ASP Mission Trip (Appalachia Service Project)
The Alive Youth Group along with adults travel to Appalachia each July to repair homes for low-income families. But this mission trip is more than just a building program. It also changes your life. When you change the lives of others, they have a way of changing you.
TIME COMMITMENT: Monthly meetings and a week-long trip to Appalachia in July.
FOR INFORMATION: Jason Solomon, 867-1055 ext 224 or jsolomon@sthilarychurch.org
Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack is an established national organization designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federal free meal program and may not have any or enough food on the weekends. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this program. Every Friday, students receive their bags with food staples that require little to no preparation. They return with their bags on Monday ready to learn. This ministry will sponsor children at Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, a school population St. Hilary has supported for over 15 years, and children at Akron Digital Academy. $80 is the cost to feed one child for the year!
TIME COMMITMENT: Volunteers are needed to pack bags on Thursday evenings and to help fundraise.
FOR INFORMATION: Jill Eicher, 697-5789 or jjill5@aol.com or Debbie Pianalto, 659-0776 or dpianalto23@gmail.com
Catholic Charities Community Meals
Looking for a true opportunity to “give back?” Consider volunteering by preparing meals for the hungry in our community. Dinner is served on Tuesdays at Visitation of Mary Parish, located at 87 Broad Street. Lunch is served on Wednesdays at Blessed Trinity, which is located at 300 Tallmadge Avenue. Unpack food, setup, cook, serve, and cleanup. The minimum volunteer age is 13. Volunteers are also needed to bake desserts. Drop off desserts to the St. Hilary Parish kitchen by 9:00 am Monday, marked with the name Pat Kennedy to avoid confusion.
TIME COMMITMENT: Tuesday anytime between 1:00-7:00 pm; Wednesday, anytime between 9:30 -2:00 pm.
FOR INFORMATION: Pat Kennedy, 715-2496 or pjk0748@yahoo.com
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, and transportation of guests to mentoring guest families. Volunteers may also answer phones at the Catholic Worker home and assist Sr. Catherine, leader of the Catholic Worker. 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 INFORMATION: Dawn Hosick, 330-714-9590 or dawnhosick@sbcglobal.net
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Cookie Ministry
Helping to feed the hungry is the focus of families who bake cookies at home and bring the cookies to the counter outside the kitchen in the Spiritual Center. Cookies can be homemade or store bought. These cookies are then taken to St. Bernard-St. Mary and distributed in the daily brown bag project for the needy. This is a great ministry for families. Cookies are needed every week!
FOR INFORMATION: Beth Hudak, 869-6025 or hudak4@sbcglobal.net.
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Creation Care Ministry
As Christians, we believe that the Earth is entrusted to our faithful stewardship. We are not its owners, but its caretakers on behalf of God. This group works to provide the parishioners with suggestions on how the parish and the parishioners can be good stewards. The current target areas of the ministry are solid waste reduction, energy conservation, environmentally prudent land care, renewable energy, environmentally safe products, education and awareness. Success to date includes working with the school to realize a significant reduction in lunch solid waste, removing Styrofoam products from the parish and increases in parish paper recycling. The next projects will be focused on education and awareness.
TIME COMMITMENT: Monthly meetings the first Monday of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
FOR INFORMATION: Michelle Edmonds, 666-1585 or michelle.edmonds@ey.com; Jackie Stringer, 666-5823 or jackie3620@frontier.com
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
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 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. These people live in their own homes, nursing homes and residences within the boundaries of St. Hilary Parish. Diocesan training and an introduction session with Beth Rado are required.
TIME COMMITMENT: Weekly to monthly commitments plus 3 to 4 yearly update sessions and a yearly retreat.
FOR INFORMATION: Beth Rado, 867-1055 ext 206 brado@sthilarychurch.org
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Fair Trade Ministry
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 after Masses on December 1 and 2, 2012 and March 16 and 17, 2013.
FOR INFORMATION: Leah Tomasko, 670-0123 or tomaskoland@excite.com
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Gennesaret
Feed our neighbors in need on the third Saturday of the month at Gennesaret, located at 419 W. Exchange Street (just East of 5 points intersection). Families with children are welcome to volunteer.
FOR INFORMATION: Tim and Debbie Miller, 665-4569 or deborahamiller@adelphia.net
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Giving Tree
Each year during Christmas time our parish assists many needy women, children, and men with food, gift cards, toys and clothing for children. We ask that you share your blessings with those in need by taking a tag off the Christmas trees that are in place in the church and also the Spiritual Center a week before Thanksgiving. Please purchase new gifts that are requested on the tags. Each year we receive the names of 1200-1400 individuals from agencies and inner city schools and only one tag is made out per individual.
FOR INFORMATION: Betty Sobieski, 836-1034.
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Hat Knitting Ministry
Looking to participate in a ministry from the comfort of your own home? If you can knit and purl, we are the group for you! Our members knit hats year-round for the homeless and the refugees in our area. We knit from one simple pattern. Yarn is available. You would also be welcome at the Prayer Shawl/Lap Robe Ministry meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10 am to noon.
FOR INFORMATION: Cathy Kenny, 666-5718.
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Homeless Ministry
Work to end homelessness in our community. Share in the passion of this group to ensure adequate housing for all.
TIME COMMITMENT: Monthly meetings the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm.
FOR INFORMATION: Joe and Marilyn Malick 836-8176 or marjoe5@juno.com
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Journey Together for Justice
This is a core committee of representatives from our various outreach and educational groups involved in issues of justice: Fair Trade, Creation Care, Homelessness Ministry, Respect Life. This committee plans and oversees the Lenten Speaker Series which aims to raise awareness of social injustice in our world and local community and to apply the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in practical, concrete ways.
FOR INFORMATION: John Grossmann, 867-3615 or jgrossmann@eggco.com; Connie Hardy, 864-8724 or mhardy@akron.k12.oh.us; Lyn Schott, 388-0873 Lynschott@aol.com
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JustFaith
JustFaith provides programs that transform people and expand their commitment to social ministry. Through these life-changing opportunities, members of the parish can study, explore and experience Christ’s call to care for the poor and vulnerable in a lively, challenging, multifaceted process in the context of small faith community. Eight week programs will be offered in 2011-2012.
FOR INFORMATION: Linda Gannon, 664-0943 or lindagan@neo.rr.com; Mary Lou Grossmann, 867-3615 or mlgrossmann@neo.rr.com
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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 decorating lunch bags for St. Bernard-St. Mary Bagged Lunch Program, providing school supplies for children at Helen Arnold School, making Valentine cards for nursing home residents and making Holiday Hope Chests for homeless children.
TIME COMMITMENT: Monthly projects.
FOR INFORMATION: Melissa Cheney, 668-2717 or melissacheney@yahoo.com
TO RECEIVE E-MAILS ON UPCOMING PROJECTS: kmccarthy@sthilarychurch.org
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Open-M Ministries
Open-M is an ecumenical ministry in south Akron. Physicians, dentists, nurses and parishioners with a medical background are needed to volunteer at the Free Medical and Dental Clinic. Teen and adult volunteers are needed for the food pantry. Every month on the third weekend, laundry detergent is collected at St. Hilary for Open-M. We are the only church that collects this much needed product for the clients of Open-M.
FOR INFORMATION: Justin and Ann Herideen, 836-8683 or annherideen@aol.com; Carol Simpson, 869-0430 or casimpson@earthlink.net; Mrs. Linda Gannon, 664-0943 or lindagan@neo.rr.com
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Peter Maurin Center
The Peter Maurin Center, located at 1096 South Main Street, is a drop-in-center for the homeless, the underemployed and unemployed. Prepare and share meals but more importantly listen with respect, concern and support to those who come to be fed. St. Hilary Parishioners prepare and serve lunch on the third Sunday of the month. Other opportunities to serve and share meals are also available.
FOR INFORMATION: Dawn Hosick, 714-9590 or dawnhosick@sbcglobal.net, Buffy McDermott for meal participation 670-9849 or buffy6767@gmail.com
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Refugee Welcome Bags
Many families are being settled in Akron from refugee camps from parts of the world torn apart by war and injustice. We have been working with the International Institute providing bags of food to welcome our new neighbors. Rice, noodles, canned fruit, corn, tea, sugar, and personal care items are a blessing to these families.
FOR INFORMATION: Gloria McCune 864-4833 or gloria@summitcomputer.net
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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 INFORMATION: Carol Malick 216-470-9797 or carol@malickphoto.com; Amy Zimmerman, 239-2001 or akz1366@aol.com
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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 Community Learning Center, an inner-city Akron elementary school. Adults and Teens Grades 7 and up are encouraged to volunteer to make a difference in the life of a child
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 from 3:15 to 4:15 for ten week sessions September through November and January through March for adults and for teens looking to fulfill Christian service hours.
FOR INFORMATION: Lyn Schott 388-0873 or Lynschott@aol.com
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Social Concerns Committee
Also known as the 3% Committee, this group discerns 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 INFORMATION: Diana Farro, 666-2524
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St. Bernard-St. Mary Hot Meal Ministry
The St. Bernard-St. Mary Hot Meal Program provides meals for an ever increasing number of individuals and families. Volunteers cook a full course dinner, setup, serve, and cleanup. The evening offers opportunities to interact with those in need of encouragement and hope.
TIME COMMITMENT: Opportunities throughout the year.
FOR INFORMATION: Jeannie Biggins, 666-6760; Trish Goodin-Yard, 294-1030 or trishgoodin@sbcglobal.net
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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. St. Vincent de Paul accepts good used furniture to help those less fortunate. This group needs everyone’s support.
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 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.