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.  

 

 

Oasis Social Ministry would appreciate donations of any of these following back to school supplies: pencils, erasers, rulers, colored pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, spiral notebooks, paper folders, wide ruled paper, composition books, dictionaries, individual Kleenex packets, and hand cleansers. Thank you for your continued support. Over 600 children received school supplies last year! --current as of 2-14-10

2009 Oasis Thanksgiving Thank You!
This Thanksgiving season will take place during tough economic times.  Many more people will need St Paul’s assistance provided through Oasis. A desperate call went out, Oasis, nearing the Thanksgiving season, reported that many shelves were empty and supplies were dwindling. St Paul’s response was overwhelming! The Thanksgiving food drive collected over 2630 items. When we delivered it to Oasis, we filled empty shelves and provided hope and comfort for those in need this holiday season. We collected over $890.00 for Oasis to purchase turkeys and hams.
We would like to thank the following for helping us collect and deliver the multitude of donations to Oasis. Sam Kush and David Harpen from Peninsula Catholic High, Emily Stewart; Portsmouth Catholic Regional School, Tucker Lavell; Norfolk Collegiate, and Jim Browning; sponsor of the Key Club at Churchland High School. Additional thanks to the students of Portsmouth Catholic who helped us distribute the donation bags several weeks ago.
A special Thank you goes to the Portsmouth Fraternal Order of Police who provided 100 turkeys to assist our drive. These generous gifts will provide well over 100 Thanksgiving baskets for families.
The parishioners of St. Paul’s stepped forward and proved that our Catholic mission to help the needy and comfort others is as strong as ever. In a time of uncertainty and stress, St. Paul’s proved the human spirit and the principles of our faith are paramount, and fully embraced our spirit of love through the
power of giving to others.
God Bless you and your family.
Peggy Crabtree
Michael and Marie Reynolds

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

Thank you for the many, many school supplies that were donated to OASIS Social Ministry during the month of August. The response was overwhelming! If you wish to continue to donate school supplies, you
may take them directly to OASIS Social Ministry, 1020 High Street, Portsmouth or call 397-6060.             -- posted 9-13-09

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 14 February 2010)

Haiti Ministry

We sent extra funds to Pere Pol this month to help with the flood of refugees from Port-au- Prince coming to Roy-Sec. The Roy-Sec community are doing their best to feed these extra displaced family members. With the added loss of the children's school feeding program resources are strained. Pere Pol used the extra funds we sent to feed the St Peter's children. We need your help to continue to provide for our children. Here is an recent email from Pere Pol: "I am pleased to send to all the parishioners, my
thanks for your support. With it I gave food to the children. As I informed you, that the organization (that was feeding the children) does not continue with the food program. To keep the Children united , I judge this support is very important. Since your promise to send us support, we continue to feed them. They enjoyed it. ~ Father Pol"
Sponsor a child and help us help Haiti one child at a time. For more information contact: Huguette 558-1676, Naida 567-4729 or Helmi 485-1933. If you would like to join our Haiti committee join us every second Tuesday at 6:00PM at Holy Angels. (3-7-10)

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

This Lent, the Respect Life Ministries of the Tidewater Catholic Churches are working together with 50 churches of other denominations to hold a 40 day prayer and fasting vigil at the new 13,000 sq.ft. Planned Parenthood abortion facility under construction at 515 Newtown Rd. in Va Beach. This 40 Days for
Life is part of a national campaign taking place in 163 cities around the U.S., Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland.  (www.40daysforlife.com Click Locations; Scroll down; Click Virginia Beach ) The daily vigil began on Ash Wednesday and continues through March 28th. Participants will be praying at the
site everyday from 7:00am to 7:00pm. This is a nonconfrontational, peaceful witness in support of the unborn, and individuals, families, teens and all ministries are encouraged to be involved. The Portsmouth Cluster has Mondays during Lent, 3:00 - 6:00 P.M. However, groups (of 6 or more people)
are welcome to choose one hour on any one day of the week, and commit to praying at the facility at that time for the 6 weeks. At the site, one can pray the rosary, sing a hymn, hold a sign, or just pray quietly.
Please join us. Together we can make a difference in changing our country from a culture of death into a culture of life - one prayer at a time. Please contact Jim Kerr, jameskerr@cox.net, or 966-7950 if you require additional information. Please pray for the unborn. -- posted 2-28-10

Health care for the most vulnerable in our community:
The proposed national heath care legislation has a noble goal of providing for all of God’s children, but unfortunately there are some areas that will have the opposite outcome, further endangering those without a voice:
On July 17, Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent a letter to Congress saying: “The USCCB looks forward to working with you to reform health care successfully in a manner that offers accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.” Abortion must not be included as part of a national health care benefit. “No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.”
For more information see the Action Alert on the USCCB website.  http://www.usccb.org/prolife/index.shtml
(Sponsored by the “Respect Life Committee”)

Respect Life Thought for the Week: [Abortion is] a defining issue not only personally but socially. Poverty
can be addressed incrementally, but the death of a child is quite final. ~ Cardinal Francis George 

The Respect Life Committee would like to thank our wonderful parishioners for the great response to the Crisis Pregnancy Center collection. You have shown God's love to new mothers and their babies facing challenges. --posted 5-24-09

Critical Respect Life Alert: Virginia's legislature is debating three bills to boost state biotechnology investment. While saying they are not interested in using the legislation to pursue life-destructive research, biotech organizations have repeatedly resisted including bioethical safeguards. It is critical that provisions be included in all three bills to make sure they do not become vehicles for state sponsorship of embryo-destructive research or research on aborted babies.  The Virginia Catholic Conference, which is the legislative advocacy office of Arlington Bishop Paul Loverde and Richmond Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, has prepared an alert to provide parishioners throughout the Commonwealth a very easy way to play a role in this critical debate. To let your state Delegate and Senator know of your strong support for bioethical protections to uphold the sanctity of life, please visit the Conference's website, http://www.vacatholic.org.  At the top of the site is a link to an alert that includes a pre-written message that could be sent "as is" or edited to suit your own style. Upon clicking "Send Message," your message would be automatically routed to your own Delegate and Senator in the Virginia General Assembly (through a system that uses your residential address to determine your House and Senate districts).  Taking action takes just a minute or two and provides very important input to those who represent you. Please act on the alert between now and February 28 and encourage many others to do so as well.

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

Our four parishes have embraced the Migrant Ministry and the generosity of our cluster was overwhelming. This summer, we took more donations than ever to the Eastern Shore. The migrant workers were just beginning to arrive and preparations for the thousands of farm workers were in full swing. Work camps were opening and Port-A-Johns were being placed in the endless tomato fields.

We were met at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Onley, VA by Father Rod, Pastor of St. Peter’s, Jim Albright, the Head of the Migrant Ministry for the Diocese, and Kathy Bredimus, a volunteer who sends us updates and pictures on the Migrant Ministry. They are always excited to see us because of the quality
of donations from our parishes and the fact everything has been sorted and ready for distribution. Our cluster donations are the first to go out, and by now, many have been distributed. 

We collected and delivered $1285.00 in Food Lion Gift cards. This is more than we ever expected! The migrant ministry volunteers organize the shopping trips when the workers arrive.  This provides a great service to these nomadic workers as they seek dignity while providing for their families through work.
Most of these migrant workers are devout Catholics, who attend mass in the work camps in the evening. They come in from the fields covered in dirt and within an hour they have cleaned up, put on their white shirts and bring their guitars to participate in mass.

I would like to Thank the following people for their participation with our cluster migrant ministry; Tracy Dussia and her son, Daniel of Resurrection; Peggy Crabtree and Martha Thomson of St. Paul’s; Dora Fitzgerald, Lisa Tenney and Ada Howard of Holy Angels; and June Kracker and The St. Anne’s Society of St. Mary’s.

In closing, I want to congratulate the parishioners of St. Paul’s, Resurrection, Holy Angels, and St. Mary’s for their generosity and their commitment to the dignity of man. Twenty thousand workers toil in the fields on the Eastern Shore during the summer and your contributions to the ministry represent our
Catholic values and willingness to help in improving the quality of life for these workers.

Sincerely,
Michael Reynolds

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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:

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.