ADOPT-A-FAMILY/GIVING TREE This annual project gives us the opportunity to share our blessings with others in our Parish Family and surrounding community who are materially less fortunate. We begin this project in late November and continue through the Advent season preparing bags of Christmas gifts for several families. You can either adopt a family yourself or choose an ornament from our "Giving Tree" indication a particular gift needed by an individual in one of the families we are assisting. The "Giving Tree" is filled with paper ornaments requesting clothing, toys, blankets, and special needs for each family member. Our goal is to completely outfit each child in new clothes and shoes and provide at least one toy per child. For the adults we provide a new shirt, new slacks, and a special gift item. Envelopes for tuition assistance are also on the "Giving Tree" for those who would like to help some of the students attending our school who are unable to make tuition payments. This is a beautiful way to experience the meaning of Christmas.
LENTEN FISH FRY On most of the Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday, we have a FISH FRY. We don't have a fish fry on the first Friday of the month because our local Knights of Columbus #1230 has traditionally held their fish fry on that Friday. Parents of Our Lady School students, along with volunteer parishioners, coordinate the fish fry. This event was originally begun to help finance the school bus program which is no longer in service. Profits from the fish fry are used for unexpected or extraordinary expenses of the school and occasionally an extraordinary parish expense.
LITURGY COMMITTEE The Liturgy Committee is a subcommittee of the Parish Council. Members of this committee are divided into two specific task areas: 1.) Art and Environment (those who decorate the inside and outside of our worship space for the various Liturgical Seasons), and 2.) Liturgy Planning (those who plan the various Liturgical Celebrations and music). Members of this committee usually meet on a monthly basis. If you are interested in serving on the Liturgy Committee, you are encouraged to contact the Liturgy Coordinator.
PARISH COUNCIL The Parish Council consists of six lay members elected from our Parish Family, appointed representatives from various organizations, and ex-officio members (the pastor, pastoral associate, coordinator of religious education, and the school principal). Annual elections are held in February. You must be a registered member of the parish and at least eighteen years old to vote or run for parish council. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month in the rectory meeting room at 7:00 PM. Anyone may attend the meeting or present a topic for discussion to the pastor or any member of the council. If you have questions, or if you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to run for a seat on the council, you are encouraged to call the rectory or the President of the Council.
PARISH PICNIC A major fund raiser for our parish is our annual Parish Picnic. It is traditionally held on the first Sunday in June. On the picnic grounds, you'll find games of all kinds, music (even a chance to share your vocal talent-or lack there of), great barbecued sandwiches, drinks, and other snack foods. In the school cafeteria, you can treat yourself to a delicious fried chicken & kettle beef dinner complete with such treasures as liver dumplings and homemade desserts. There is a main raffle and other smaller raffles at the picnic.
PARISH BREAKFAST Once a month (September through May) we have a Parish Breakfast on Sunday morning after the 7:30 & 9:00 AM Masses. Various groups in the parish (Parish Council, School Board, Confirmation Class & Parents, PSR Families, Home & School, Knights of Columbus #14402, CYE Athletic Association, Young At Heart) take a turn preparing and serving the breakfast. There is no particular fee for the breakfast but donations are accepted. So far, the donations collected have covered the cost of the breakfast. This is not a fund raiser but an opportunity to gather, socialize, and share some really good food. Some parishioners who go to the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass return on Sunday for a leisurely breakfast, and some who attend the 11:00 AM Mass come around 9:30 AM for breakfast and are still able to observe the one hour fast before Holy Communion.
RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE All human beings ought to value every person for his or her uniqueness as a creature of God, who is called to be a brother or sister of Christ by reason of the Incarnation and the Redemption. For us, the sacredness of human life is based on these premises. The Pro-Life Committee's purpose is to promote the "sacredness of human life" in a society where respect for life is on a decline. The committee meets four times a year. Everyone is encouraged to participate in promoting life. We do this at Our Lady's through education, pastoral efforts, and public policy efforts.
QUILTS Parishioners come together weekly, on Wednesdays between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM and again in the evening between 6:00 and 9:00 PM to quilt in the rectory meeting room. Beginners and experienced quilters are always welcome. Beginners will be taught the art of quilting. Yearly they donate a quilt for each of the following:
They are also paid by individuals who commission them to make quilts for their personal use. All of their profits are given to our Parish Family for specific needs this is a wonderful way to share your time and talent, meet other parishioners, and benefit the Parish Family. If interested, you are encouraged to call the coordinator of this group.
WELCOMING COMMITTEE When
a new person or family registers in the parish, a letter of welcoming is mailed
to their home. In the letter, it states that someone from our Welcoming Committee
will be calling them with an an invitation to one of our monthly Welcome Masses
(usually the third Sunday of the month, at the 9:00 AM Mass, during the school
year).
At the Welcome Mass, the new families are called forward just before the final
blessing. Our pastor and several volunteers greet the new members and give them
a small gift. After the greeting, the whole congregation raises their hand in
blessing over the new members and everyone sings a song of blessing. The new
members process out of church with Father and the servers after the dismissal.
YOUNG AT HEART The Young At Heart is a parish social group for those 50 years and older. The dues are $5.00 per year. They meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the rectory meeting room at 6:00 PM usually beginning with a Pot Luck supper.
During the year, the Young At Heart invites guest speakers to talk to the group on topics of interest. Members take one day bus trips to places of interest and also some three to five day trips to places further away. They have an annual barbecue in the Fall of the year and a Christmas party during the holiday season.
The Young At Heart holds occaisional fund raising events with most proceeds going where needed in the parish. In addition, members sponsor a booth at our annual parish picnic.
ST. VINCENT DePAUL SOCIETY The Our Lady's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul was organized several years ago. The conference is made up of volunteers who serve as "mediators", receiving funds from donors and distributing the funds with responsible care to those in need within our parish boundaries.
Calls for help are made to the rectory staff who refer them to our St. Vincent DePaul Society volunteers. In pairs, the members of the Society visit the home of each caller to properly assess their needs. Our volunteers have become skilled in securing aid from other agencies as well. There is also cooperation between most of the St. Vincent DePaul Conferences in our deanery.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Each year, on the Saturday closest to the feast, we invite folks to bring their animals for a special blessing. The date and time will be announced in the parish bulletin prior to the day of blessing.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETING On Wednesday evenings, between 7:30 & 8:30 PM, there is an "AA" Meeting held here at Our Lady here at Our Lady in the lower level of the church building.. Though this is not a parish organization, we want to let our parishioners who may benefit from the meeting know of its availability.