St. Paul's Catholic Church

Portsmouth, Virginia

Ministry Overview & News

Jump to a Ministry:  Administration, Christian Formation, Justice & Peace (includes Oasis, Meals on Wheels, Haiti, Respect Life, Migrant), Music, Worship

Administration Ministry Overview

The Administration Ministry is responsible for the smooth operation of the parish. This includes the following:

Point of Contact:  Pat Cox, 397-7066 or stpaulsptown@aol.com 

Administration Ministry News

Wanted: Ministry Leaders
Have you been called to ministry/service in the Church?  Are you leading others in one or more ministries?  Are you filling a ministerial need in your parish, but have wondered if there could possibly be more?  Could you benefit from a program that would help grow your competence and confidence as a pastoral minister?  The Pastoral Ministry Leadership Formation Program may be what you’re looking for.  Call, write, email, or visit our website:  804-622-5262 pmlf@richmonddiocese.org  www.richmonddiocese.org/pmlf  The next session begins in September.

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Christian Formation Ministry Overview

The Christian Formation Ministry plans, provides resources, schedules and implements the following programs according to the needs of the parish and of the wider community in accordance with the educational policies of the Diocese of Richmond.

  • 12 teachers plus teacher’s aides required

  • First Reconciliation - Age - 2nd grade

  • First Communion - Age - 2nd grade

  • Confirmation - Age - 10th or 11th grade

Point of Contact:   Marisa Beebe
            Coordinator Christian Formation
            Telephone: 757-966-5461
            Email address: mrcbeebe@cox.net

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT INFORMATION ON CHRISTIAN FORMATION.

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Justice and Peace Ministry Overview

The Justice and Peace Ministry plans, schedules, provides resources and implements the social justice ministry of the parish. It helps the parish to meet the needs of the poor and oppressed, both locally and globally; to reflect on the Gospel’s social teaching and the underlying causes of social programs (in collaboration with Christian Formation and Worship); and to transform social structures through legislative advocacy, peace making, and other efforts.   This ministry encourages parishioners to build a culture of life through their family, work, and citizenship. These programs include:

  • Help prepare & serve breakfast at Oasis Soup Kitchen every 2nd & 3rd Wednesday of the month.
    Point of Contact:  Deborah Brunick, Homeless Breakfast Program Coordinator, 573-7245 or 397-6685. 

  • Prepare & serve lunch at Oasis Soup Kitchen one day a week. 

  • Collect & deliver food items to restock Oasis Pantry on the 2nd weekend of the month. 

  • Soup Bowl Collection raises money for food to feed the homeless. 

  • Collect & deliver gently used and new books for needy and underpriviledged school children to call their own.

Point of Contact:  Vernell Patillo, 487-2829, patillo@cox.net

Justice & Peace Ministry News

Oasis Social Ministry

  You may pick up a list of suggested foods at each exit of the church.  

 

 

HELP NEEDED! A volunteer is needed to "step up" and transport the monthly donations to Oasis. The donations are collected on the second Sunday of the month. Pick up time can be after 10:30 Mass, or Tuesday thru Friday, of that week. If several of you would like to volunteer and rotate months, that would be great also! Will you be a good steward and share your time? Please contact Pat Cox at 397-7066
or Donna Williams at wdonna695@msn.com. -- current as of 8-22-10

Oasis Social Ministry is in need of volunteers for our thrift store to help sort clothing and household items. The hours we need volunteers are 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. If you have any questions please feel free to call us and ask for Terry Tagg@ (757) 397-6060. Or e-mail me @
ttagg@verizon.net. -- current as of 8-15-10

OASIS would appreciate donations of any of the following “Back to School” supplies: Pencils, erasers, rulers, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, spiral notebooks, wide-ruled paper, composition books, dictionaries, Kleenex (individual packets), and hand sanitizer cleaner. Last year thanks to your generosity, our “Back to School” program donations totaled over 600 children receiving school supplies. Please help us again this year! Donations accepted M-F 8am—4pm at OASIS. -- current as of 8-15-10

We are grateful for your contributions on “OASIS Social Ministry” weekend, the second weekend of each month. You may have not realized that there are two separate funds for OASIS Social Ministry Weekend:
OASIS Social Ministry assists the needy and elderly with payments for housing and utilities. The Soup Kitchen Ministry money that is donated goes toward the purchase of food items needed by OASIS to prepare healthy meals in their kitchen for those that would not otherwise have a meal to eat. There is a
money stand in the back of the church with Sister Zoe’s picture that is designated for the ‘Soup Kitchen”.  When giving to OASIS, please designate either “OASIS Social Ministry” or “Soup Kitchen.” Both of these funds are very important in order to help those in need in our community to survive. -- current as of 8-8-10

OASIS Social Ministry is in need of volunteers for our Food Pantry and warehouse. The hours we need volunteers are 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some of the duties include stocking,
packing groceries and distributing to families in need as well as inventory of incoming food donations. If you have any questions please feel free to call us and ask for Regina Maldonado, Alice Cherry or Joanne Roisen at (757) 397-6060. -- posted 5-30-10

OASIS Social Ministries: Each month the second weekend is designated OASIS SOCIAL MINISTRIES weekend wherein we collect non-perishable foods and also take up a second collection.  In these days where times are difficult, please remember the homeless, the needy and the elderly who need our help. Thank you for your continued generosity. -- posted 10-11-09

Did you know that OASIS provides all of the following programs: Soup Kitchen, Food Assistance, Senior Program, Edmarc Food Assistance, Bag Lunches and more?  All of the monies and food that we collect here at St. Paul’s goes to the various programs above. We collected $865.02 last weekend. Thank you! Please consider giving each second weekend of the month to our second collection for OASIS Social
Ministry. These programs help the needy, the homeless, and the elderly right here in our own Portsmouth Community. Last weekend we only collected 32 non-perishable food items. -- posted 8-16-09

Volunteers “Are” OASIS: Oasis needs and welcomes volunteers. Hours are flexible to suit the individual. Help in the pantry, thrift shop, food pick-up and Soup Kitchen.   Donations of food, clothing and funds are always welcome.  Come visit and see how you can help or give them a call at 397-6060.

Meals on Wheels Ministry

The Portsmouth Meals on Wheels is in need of volunteers to deliver meals to shut-ins. There has been a significant increase of eligible people for the program. It takes about one and one-half midday hours to complete the task. Call Peggy Crabtree, 397-1358 for more information on how to lend a hand. (current as of 6 June 2010)

Haiti Ministry

Please find at all exits of the church this weekend the jar for “Change for Haiti.” All of our nickels, dimes and quarters add up to help those in need. Thank you! (8-29-2010)

Praying in Communion with our brothers and sisters at St. Peter parish in Roy-Sec, Haiti - Update Thank you for supporting our students at St. Peter in Roy-sec, Haiti. Your sponsorships and donations are improving the lives of the children and their families. Please pray for their safety and protection during the coming hurricane season. We will be visiting our Twin Parish from May 19 - 26, 2010 and are gathering gifts for the children. On our last visit we enjoyed doing crafts with them and would like to do this again.  These are items we would like to take: Ribbons, hair barrettes, matchbox cars, ball caps, children's socks, sunglasses, rosaries, religious medals and chains, necklaces, yarn, crochet hooks,
plastic canvas, embroidery floss and scissors. You may leave them in a box at the Haiti display at your church. We are also planning a shipment by the end of May. Much wanted and needed items are book bags, school supplies, musical instruments, sewing machines, shoes, canes, crutches and walkers.

One of the fundraising activities currently being used in some of the parishes is a "Change for Haiti” Jar. On the fourth weekend of each month we will be asking parishioners to bring and drop change into a jar. It will be deposited into the Haiti Ministry account and used for the needs of the school children of St. Peters in Roy-Sec. The Haiti Ministry Committee feels that children can also relate to this method of donation. So we are asking for your support in this by allowing and encouraging your child to bring and drop change into the Change for Haiti jar.  Jars will be available in the vestibule of the church and in the
Father Walsh Center.

Everyone is invited to attend our Haiti meetings on every 2nd Tuesday at 6:00PM at Holy Angels. We gladly answer any questions: Huguette 558-1676; Naida 686-4453; Helmi 485-1933.

Respect Life Ministry

40 Days for Life
This fall, from September 22 – October 31, our Tidewater Catholic community is uniting with hundreds of other cities around the world for the 40 Days for Life campaign. Recognizing that “with God all things are possible,” people of faith are praying that this effort will help bring an end to the tragedy of abortion. 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign made up of three components:
• Prayer and Fasting: believers join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion
• Peaceful Vigil: stand for life during a 40-day peaceful public witness
• Community Outreach: help take a positive, upbeat pro-life message to every corner of our community through media efforts, advocacy, and public visibility

Learn how you can speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves here in Hampton Roads by contacting Pete DiNardo at 390-5742 or by visiting: www.40daysforlife.com/virginiabeach.  You can also join us this Tuesday, August 31st, at 6:30 pm for a hot dog cookout at St. Gregory's outdoor pavilion,
5343 Virginia Beach Boulevard, to find out how you can participate.

Respect Life thought for the week:
"Theconcerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity. They cannot, however, be understood apart from a
profound reflection upon the innate dignity of every human life from conception to natural death: a dignity conferred by God Himself and thus inviolable." ~ Pope Benedict XVI (5-30-10)

Respect for Life and Stem Cell Research:  Our Church’s teaching on life is very clear:  “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception” (Catechism, 2270) but this does not imply that the Church is against stem cell research.  Promising medical advances are taking place using various types of adult skin stem cells, umbilical cord blood stem cells, and many others.  The Church encourages this research. However, there is one particular type of stem cell research the Church opposes, embryonic stem cell research, which destroys human life. This critical distinction between embryonic stem cells and all other forms of harmless stem cell research is usually not clearly explained when secular media reports on this issue. Furthermore, while amazing medical advances from stem cell research is already helping people, the research using destroyed embryos has achieved no medical benefits - not one.  We faithful are fortunate to have the guidance of our Church teachings, which reflects true wisdom and moral clarity. More information is available on this topic at the National Catholic Bioethics Center web site: http://www.ncbcenter.org/

Many uninsured children and pregnant women in Hampton Roads are eligible for free or low cost health insurance, but remain uninsured. Application and eligibility information is available at www.famis.org or by calling 1-866-87famis. Please circulate this information to those who are in need of health care or those who may know someone in need. --posted 3-22-09

Please contact Craig Eller 484-8617, if you are interested in joining St. Paul’s Respect Life Ministry.

Migrant Ministry

Migrant Ministry Thank You

On July 1st, we arrived at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Onley, VA.  We were met by Jim Albright, the Head of the Migrant Ministry for the Diocese, the charming Father Kelly, former pastor of St Peter’s who was visiting and Kathy Bredimus, an outstanding volunteer who sends us information and pictures of how the Migrant Ministry is going. They were overwhelmed with how our parishes are committed to this ministry. We delivered a truck and trailer load full of the donations we collected and over $1400 in Food Lion Cards. After we unloaded, Father Kelly kept us spell bound with stories of working in the Migrant Ministry and his years of service on the Eastern Shore along with his current two parishes he presides over in the mountains of Virginia. Father Kelly offered a blessing for the work the St. Paul’s, Holy Angels, St. Mary’s and Resurrection parishioners do for these migrant workers on the shore. The migrant ministry would like to thank the following people for their work with this ministry; Tracy Dussia of
Resurrection; Martha Thompson of St Paul’s; Evelyn Screeney and Ada Howard of Holy Angels; and Jack
Lofton and The St Anne’s Society of St. Mary’s. A special Thank you to Jack and Lydia Lofton for assisting with the sorting and delivery of our donations. Lastly and most sincerely, thank you to the parishioners of our four cluster churches for their wonderful generosity to our Brothers and Sisters in faith. Sincerely, Michael and Marie Reynolds (Saint Mary’s, Chesapeake)

For more information regarding donations, volunteer work or attending 8 PM mass on Tuesday or Thursday evenings at the work camps, please contact Jim Albright, P O Box 584, Accomac, VA 23301 or (757) 787-7862.

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Music Ministry Overview

The Music Ministry of the parish is an active and varied program. The director plans, provides resources, schedules and supports opportunities for parishioners to serve our parish as follows:

  • Cantors.  Adults willing to lead community in song during parish liturgies.

  • Instrumentalists.  Adults willing to share their musical talents during the parish liturgies.

  • Adult Choir.  Rehearsals held weekly in parish music room on Thursdays at 7:00 PM with a brief respite in the summer.

  • Special Events.  Mini concerts; Todi Fest.

  • Children’s Choir.  Point of Contact:   Nick Nespoli, 484-1315; Melissa Beebe, 405-3579 (H) or 777-7408 (C), mtog@cox.net.

Point of Contact:  Nick Nespoli, Home 484-1315, Work 484-9550

Music Ministry News

Please be aware that some changes have been implemented as our music ministry strives for excellence in its leadership of the parish community in song, Notably, at the end of Mass the Cantor will no longer announce the Recessional Hymn. The hymn numbers will continue to be posted on the boards throughout the church. -- posted 8-30-09

Children’s Choir is now meeting after the 10:30 Mass in the choir room. All children and youth are welcome. The children’s choir sings once each month at the Children’s Liturgies and at the Children’s Mass for Christmas. This is a great opportunity for young people to learn some music basics and have fun serving the Church and the community. Please make sure children are old enough to read. Any questions can be directed to Nick Nespoli at 484-1315.

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Worship Ministry Overview

The Worship Ministry serves the parish family through the ministry of the liturgy. The ministry is responsible for selecting, preparing/training, and scheduling Stewards for the following:

  • Ushers/Hospitality.

  • Welcome parishioners and guests.  Distribute worship aids and help find seating.

  • Collect the offertory gifts and facilitate the movement of Gift Bearers in the presentation of the gifts.

  • Place hymnals in pew racks after 10:30 AM mass.

  • Ensure church doors are locked after 4:30 PM and 10:30 AM masses.

  • Lectors.  Proclaim the Word of the Lord by reading scripture during the parish liturgies.

  • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.  Share the Eucharistic Bread and Wine and assist pastor in distributing the Holy Eucharist to the sick of the parish and those unable to attend church.

  • Altar Servers.  Assist priest during the celebration of Mass.  Girls & Boys must receive their 1st Communion before becoming an altar server.

  • Altar Society.  Maintain linens (altar cloths, purificators, corporals used at liturgies), wash altar marble/polish brass, wash & polish priest’s chalice & paten.

  • Offertory Money Counters.  Count and prepare offertory for bank deposit.

  • Ecumenical Outreach.  Lenten Services and Community Churches

Point of Contact:  Marisa Beebe, 966-5461, mrcbeebe@cox.net

Worship Ministry News

Liturgical Ministry Opportunities—We have a special need for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors at all of our masses. Please consider these ministries of service. If you are interested in becoming either an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or a Lector, please contact Marisa Beebe at 966-5461 or by email at mrcbeebe@cox.net.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion—Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are men and women of the parish who assist the priest in distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. In addition, some Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion take communion to the sick or others unable to attend Mass.

Lectors—The function of the Lector is to effectively proclaim the Word of God during liturgical celebrations. A lector strives to present the Word of God with clarity and distinction so that it is not just merely "read", but fully understood by the listening Parish Community.

Many of us readily recall “the sound of silence” that prevailed within Catholic churches as members of the congregation watched and listened during services, especially Masses. In silence, we were “spectators” in our Father’s house.  Recently that has changed. Now we are “at home” in our Father’s house—where we participate in celebrations as Readers, Cantors, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers, Ushers and greeters.  If perchance, we are invited to come closer to the table in any role—as Gift Bearers in this case, let us respond favorably and answer “yes,” grateful for the opportunity to participate.