PARISH SOCIAL MINISTRY (PSM) provides support programs and direct services including food, clothing, household items, financial assistance and referral services.

Our Parish Social Ministry Coordinator assisted by core volunteers trained by the Diocese of RVC, ministers to all who seek our aid with compassion, caring and confidentiality.

Bereavement Ministry

Various Bereavement support groups and special holiday helps programs are offered throughout the year at the parish. Referrals to health care professionals are also made upon request.

Rainbows Program: A peer-support group for children from kindergarten through age 12 who have lost a loved one due to death, divorce or abandonment.. The children meet weekly for 12 weeks, during which they have an opportunity for sharing and emotional healing by means of specially designed activities.

Spectrum Program: Similar to Rainbows, geared for children aged 13 through 16 years.

Prisms Program: A "twelve-step" support program for adults.

Rainbows, Spectrum and Prisms Programs are led by a Coordinator and facilitators specially trained by the Diocese of RVC. Sessions are held at the school from 4:30pm-5:30pm on Wednesdays Autumn and Spring.

Ministry of Consolation. This ministry consists of Companions, Cake-bakers, computer-literate typists and a correspondent.

Companions visit the bereaved either at their home or at the funeral home to offer a compassionate shoulder to lean on at a very difficult time. Their duties also include helping the grieving family with music choices and readings for the Mass of Christian Burial, and attending the Mass to guide and console the family.

Cake-bakers bake and deliver a cake to each family in our parish after the Mass of Christian Burial.

Typists are responsible for creating the Mass Booklets for each funeral mass.

The correspondent sends hand-written notes to the bereaved for three months after a death to offer the prayers and assistance of the parish.

Members of the Ministry of Consolation assist at the parish ALL SOULS DAY MASS each November 2nd, to which they have sent invitations to families whose loved one's funeral Mass was celebrated at our parish during the prior year.

Blood Drive

A Coordinator schedules appointments and supplies snacks for
donors and diversions for the little ones who accompany them. Our blood drive is a yearly event which takes place in June.

Food Pantry

A coordinator organizes our food pantry each week. Food assistance is given to anyone in need who comes to our parish center, with surplus being donated to other parishes in Suffolk County on a regular basis

Holiday Food Drive

A coordinator organizes our food drive each fall, and with the assistance of volunteers, packages a complete Thanksgiving meal for those in need, as well as a supply of groceries. Food from this drive stocks our parish pantry and surplus food is donated to other Suffolk County parishes in need. Volunteers from our Religious Ed Confirmation classes are recruited to assist in sorting the 'tons' of food donated by our parish family during this drive, and assist at Masses during the collection weekend.

Holiday Plant Deliveries

Easter and Christmas plants are brought to homebound parishioners by Eucharistic Ministers and other volunteers.

Home Health Assistance

Referrals are made to area agencies and individual Certified Home Health Aids upon request.

Home Visitation Ministry

Members of this ministry visit elderly or homebound parishioners weekly to provide a sense of connection to our parish family.

Justice and Peace Ministry

Members of this ministry meet monthly to discuss current issues pertinent to Catholic Social Teaching, and ways to inform and involve our parish in activities that will bring about social reform. Guidance is provided by the Diocese of RVC Public Policy Education Network (PPEN).

Ministry of Prayer

Originally intended as a means to keep our homebound parishioners 'connected' to our parish family by praying for specific intentions each month, this ministry is open to anyone who feels called to this service. A coordinator is responsible for communicating by mail with ministry participants and for care of the prayer intention baskets and supplies located in the back of the church.

Our Lady's Rosary Makers

Members of this ministry create Rosaries for the missions, This ministry is open to all age groups.

Pick-A-Star Program

During Advent, trees are placed in the Church and 'decorated' with gift tag ornaments. Parishioners may then pick ornaments from the trees and purchase the items printed on the ornaments to be donated to area nursing homes and other organizations in need. A coordinator and volunteers are responsible for collecting, sorting and delivering these gifts before Christmas.

Prison Ministry

Members of this ministry assist those who are re-entering society by providing clothing items and transportation home. Pastoral counseling and spiritual guidance are provided by a Deacon or other qualified person prior to release.

Transportation Ministry

This ministry provides transportation to local doctors' offices and to Mass on weekends and holy days. A valid NYS driver's license and proof of insurance is required to participate in this ministry.