Adopt-a-Family
This outreach program pairs a St. Robert family with a needy family from Grand Rapids for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Parishioners supply the ingredients for a festive holiday meal and deliver before the holiday. Those who sign up for Christmas can choose to provide gifts or a meal or both for the family. A great family, neighborhood or workplace project.
When and Where: Thanksgiving, Christmas
Contact: Paula Benjamin 897.5832
Email: FaithFormation@StRobertChurch.org
Blood Drives
Blood Drives are held at the parish to help fill the need for blood at area hospitals, making it convenient to parishioners at St. Robert. A regular Drive is held in the Fall.
Contact: Suzanne & Michael Lunn 682-0678
Boy Scouts of America
Cub Scout Pack 3290 open to boys in grades 1 to 5. Includes service projects and fun outdoor activities. Contact: Alicia Wyant 940.9011
Boy Scout Troop 290 open to boys from grade 6 to age 18. Program teaches leadership skills and promotes duty to God and country.
Venture Crew 2290 open to boys aged 13 to 21. High adventure and advanced leadership skills are the specialty of this group.
Web Sites: www.WorkNotes.com/MI/Ada/Troop290 and GRCC Scouting.org
Caregivers’ Support Group
Caregivers for family members and friends are angels of mercy. Their loving ways sometimes often increases stress in their own lives. Come with your frustrations as well as life enhancing experiences to share with other caregivers and be healed.Some questions addressed: How to get other members of the family to help? Where to find Professional resources to assist in the home? When to move the care recipient to a facility (Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing)? The meetings take place at St.Robert’s every second Thursday of the month (except July) from 7:00 – 8:30 PM in Room # 6.
Contact: Jerry O’ Bee 862-9906
Email: Jerry@jerryobee.com
Web: www.obeecaregiverresources.org
Career Transition Ministry
The Career Transition Ministry meets to provide counseling and training to unemployed and people in career transition. The group meets once a month and presents a varied program.
Contact: Bill Weitzel 956.6282
Email: WeitzelWJ@aol.com
Dégagé Ministries
Often referred to as Heartside Community Center, this facility ministers to the needs of the poor and homeless in Grand Rapids’ inner city, offering food, friendship, and recreation, as well as emotional and spiritual support. Volunteers are needed to assist in cooking and serving a lunch hour meal once a month.
When and where: The 1st Friday of each month at the downtown Dégagé facility.
Contact: Beth Junewick 447.1679
Email: Junewick@comcast.net
Food Drive (Weekly) (JoAn Ministries)
One box of pasta and you’ve helped! Help make a difference for our hungry in Grand Rapids. Weekly food donations supply The Other Way Food Pantry, Trinity Reformed, and Migrant Workers Outreach. Non-perishable food items can be placed in baskets at Church entrances. If each family would bring only one item when they come to Mass, we could supply 2000-plus items of food each week! Your small donation will multiply as did the loaves and fishes. Please drop your donation in the baskets in the Gathering Space whenever you come to church.
God’s Kitchen
This is an on-going project that provides meals for God’s Kitchen monthly. Volunteers are needed for cooking and serving at God’s Kitchen, baking, donating food, and greeting those who come to God’s Kitchen for their meals. An opportunity to touch the lives and be touched by our brothers and sisters who struggle for subsistence. Many volunteers are needed.
When and where:
The 4th Saturday of each month at God’s Kitchen
Contact one of the co-chairs: Bob & Linda McElliott 940.3875
or
Jenni & Jim Keuvelaar 464.0833
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that is committed to building decent, affordable, quality housing for families in need. St. Robert built its first Habitat for Humanity home in 1997. We build one house a year, helping financially and with efforts from our stewards. When we start construction we need volunteers of all skill levels and work areas, including people to help supply meals, clean-up people, and beginning and experienced builders. Working for Habitat for Humanity is a very rewarding ministry and the opportunity to help is right here in our backyard. These homes help change people’s lives and it is easy for YOU to get involved.
Contact: Rick Nichols 682.0009
Email: Ada369@comcast.net
Haiti Outreach
Representatives from the parish go to Our Lady’s Nativity parish in Verrettes, Haiti. As ambassadors of good will, they take our greetings and our love and return with news of how the projects we sponsor are progressing and where our focus should be in the coming year. Fr. Murat, the pastor in Verrettes, will be visiting us in the Fall. Student Sponsorship - If you would like to enable a child to attend school for a year, sponsorship for a year $125 for an elementary student and $250 for a secondary student.
When and where: The group meets as needed in the Adult Lounge.
Contact: Anne Gruscinski 676.9111 (Ext. 11)
Email: AGruscinski@StRobertChurch.org
Holy Name of Jesus Outreach
Representatives from the parish are involved in building our new sister parish relationship via a steering committee with Holy Name of Jesus parish members. St. Robert parishioners provide volunteers in the Holy Name of Jesus English as a Second Language Program (ESL) for immigrant parents wishing to improve their skills. Some St. Robert’s parishioners are involved in fund development with Holy Name of Jesus School. Each summer HNJ parish volunteers visit migrant camps in the area and have invited St. Robert parishioners to join them to provide a Catholic presence to the many migrant workers who pick fruit in our area. Aside from other periodic activities to support the School, such as the Second Hand Sale collection and an annual fundraiser here at St. Robert’s, our youth and music ministries have developed liaison with HNJ for specific activities. If you are interested in learning more about our sister parish relationship and how you might become involved, please contact us!
Contacts: Kevin Ecclesine 616-450-2917
Email: kevinglobalgrowth@comcast.net
Daniel Villalobos 616-299-9288
Email: DanV4255@gmail.com
Knights of Columbus
Bishop Kevin Britt Council 8117: With over 70,000 members in Michigan and 1.6 million worldwide the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to various charities, the Catholic Church, the community, families, and young people.
When and where: The 3rd Tues of each month in Newminster Hall.
Contact: Greg Apel, Grand Knight 957.1591
Metron Nursing Home
Monthly birthday parties are held for the residents. Cake and ice cream and fellowship are provided. Stewards are needed to assist in providing cake, ice cream, and fellowship to the residents/
Contact: Terri Sierzant 285.1159
Operation Santa Claus
This is a community program providing food baskets, clothing, and toys to the Ada / Cascade area. Volunteers are needed to call on families in need, shop for clothes and toys, sort food, wrap gifts, and make deliveries. Most volunteers are needed during daytime hours. A collection is taken early in December to help finance the project.
When and where: October to January at Cascade Christian Church
Contact: Marie Russell 682.4989 or 262.0643
Senior Citizen Picnic
An annual party for needy senior citizens from the local nursing homes, and senior centers from St. Ann’ Parish in Baldwin Mi. Guests are invited on the basis of need. We offer a luncheon, entertainment, games and prizes. Volunteers are needed for decorations, food preparation, serving, set-up, clean-up, pushing wheel chairs, socializing. Prizes may be donated throughout the year. If you can help, please call a number below.
When and where: 1st Saturday of August in Newminster Hall
Contact: Cindy Ritter 676.1948
Email: CRitter641@comcast.net
Rose Ennis 897.5897
Christian Service
Teen Moms’ Christmas Project
At Thanksgiving time the Salvation Army gives tree ornaments to St. Robert for the teenage moms they support. The mom’s name, the name(s) of her children, their ages, sizes, and gift ideas are on the ornaments. The ornaments are placed on a Christmas tree in the gathering space for parishioners to choose. Please be sure to sign your name on the log with the number from the ornament, so we know who has which ornament. The purchased and wrapped gifts are returned to the church for pick-up and distribution by the appointed deadline.
When and where: Thanksgiving Day in the Gathering Space.
Contact: Rita Reimbold 897.7882
Turkeys for God’s Kitchen
Each year at Thanksgiving, St. Robert Parish supplies the turkeys for God’s Kitchen Thanksgiving Dinner for the needy. Sign up in the gathering space during November and bring pies or cooked, deboned turkeys to Newminster Hall Kitchen on the appointed day. Watch the bulletin for details.
When and where: Thanksgiving Time in Newminster Hall
Contact:: Gretchen Dziadosz 676.2961
Email: Dziadosz@comcast.net
Transportation Ministry (to Mass)
This group provides rides to Weekend Mass for those elderly who are not able to drive themselves.
Contact: Sue Perry 940.1868
Youth Detention Center Ministry
This is a ministry to teens detained in the local correctional facility. A monthly birthday party with cake, ice-cream, gifts and recreational activities is provided by St. Robert adult and teenage volunteers. There is a need for appropriate role-models and fellowship with age-mates.
When and where: 2nd Saturday of each month at the Youth Detention Center
Contact: Robert & Annie Fields 940.0867
Pastoral Service
Bereavement Ministry
Our goal is to assist families at the time of the death of a family member. There are different levels of involvement in this most rewarding ministry:
at the Funeral Liturgy - usher, greeter, reader, Eucharistic Minister. We also provide: follow-up cards and calls during the year following the death
When and where:
December 2, 2010, 10:30 AM Inservice - Newminster Hall
November 2, 2010, 7:00 PM Bereavement Mass
March 17 & May 19, 2011, 9:45 AM Ministry Meeting in Adult Lounge
Contact: Sr. Ann Michael 676.9111 (Ext. 25)
Email: AnnMichl@StRobertChurch.org
Communion to Our Homebound
Our goal is to be sure that our homebound parish members and those that may be temporarily homebound following a hospital stay are brought communion and visited weekly.
Contact: Sr. Ann Michael 676.9111 (Ext. 25)
Email: AnnMichl@StRobertChurch.org
Emergency Meals
During times of particular need we provide assistance to families. The parish has such services as emergency meals to help families through short-term crises times (a child hospitalized, for example).
Contact: Sue Monterusso 942.6760
Hospital Ministry
Our goal is to make sure our parish members are visited while they are hospitalized. Sr. Ann Michael follow up with communion at home if needed. Volunteers are assigned on a weekly basis.
Contact: Sr. Ann Michael 676.9111 (Ext. 25)
Email: AnnMichl@StRobertChurch.org
Health & Wellness Ministry
Our goal is to promote health and wholeness of body, mind, and spirit to the parishioners of St. Robert and the local community. We offer programs and activities according to the health needs of the parish to empower individuals to pursue health and promote understanding of the relationship between health and faith. We encourage and support healing by connecting with people. We offer Blood Pressure Screening after masses three times a year. Prism Weight Loss Program. Walking for Wellness.
When and where: The committee meets 3-4 times per year and is made up of anyone interested in Health & Wellness. You do not have to be a health Professional. Watch the bulletin for meeting times and locations.
Contact: LuAnn VanHaren, Parish Nurse 956.6304
Retirement & Nursing Home Ministry
Our goal is to make sure the spiritual needs of the Catholics in the ten facilities that we provide Catholic Chaplaincy for are met. This includes weekly communion, and anointing (by the priest) as needed. You would either conduct a communion service on your scheduled week, or visit the rooms of the patients / residents with communion.
Contact: Sr. Ann Michael 676.9111 (Ext. 25)
Email: AnnMichl@StRobertChurch.org
Funeral Lunch - Hour of Need Ministry
Mission Statement: “To comfort families of our parish in their time of need by providing a luncheon for their guests after a funeral or memorial Mass.” The Hour of Need ministry is a great way to get involved in church without having to spend too much of your precious time. This ministry runs on volunteers. We ask that you sign up to work a luncheon or drop off a salad or dessert when called upon. You can contact Jean LeMire if your name isn't already on a list, 676-5919 or e-mail jklemire@sbcglobal.net
Contact: Julie Warren 676.9111 (Ext. 21)
Email: JWarren@StRobertChurch.org
