Pastoral Ministries |
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Bereavement
This Committee is an informal support group for anyone experiencing grief or loss of any kind. The group meets on the last Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Reading Room in Church. There is no agenda; no one is put "on the spot" to talk. It consists of prayer and informal sharing. Contact Deacon Tony Paratore at 468-2283.
Bethany Group
This is a program to provide short term meal assistance to parishioners with a temporary problem such as hospitalization, accident, new baby, death, etc. Everyone is eligible, regardless of financial status. Volunteers are asked to contribute, prepare and deliver meals. Contact Noreen Kelley at 468-2617.
Crop Walk
Each October, parishioners are invited to participate through sponsorship in a walk that benefits local, national and world organizations which serve the hungry. St. Charles' also receives a cash donation to our food pantry, and credit at the Food Bank to purchase food.
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry/Outreach Program is a supplementary source for those in temporary need, and also for the working poor. Parishioners and other community churches and organizations support the pantry by donating items needed. Items can be dropped off in the box at the back of the church. Teams work to pre-pack grocery bags to respond to the food calls received at the Parish Office. We supplement the pantry with food purchases from cash that is donated to the pantry.
In addition to using our pantry to respond to individual requests, we ask our parishioners at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to contribute food which will make up a complete festive meal. These baskets are then distributed to families in need. We also provide gifts from our Giving Tree at Christmas. Contact Marie Cullen at 488-6794, or contact the Parish Office at 468-4122 Ext. 337 for further information.
Friends Forever
This group was formed to offer friendship and opportunities to meet new people. It is a group of women without partners - single, divorced or widowed. We have no regular meetings, no dues, ergo, not much by way of obligation. We plan fun activities and mail out the information to members. Some of our activities have been luncheons and suppers at the Church, dinners out, shows, a dinner cruise, a day's trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The number on the mailing list is close to fifty; at our activities there are usually about 20 or 25. To join the group, simply call the rectory and ask for Sr. Mary Ellen Shirtz at 468-4122 Ext. 335.
Funeral Guild
The purpose of this ministry is to be of help to the family at the time of a death of a member of St. Charles. It is made up of volunteers, men and women, who will prepare a lunch for the family after the funeral. This takes place in Canfield Hall. There is no charge for this service. A donation is usually given, and this helps the ministry to continue the service. Contact Florence Jutton at 468-1275.
Human Development
The Human Development Committee's mission is to foster the Christian ideal of a joyful sharing of gifts and resources, both spiritual and material, to encourage a deep awareness of our mutual needs throughout the parish, and to promote a genuine concern for oppression and injustice throughout the world. We continue to accomplish this mission through a number of services and programs. Our committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month. Contact Georgia Grady at 487-2090.
Our God Reigns Prayer Group
This group gathers each Tuesday at 4:00 pm in the Reading Room in Church to praise and worship the Lord through singing, reading of Scripture and prayer. In the Spring a "Life in the Spirit" seminar is given. All are invited to attend these gatherings. Contact Mike Strojnowski at
469-4900.
Oxford Inn
A large group of parishioners has continued to prepare sandwiches for Oxford Inn, a night shelter for men in Syracuse. The sandwiches are made in parishioner's homes each Thursday of the month, and delivered to the Oxford Inn by Deacon Peter Vanelli. If you are interested, contact Deacon Peter at 488-4844.
Pastoral Care
Former parishioners who now reside in nursing homes anywhere in the city are kept in touch by visits, Communion calls, gifts and cards throughout the year. Parishioners who are homebound are visited and brought Communion on a monthly basis - more often if they so desire. We try to keep them connected with the parish by visits, gifts, cards, and at Christmas, in particular, by organizing a Christmas caroling experience for families. Communion visits are also available to those who are at home recuperating if such a visit is requested. The Privacy Act prohibits hospitals to call us as they used to do to let us know when a parishioner was admitted. We are happy to make hospital calls if the family or friends will let us know when someone is ill.
Contact Kathy Falso at the Parish Office if you are interested in learning more about our Pastoral Care services, or if you have a loved one who would benefit from visits from us 468-4122.
Respect Life
Our meetings are held in September, January and March. We hope to deepen respect for human life by providing intensive, long range educational efforts leading to a clearer understanding of the issues. We assist in offering spiritual opportunities through use of Respect Life program materials, enable parishioners to support pro-life legislation, and participate in fund-raising for pro-life organizations.
Contact Noreen Kelley at 468-2617.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
If you are able to help knit or crochet a prayer shawl for a person who has recently lost a loved one, please contact Helen Goss at 468-2197.
St. Camillus
St. Charles Borromeo Parish has within its parish boundaries a skilled Nursing Home, St. Camillus. We provide several programs that enhance the Spiritual Life of the residents. Among the many spiritual events that we're involved in at St. Camillus are the following:
| - A Eucharistic Liturgy is celebrated at St. Camillus on Tuesdays at 10:45 am. The Eucharist is also taken to those residents who are bedridden or otherwise unable to participate in the liturgy |
| - On Monday mornings, trained volunteers recite the Rosary together with the residents |
| - The Sacrament of the Sick is also administered periodically in a group or on an individual basis as the need arises. |
Deacon Tony Paratore at 468-2283 is the liaison between St. Charles and the Pastoral Office at St. Camillus.
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