Catholic Worker Ministry
Catholic workers provide hospitality (housing) to families in three homes in south Akron. St. Hilary volunteers are needed to perform a variety of tasks from small home repairs, major home projects, transportation of guests to mentoring guest families. Planning a family outing such as a trip to the park? Consider inviting a guest family.
Time commitment: From short term to long term.
For more information: Clark Hosick, 867-7751 or hhosick@sbcglobal.net; Eileen Cousino, 869-5144 or Eileen@kenderson.com
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Children's Clothing Closet
Add gently worn children’s clothing to the grey bin located by the office, or help sort and bag donated items for needy children.
Time commitment: Sorting on Mondays, 9:00am.
For more information: Betty Sobieski, 836-1034.
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Cookie Ministry
Helping to feed the hungry is the focus of families that bake cookies at home and bring the cookies to the Gathering Area of the Spiritual Center. These cookies are then taken to St. Bernard’s and distributed in the daily brown bag project for the needy. This is a great ministry for families.
For more information: Mary Lutz, 869-8613.
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Creation Care Ministry
The Ministry’s mission is to create and execute a plan to be better stewards of the environment. The group encourages parishioners and the parish to be responsible in the use of the resources God has given us. The current target areas of the ministry are solid waste reduction through recycling, energy conservation, environmentally prudent land care, feasibility of renewable energy, use of environmentally safe products at the parish, and environmental education and awareness of parish employees and parishioners. Among its current projects are the paper, can, plastic and telephone book recycling programs.
Time commitment: Monthly meetings the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm. Volunteers are also need to assist with special projects.
For more information: Michelle Edmonds, 666-1585 or michelle.edmonds@ey.com; Jackie Stringer, 666-5823 or jackie3620@verizon.net
Click here for the April 2010 report of the Creation Care Ministry
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El Salvador Mission Group, Serving Christ through His Poor
El Salvador Mission 2010
This year’s mission trip to El Salvador will take place from July 7th through July 15th. To participate contact Heather Connell at hconnell@technomania.com
This group organizes mission trips to El Salvador, raises funds and sets goals for helping the impoverished in El Salvador with housing, education and fair wages. The group has established a fund that will provide long-term solutions and opportunities. Visit http://throughhispoor.org for up-to-date information on this ministry.
For more information: Connell, 665-5901 or hconnell@technomania.com
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Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound flows from the liturgy that is celebrated at St. Hilary Parish. As baptized members of this parish community, we have a right and a duty to bring the Eucharist to the people who are homebound due to a prolonged condition or from advanced years. Diocesan training and an introduction session with Sr. Marlene is required. With 8 nursing homes within the parish boundaries volunteers are always needed.
Time commitment: Weekly to monthly commitments plus 3 to 4 yearly update sessions and a yearly retreat.
For more information: Marlene, 867-1055 ext 206 or marlene@sthilarychurch.org
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Fair Trade Focus Group
Providing education on fair trade, the group also sponsors fair trade sales which support artisans in low-income regions of the world. Volunteers are needed to assist at the fair trade sales. The next Fair Trade Sale is March 20 & 21, 2010.
For more information: Leah Tomasko, 670-0123 or tomaskoland@excite.com
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Giving Tree
Share your blessings with those in need at Christmas. Volunteers are needed to help prepare tags for the trees, to collect and deliver donated gift items.
For more information: Betty Sobieski, 836-1034.
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Homelessness Focus Group
Work to end homelessness in our community. Share in the passion of this group to ensure adequate housing for all.
For more information: Joe and Marilyn Malick 836-8176 or marjoe5@juno.com
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JustFaith
JustFaith is a 30 week study group developed by Jack Jezreel of JustFaith Ministries designed to enable people of faith to develop a passion for justice and apply it in their communities. It helps participants experience a change of heart–integrating their personal spirituality with social commitment. Through readings, videos, speakers, experiences in new places and discussion, the group studies the Church’s commitment to the poor and vulnerable in a lively, challenging, multifaceted process, all experienced in the context of a small community of faith.
Time commitment: 30 weeks September through May.
For more information: Linda Gannon, 664-0943 or lindagan@earhlink.net
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Kids Care Club
All children and parents of the parish are invited to join this ministry of service. Kids Care Club is designed to help involve children directly with charity and community service. Previous projects have included making bag lunches, providing school supplies for children in homeless shelters and making Holiday Hope Chests.
Time commitment: Monthly Projects.
For more information: Diane Husk, 666-2351 or dhusk@neo.rr.com
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Knitting Ministry
While away the hours and help those in need at the same time. The members of the Knitting Ministry knit caps year- round for the homeless, with the goal of completing 100 caps for distribution at St. Bernard’s in early December. Simple patterns are supplied and yarn is donated. This ministry can be done from the comfort of your home.
For more information: Cathy Kenny, 666-5718.
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Nazareth Housing Network
Recognizing the need for decent, affordable housing in various areas in and around Akron, the pastors of St. Hilary, St. Vincent, St. Sebastian, and Immaculate Conception Parishes initiated the formation of this community housing development corporation. Nazareth Housing provides opportunities to low and moderate income families in purchasing their first home. Remodeling and lead paint removal projects were begun in 2007. Short-term volunteers and financial contributions are much needed and greatly appreciated.
For more information: Nanci Self, Nazareth Director, 374-1526 or director@nazarethhousing.org
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Open M Ministries
St. Hilary is among more than 65 churches of various denominations in the Akron area that are covenant members of the Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry or Open M. Physicians, dentists and parishioners with a medical background are needed to volunteer at Open M’s Free Medical and Dental Clinic. Teen and adult volunteers are needed for after-school tutoring programs, summer programs, and the food pantry. Every other month on the third weekend, laundry detergent is collected in the church for Open-M. We are the only church that collects this much needed product for the clients of Open-M.
For more information: Justin and Ann Herideen, 836-8683 or herideen@aol.com
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Respect Life Ministry
Focus on establishing a “culture of life” in the parish through education, prayer and witness. In addition to education, the group sponsors a baby shower collection for pregnancy centers, a Prayer Vigil on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Eucharistic Adoration and rosary for life, a movie and ice cream social for children, and participates in peaceful, prayerful sidewalk counseling.
For more information: Marcy Katcher, 659-0374 or andyaudrey@windstream.net
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Seeds of Change Tutoring
Sow the seeds of change into a child’s life through this program that provides educational intervention and mentoring to students at Helen Arnold Learning Center, an inner-city Akron elementary school.
Time commitment: During the school day, adults tutor with students on a day and time of their choosing. After-school programs are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays for shorter commitments for adults and for teens looking to fulfill Christian service hours.
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Social Concerns Committee
Help determine the course of social change in our community. Each year our parish distributes 3% of the parish income to organizations that help the poor, the hungry, or the needy. This committee meets quarterly, listens to presentations from the organizations and discusses where the money should be distributed.
Time commitment: Quarterly meetings.
For more information: Betty Sobieski, 836-1034.
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St. Bernard Hot Meal Ministry
The St. Bernard Hot Meal Program provides meals for an ever increasing number of individuals and families. Volunteers cook a full course dinner, set-up, serve, and clean-up. The evening offers opportunities to interact with those in need of encouragement and hope.
Time commitment: Group One: Third Sunday of every other month; Group Two: Wednesday, December 16. (additional dates TBA)
For more information: St. Vincent de Paul 253-5117; Parish Office, 867-1055 or church@sthilarychurch.org
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St. Vincent de Paul Society
St. Vincent de Paul Society assists those in need, both inside and outside the parish community. A monthly collection from the parish is the primary source of funding for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. On the first Sunday of each month, food is collected in the church for the poor. In addition, the group accepts donations of “cast off” computers that are updated with hardware that will support educational software. The computers are then donated to children in the inner city. St Vincent de Paul also accepts good used furniture to help those less fortunate. This group needs everyone’s support. Volunteers are also needed to be a part of this group.
Time commitment: Weekly meetings on Wednesday at 6:30 pm and periodic house calls to needy families with another member of St. Vincent de Paul.
For more information: St. Vincent de Paul 253-5117; Parish Office, 867-1055 or church@sthilarychurch.org
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Important Links
Please click on one of the links below to find out more information about St. Hilary.