Choose a ministry from the list below and contact that mentor.
*Indicates a ministry that has contact/participation deadlines. If interested, be sure to contact the mentor before the deadline.
*Interfaith Hospitality Network*
Interfaith Hospitality Network or IHN is a non-profit organization that provides food and shelter to families who find themselves temporarily homeless. Members of the St. Francis of Assisi parish assist members of the Rochester Covenant Church in hosting families for one week out of every three months or 4 times per year.
Opportunities for volunteering with this ministry include meal preparation and service, evening hosting (sharing a meal and playing with the children), or overnight hosting. Confirmation Candidates must agree to the following guidelines:
- Confirmation candidate and at least one parent must attend a training session. Training lasts approximately 1 ½ hours.
- Confirmation candidate and trained parent must volunteer for a minimum of one work shift between October 19, 2010 and March 1, 2011.
- Confirmation candidate must meet with Carol Fishbune (St. Francis/IHN coordinator) in early March to evaluate this volunteer experience.
Contact Carol Fishbune at 282-8409 or cfishbune@charter.net if interested.
Resource Room
The Resource Room provides basic household and personal care items for people in need. In this ministry we sort and organize donated items to provide a welcoming area where clients can pick out needed items. The Resource Room is located in the basement of the Parish Center. If you would like to assist in this ministry that helps our community, please let me know and I can set up times for you after school, in the evening, or on Saturdays. If interested, contact Linda Baltes at 282-6903 or email baltes.linda@mayo.edu.
Sunday Lunch Program
The Sunday Lunch Program is a weekly noon meal sponsored by the six Rochester Catholic parishes and provided at no cost to any needy person in the Rochester community. The meal is served at St. Francis parish but is served by each parish on a six week rotation. Each parish will provide 10-12 volunteers on their respective week. Students will help with preparation, serving and clean-up of the meal. Students could also be a part of meal planning. If interested, contact Kathy Rossman at 280-8408.
Pro-Life MinistryThe pro-life ministry is involved in a variety of events throughout the year. Contact Maryanne Doyle if you are interested in learning more: maryannesunshine@hotmail.com.
*Advent Tree Ministry*The Advent Angel Tree was set up set to serve those of need during the holiday season. Recipients are asked to fill out a form prior and leave with the Parish Office. Advent 'Angels', with all gift information, are placed on the Advent Angel tree in the Gathering Space. Parishioners take an Angel off the tree and they buy the gifts anonymously for children newborn to age 18. Gifts are then distributed the week before Christmas. Volunteers in this ministry would help with buying and wrapping gifts, collecting and distributing gifts, updating the Advent Tree, etc. Volunteers for this Ministry need to contact the mentors by mid November if interested. For more information contact Dana or Linda Hyberger at hyberger.dana@mayo.edu or hyberger.linda@mayo.edu.
