Gloria Boyd - Director
Gena McSorley - Secretary 516-326-3403/3404

Our Parish Social Ministry is open at:
1 Aberdeen Rd. (corner of New Hyde Park Rd.)

Sunday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9 AM - 5 PM

 “When you do it for my brother and my sister, you do it for Me”

Mission
The empowerment of the parish as the people of God to fulfill the Church’s mission of love, justice, freedom and peace by communally responding in an organized way to societal and individual human needs.

Goals

• To respond to the Scriptures and the principles of Catholic social teaching
• To establish the fundamental direction, motivation and strengths for social ministry
• To unite in works of charity and justice
• To promote a sense of responsibility among parishioners to be informed and active in community affairs

Direct Services - Core workers and trained volunteers assist in providing services.

Basic Necessities - Economic assistance, food pantry, shopping helpers, home assistance and chore services, referral services, transportation and responding to emergencies.

Advocacy - Social Services Agencies, Volunteer Lawyer Initiative and networking with community agencies.

Groups/Gatherings - Peer support, childcare, friendly visitors, hospital visits, communion service and prayer groups.

• Bereavement Group - Support group for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one meets in the Spring and Fall once a week for eight weeks.
• Divorced/Separated Group meets upon request as a spiritually based group for those who have or are experiencing a separation or divorce.
• Eucharistic Ministers provide a weekly Sunday communion service at Denton Green Residence.
• Legion of Mary Prayer Group meets weekly.
• Our Lady Queen of Peace Prayer Groups meet weekly mornings or evenings.
• Rainbows For All God’s Children and Single Parents Group meets Sunday mornings for six weeks in the Spring and Fall.
  A support group curriculum for children who have suffered a significant loss in their lives, either by death, by divorce or any other painful transition. A support group led by a facilitator assisting the single parent coping with the challenges of being a single parent.
• Moms and Tots
  Group for mothers and children the ages of newborn through kindergarten, providing various activities such as arts and crafts, prayer, story time and more. Meets Monday mornings from September through June.

Social Action
Public Policy Education Network (PPEN) Committee, updating parishioners on pending legislative issues, assisting in letter or postcard writing campaigns to legislators, joining inter-faith and community collaboration on social issues and participating in events supporting Respect Life, Diocesan PPEN and Catholic Charities.

Combined Service/Action
Cooking for the soup kitchen, transporting food and clothing to neighboring parishes and agencies, and working to remove the causes that bring the poor to our food pantry.

Visiting Companions
Provides both spiritual and social services to the elderly, homebound and disabled

Emergency Services Information and Referral
The Parish Social Ministry Office provides information and referral to parishioners experiencing a socio-economic crisis.

Future
To develop a Ministry of Consolation consisting of parishioners ministering to parishioners.  The laity is called to a ministry that will be both a source of strength and encouragement to the grieving, and a fulfilling challenge to the one who ministers.
Anyone interested in joining any of these ministries or groups, may contact the Social Ministry Office for more information.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization of lay persons, founded in 1883 by Frederic Ozanam and his companions under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. Today the society includes almost 900,000 members spread among 46,000 confraternities in 130 countries of five continents.
The society’s purpose is to provide direct aid to those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce and even eliminate the cause of their suffering, themselves. Society members use their own resources, sharing not only possessions but also the valuable gift of their presence. The services of this organization are held in strict confidence.
The Notre Dame Conference of St. Vincent de Paul meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Additional information can be obtained by calling the rectory office.

Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you - Mother Teresa