison units that surround Houston. There is an application process for both of the ministry areas which takes 30-60 days to complete. Interested parties are asked to fill out an application form; the information is reviewed and a background check is made; short training classes are mandatory; interviews with chaplains are done, and finally, the person begins the ministry.
We have an ongoing need for Catholic Bibles (English and Spanish) to distribute in jails or prisons. We have access to a program that allows us to buy Bibles at a much lower price than most other buyers. With that in mind, we encourage donors to provide a check for the purchase of Bibles rather than buying them yourself.
For those who wish to donate money for Bibles or other special projects; i.e. retreat or volunteer support meetings, please make the check payable to Correctional Ministries, 2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77021.
Office of Correctional Ministries / Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston
Director: Father Ron Cloutier
Assistant Director: Deacon Eddie Stoughton
Secretary: Marilyn Spradling 713-741-8732
Isaiah House Project, A project of Catholic New Creation, Inc.
Catholic men come to Isaiah House to receive assistance in their journey home. Many have been locked up for 10 to 20 years or more. They have had someone make all their decisions for many years. Isaiah House offers them a hand up, not a hand out. Individual case management plans are worked out between the client and the Isaiah House staff. Upon release, men are given a place to live, spiritual guidance, offered employment opportunities, clothing, city transportation, family reunification, healthcare, victim mediation, tools, and many other services. It has been our experience that men who are given a "hand up" will succeed in leaving the world of crime and violence behind in favor of doing what is right. In the absence of God, housing, food, and a job, a man will resolve to live on the street and take what he needs in order to survive. He will return to a life of crime and even welcome the eventual return to prison. Isaiah House is committed to reducing prison/jail recidivism through a comprehensive, structured program that addresses the issues of each client that walks through the door.
Participation of Parishioners of St. Ignatius Loyola:
This is a ministry which brings one into direct contact with people in great need of spiritual support. It is one of being present, being a listening ear, praying with, and bringing the Body of Christ to those incarcerated.
If you feel this ministry may be a fit for you, please join us. The needs are great, but the rewards are even greater! If you are interested in helping this cause, please contact Mr. John O'Donnell, Director, 713-227-1400.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Please call the Parish office for information.
THE GABRIEL PROJECT
MISSION STATEMENT
The Gabriel Project is a Pro-Life movement offering parish-based pastoral care to women in a crisis pregnancy. It is not a ministry, but an Apostolate based on confidentiality and prayer.
SUMMARY
St. Ignatius officially becameaGabriel Parish on January 22, 1995, the 22ndanniversary of Roe vs. Wade. We were helping a pregnant woman in need at the time. She had called months earlier seeking help and, by coincidence, a parish family called a few days later offering to help a pregnant woman in need with temporary housing in their home! It is veryrare that a girl needs shelter, but when she does, with the help of a list of resources from the Gabriel Manual, she is given a safe place to stay until sheis able to make it on her own.
Gabriel Coordinators’ meetings, as well as training sessions for those interested in being a Gabriel Volunteer, are held quarterly at St. Dominic's on Holcombe Boulevard and are led by Dr. Marcella Colbert. Only a volunteer who has gone through the Gabriel Training Workshop has the opportunity to meet with the Gabriel Mom assigned to her.
The Gabriel Project helps with the following needs:
- Spiritual Assistance
- Adoption Information
- Prenatal and Postnatal Care
- Family Reconciliation
- Decision Making Advice
- Confidentiality
The Gabriel Project runs under the umbrella of the Respect Life Ministry. Thanks to the prayers and supportoffamilies and friends who donate generously of their time, the project is able to supply help to any pregnantwoman in need. She may be referred to us by the Respect Life Office according to her zip code,or she may see the Gabriel sign while driving by St. Ignatius church and call for help, or she may drop into the church office to ask for help. If she is in our area, arrangements are made to meet with her in a safe environment such as the church, or if she has no transportation, at aMcDonalds, for example.
A Respect Life Baby Shower held each October provides the ability to supply desperately needed baby items to Gabriel moms. Anonymous donors who drop off baby items during the year are also a big help. One Gabriel mom expressed a need for maternity clothes, and the St. Ignatius Ministry of Mothers quickly came to the rescue! Other people donate funds to the Respect Life Program and/or Gabriel Program.
Funds are never given to Gabriel moms, but a layette and other baby items are given to them in the third trimester of their pregnancy.
What do we see for the future, you may ask? We want our Gabriel moms to know there is an alternative to abortion and they can make it through their time of need with the help of strangersthey will never meet - strangers who are praying for them and supplying them with help until one day they can stand on their own, which many have.
At our Life Chain on 1960 a former Gabriel mom and her sons stood proudly holding signs to protect human life. Words cannot begin to explain what it meant to us, but it clarified why we were there and will continue to help as He has asked us to help. A call will sometimes come in, and a mom who was once in need will laugh and happily share stories of what her 'miracle' baby is up to - a baby she almost aborted.
Last year the St. Ignatius Gabriel Project helped 56 pregnant moms in need; not an accurate figure, for some were helped on the phone when they simply needed someone to talk to, and others simply wanted to meet to share how far they have come and to say, 'Thank you!'
GRIEFSHARE
MISSION STATEMENT
Leaders in our church recognized the need for a grief ministry in this parish and in the surrounding community to comfort grieving families and relatives.
SUMMARY
The GriefShare ministry at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Community started as a concept in the fall of 2009. The idea was an outgrowth of discussions between then Deacon Bill Sheffield, representing St Ignatius, and Barry Zubke and Patty Jimenez, both of whom are trained facilitators in the GriefShare program. Barry and Patty – who had both lost their first spouses to illnesses - had been participants in three cycles of GriefShare classes, and had been facilitators in one 13-week cycle.
GriefShare is a 13-week, video-based program from Church Initiative in North Carolina. The video sessions are led by trained facilitators who conduct small group discussions following the presentations on video by experts and people who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Six complete 13-week cycles have been conducted since the spring of 2010. All combined, we have delivered 1755 contact hours on the subject of healing from grief. A total of 161 people have attended at least one of the meetings. (Several people have attended multiple sets of meetings.)
“Boot Camp” is a GriefShare program designed to train new leaders and facilitators.
“Surviving the Holidays” is a stand-alone seminar usually conducted around Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is a 4-6 hour meeting focused on the unusual pressure of experiencing holiday events without a lost loved one.
Barry and Patty have been involved in advising – and informal ‘consulting’ – the start-up of Grief Share programs at 3 other churches.
- Champion Community Church, Houston, TX
- St Mary’s Catholic Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- First United Methodist Church, Marshall, TX
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – LUNCHMAKER/DRIVER MINISTRY
MISSION STATEMENT
To disseminate Habitat for Humanity information to the volunteer roster and to supply ingredients and prepare 10 lunches and drinks for use by the building crew volunteers during their lunch break and throughout the working day. Each lunch includes a sandwich, a bag of chips, a fruit, and a pack of drinks. Lunches are taken to the Christus Center kitchen area on the third Friday of the month and delivered to the Habitat worksite the next morning.