More information on Outreach Ministry

Ministry Opportunities

  For more information contact:
          Laura Fortino
          955 Alton Rd
          East Lansing, MI 48823
          517-351-7215

The mission of bringing the Word of God to people everywhere has always been one of the most critical missions of the Church. The gospels tell the story that the journeys of Jesus had a single purpose of forgiving the sinner, healing the sick and comforting the lonely. He became the beacon of light for those living in darkness.  Following in His footsteps, we have been called to spread the Good News - to love and serve one another. At St. Thomas Aquinas, as part of our Outreach, we have been blessed and honored to bring the Lord’s healing and comfort, that beacon of light, through the bond of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist to those who cannot physically participate in the liturgical life of our parish community and who often experience a sense of isolation from our community and its regular forms of prayer and worship.

Weekly, faith-filled servants, share the precious moment by visiting:

1. Burcham Hills Retirement Center 
2. East Lansing Health Care
3. Whitehills Healthcare
4. The Marquette
5. Abbott Parkside
6. Timber Ridge
7. East Glen Apartments
8. Grange Acres
9. Grandma’s Pad
10. Grandma’s Pad Too
11. Haslett Manor
12. Home Sweet Home
13. Family Affair
14. Independence Village

We also visit:

1. Marsh Pointe
2. Alterra Wynwood
3. Birchwood Manor
4. Ingham County Medical Care Facility
5. Dobie Road Rehab Center

In addition, we visit the many homebound parishioners throughout the East Lansing, Okemos and Haslett area as well as the imprisoned and those that are hospitalized in our community bringing them spiritual and physical solace.

Another part of our ministry here at STA is the Sunday morning televised broadcast of the Outreach Mass. Our ministers are present with them by leading the singing and responses, and distributing Communion during the Mass. The bond of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist draws together those who are homebound or institutionalized with parish members and those in the worshiping assembly. We are One Bread, One Body.

Our Outreach stewards also stay in contact whenever necessary with the loved ones of those whom we visit.  While being effective instruments of our Lord’s grace through Christ-centered words and actions, our many, many ministers receive immeasurably from those they serve. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish has received and returned innumerable blessings through the prayers and friendships made. From their visits, our Outreach Ministers have experienced wonderful spiritual growth in their faith journeys through these loving relationships that have been developed. They have experienced the joy that comes from Christ-centered empowerment and the realization that God has used them to deposit an eternal measure of His love into many needy hearts.
 
If you would like more information about becoming a steward of our parish in this special ministry of if you are not able to physically participate in our liturgical life here at Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and would like to be visited, please call Laura Fortino at the parish office, 351-7215.