The Community Services Commission consists of a group of people who are entrusted with the task of coordinating the ministries related to human needs for our parishioners, our community, and others in need. Interested parishioners are invited to be part of this committee.
Bereavement Ministry
Those in the ministry to the bereaved prepare a meal for a family who has had an immediate family member die and bring it to them (the groceries are provided by the Church), lead the rosary at wakes or visit the family weeks after the funeral. A support group for the bereaved facilitated by a Board Certified Social Worker meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. This group is open to all and is free of charge.
Fellowship Center
The Fellowship Center is a second-hand thrift store whose proceeds go to assist the needy. Volunteers from area churches and organizations staff the center. St. Theresa parishioners work on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 9:00 a.m.– 12 noon and a second shift of workers from 12:00 Noon-2:30 pm. Additional help is needed on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the warehouse hanging up clothes.
Ministry to Elderly
St. Theresa has a Senior Citizens Luncheon each year. A coordinator is needed to ensure the continuation of these events. Volunteers help plan the meal, shop for needed supplies, set up the cafeteria, cook, deliver the meals to the homebound, serve those meals, plan entertainment and provide the clean up.
Ministry to the Hungry
Those in this ministry help keep our food pantry operating. Volunteers with a large truck or large SUV are needed to pick up food from the Baton Rouge Food Bank every other Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. Workers are needed during the week (except Friday) anytime to help keep the pantry in order. Adult workers are needed to sort donated canned goods from the Rotary Club October Food Drive in the evening. Volunteers are also needed to work at daytime Food Drives in November. There is a box in the back of the church by the Cry Room where food items can be brought to mass and donations can be placed to be shared with the poor.
Minister to Sick/Homebound
Those in ministry to the sick go to visit and bring communion to those who are ill at home or in the hospital. Each Eucharistic Minister has one homebound parishioner who is visited weekly, at a time that is best for the visitor and the homebound. Other Eucharistic Ministers are scheduled for a once a month commitment to visit the sick at St. Elizabeth and Ascension Hospitals.
Nursing Home Ministry
Volunteers and Eucharistic Ministers are needed to help set up for a weekly mass and recitation of the rosary on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. at Gonzales Healthcare, Mass begins at 9:30a.m. Eucharistic ministers are scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. mass on the 1st Wednesday of each month.
Disaster Relief
In years past, St. Theresa has participated in a Disaster Relief Educational Program sponsored by Catholic Community Services Office, Diocese of Baton Rouge. The program was designed to increase awareness and offer suggestions to the parishes about disaster preparedness. In the wake of Katrina and Rita, we need to re-form a Disaster Relief committee.
Advocacy
The work of this group is to help bring about social changes by writing or phoning legislators to support programs that deal with justice issues.
Community Services Assistance
This office meets the needy and helps with food, medicine, and utility assistance. Help is needed on Mondays and Wednesdays anytime between 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Volunteers also help distribute food baskets, perform data entry, design flyers for special events, and do clerical work. The Community Services Support Group meets every Thursday from 10:00 a.m.-11a.m. to help keep the order in our office, help in the pantry, and do whatever is needed to be done.
Hispanic
Helps recognize the needs of the Hispanic Community within our church.
Special Events to Hungry/Christmas
Each year STA families personally adopt over 100 families. An additional 150 families receive food baskets from our food pantry. We have an Angel Tree where needy children receive a gift from our parishioners. We need volunteers to help to continue this tradition.
Special Events to the Sick/Blood Drives
STA has 4 Blood Drives to help save lives. We need volunteers willing to set up for the drive and are willing to be the key person at the drive from 7:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on a Sunday. We welcome volunteers to work during the drives and greet our donors. We invite all healthy individuals between 17-80 years old to consider being a donor at our next drive.
Special Events for Pastoral Care/Prayer Services
We come together to do the works of God, but time is needed to reflect on what we are doing and take care of ourselves, so we don’t experience burnout. Volunteers are needed to plan times for reflection for our volunteers, our seniors, and for victims of disasters.
