Cancer Dialogue
This ministry has the sponsorship of the American Cancer Society. Cancer Dialogue provides a forum for patients, survivors and family to dialogue together so as to understand the disease and learn how to live with it. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Activity Center of Saint Michael Church. Occasionally, arrangements are made for guest speakers on cancer related topics from a treatment and prevention perspective.
Ray Champney, 817-283-2419 raymond@rjcenter.com; Michele Grodi, 817-354-5581
Christian Connection volunteers work together to provide emergency assistance to those in financial need in our community. Volunteers interview and qualify individuals and families who have come for an appointment, then make recommendations for distribution of financial assistance and/or referrals to other agencies. There are volunteer opportunities to offer financial counseling and to do clerical work. There is a training program for the volunteers. For more information, click here.
Elizabeth Chanoine, 817-510-2734 or echanoine@smcchurch.org
Food Service Ministries
St. Michael, along with other churches and organizations, assists Arlington Life Shelter by providing sack lunches or serving dinners. Arlington Life Shelter “is a place to begin removing the roadblocks and rebuilding the confidence and skills required to return to self-sufficiency.” St. Michael’s assists the shelter in reaching this goal by providing food for all residents at specific times. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, keep in mind that all food items to prepare (sack lunches and dinners) will be donated by the ministry, families, or individual participants. St. Michael will provide space to prepare the sack lunches.
Martin Peña, 817-510-2730 or mpena@smcchurch.org
N.E.E.D.
St. Michael’s N.E.E.D. Ministry is an outreach ministry. This ministry is coordinated by parishioners who, once a week, deliver the collected items donated by parishioners to the NEED headquarters. On the fourth Sunday of every month St. Michael’s parishioners are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items, clothes, and financial support. NEED is a co-op of over 54 churches from 10 different denominations in the HEB area.
Catherine Wille, 817-354-8681
Respect Life
The Respect Life Committee promotes the dignity and respect of the human person from conception to natural death. Pope John Paul II has reminded us: “Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good (The Gospel of Life, no. 87)”. The parish Respect Life committee assists in a special way by helping to make the parish a center of life. This ministry meets on the second Wednesday of every month.
Martin Peña, 817-510-2730 or mpena@smcchurch.org
Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee is the channel of social transformation in our community. This transformation occurs when the community embraces the Social Teachings of the Church and promotes its realization in all aspects of life. This committee creates awareness in the community about the social issues that affect everyone and encourages parishioners to become advocates for justice, to defend human dignity and human rights.
Martin Peña, 817-510-2730 or mpena@smcchurch.org
Homebound Care
Homebound Care Ministers provide comfort and services to those who are homebound by bringing the thoughts and prayers of the community to them, as well as bringing them the Holy Eucharist.
Martin Peña, 817-510-2730 or mpena@smcchurch.org; Peggy Nanz, 817-571-3114 or nanz0@attg.net
Hospital Ministry
Hospital ministers provide comfort and service to hospital patients in the forms of presence, prayer, and the Holy Eucharist. Our ministry meets monthly to study Scripture and discuss how it relates to our ministry as well as share our experiences to better serve those we visit. There is both formal training and visits with trained ministers to HEB Hospital. Visits can take several hours and you may be asked to commit several times a month to a visit or to just be an alternate minister. Training in the sharing of the Eucharist is required if not already trained (training available). We have also taken on projects such as providing sack lunches for the women’s shelter in Arlington.
Bill Schmidt, 817-571-9018 wrschmi@attg.net
Senior Transportation Ministry
Ministers provide transportation to Sunday Mass for seniors of the parish. The ministry will depend on volunteers’ time and use of personal vehicles to transport seniors who are physically independent and capable.
Lauren and Binh Bui, 817- 358-1853 lauren_bui08@yahoo.com
Nursing Home Ministry
Nursing Home Ministers provide comfort and service to area Catholics who live in nursing homes or retirement centers. Residents are visited regularly to help keep them connected to their Catholicism. Sacramental needs are met with sharing of the Eucharist, and arranging for reconciliation and/or anointing of the sick. Compassionate and consistent caregivers represent our parish in a faith-filled manner to our sick and/or senior brothers and sisters. Requirements: Ministry service of one hour a week; Diocesan mandated 4 hour safety workshop; yearly parish training session; monthly ministry meeting; must be an Extraordinary Minister of Communion (training available); training which includes field training with an experienced minister; One year commitment.
Barbara Higdon, 817-267-5815 fahj1209@yahoo.com
Telephone-Email Prayer
Telephone-Email Prayer Ministers pray for the sick and deceased members of St. Michael Catholic Church, as well as any other prayer requests, by passing the prayer list from one person to another via the telephone or email.
Maxine Owens, 817-282-8281 or 817-875-1123 bcmaxine@yahoo.com