Community Outreach Ministries
HEALTH MINISTRY
The Health Ministry of St Francis Parish seeks to promote the wellness of all members. As members of the Body of Christ, the Church, we give witness to the Gospel as we minister to the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of those in need. Members serve as guides to community resources. They coordinate as needed with other parish ministries. Ongoing projects include blood pressure screening, coordinating blood drives, maintaining emergency equipment, introducing educational opportunities, maintaining the prayer list for the bulletin and coordinating volunteers to the hospital and assisted care facilities. This ministry also assists with the Mass of the Anointing of the Sick and All Souls Day. The Health Ministry also supports the Funeral Liturgies and families in bereavement.
Contact Pat: pat@sfparish.org
JAIL MINISTRY
Rely on your scriptural background and volunteer at Grand Traverse County Jail. Be trained to lead Sunday morning worship service or facilitate Bible Sharing on Thursday nights. Jail clearance is require.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Love Thy Neighbor is part of the social safety net for our neighbors in need in the Grand Traverse Region. They work with partner churches to bridge the gap in services in our area and help our neighbors in need work toward sustainable change in their lives. All of their programs incorporate the gospel message of forgiveness and grace and prayer is an integral part of their ministry. Bridge Ministries help with emergency needs offering a Crib & Layette Ministry, Medical Equipment Loan Closet, Transportation Ministry, Hygiene Pantry, Household Appliance Ministry, and Adopt-a-Family at Christmas. Love Thy Neighbor has FREE life skill classes in budgeting, parenting, healthy cooking, communication, healthy self-care and more to promote new directions for change. Their Change Partnership provides a supportive goal oriented process for those looking for personal growth and transformational change. Partnering with us to mobilize volunteers and resources, together we work to better fulfill the biblical mandate to help the poor and needy in our community. Call 231-941-5683 or email www.lovethyneighborgt.org.
PRAYER CHAIN VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer to pray for those who have requested our prayers. Saint Francis Parish tries to honor all prayer requests with immediate and confidential prayer. Only first names are received, and no explanation is needed.
Contact Pat: pat@sfparish.org
BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY
A volunteer sends sympathy cards to parishioners after the death of a loved one. Phone contact and helpful letters describing the grieving process as well as useful suggestions for navigating through the first year are also mailed quarterly.
Contact Pat: pat@sfparish.org
DONUTS AFTER MASS
Help provide fellowship for the parish community by serving coffee and rolls in the Family Center following Sunday morning Masses.
Contact Shelley: shelley@sfparish.org
FUNERAL LUNCHEONS
Help ease the minds and hearts of the bereaved as you volunteer to provide and/or serve food with one of six luncheon groups made up of over 250 parishioners.
Contact Ann McNamara: annmcnamara@charter.net
SAFE HARBOR
This ecumenical program serves the homeless in our community by providing for their shelter and food needs. Parishioners from St. Francis provide volunteer hours and food for two weeks in winter at the Safe Harbor facility. It also serves the parishioners of Saint Francis by allowing us the honor to serve “the least of our brothers and sisters.” Working with other denominations in our community to accomplish these goals also moves us closer to a time “that they all might be one.