Catholic Charities

CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Phone: (574) 234-3111
Website: www.diocesefwsb.org/charity

BACKGROUND: Catholic Charities celebrates the spirit of Jesus and fosters personal dignity by serving the needs of our neighbors and by providing social services to families.

MISSION:
Catholic Charities serves as a voluntary, church-related, community- serving agency. Assistance is provided to all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliation, race, creed, sex or national origin. Fees are discussed on an individual basis with each person/group seeking service.

PROGRAMS OFFERED:
*Refugee Resettlement: This program works with all aspects of the resettlement of refugees in Saint Joseph and surrounding counties; volunteers can assist as translators, tutoring in English (ESL), provide transportation services, and help refugees feel welcome in the community and learn how to access local services. Contact Charlene Tomlinson for more information and volunteer opportunities.

Salt & Light: An outreach ministry which strives to support the parish communities of this Disocese, linking them with the services of Catholic Charities, the Diocese, neighboring parishes, and, community organization. Salt & Light promotes justice through education, advocacy, direct service and community organizing. While most volunteer opportunities relate to the promotion of social justice, activities do vary, please contact Sean Wendlindler at 234-3111 or e-mail swendlinder@fw.diocesefwsb.org.

Circle of Mercy Day Nursery: Established in 1916, Circle of Mercy offers parents a state licensed child care facility serving children ages 2 - 6. The goals of the Center are to make a loving, positive difference in the lives of children and to provide affordable child care. Volunteer opportunities vary, please contact Teressa Ledbetter, Director at 287-0500 or e-mail tledbetter@fw.diocesefwsb.org.

SACRED HEART PARISH
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone: (574) 631-4139

VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
Parish Nurse Program: Volunteer opportunities for Saint Mary's Nursing students to gain clinical experience.

Friendly Visitors: This ministry involoves visiting the homebound. We have many people in our parish who cannot leave the confines of their homes. The Friendly Visitor connects them with the parish community. All that is needed for this program is a caring heart, the ability to listen, and 2-4 hours every six weeks for visits.

Respite Care: Volunteers provide companionship to the homebound loved one for a few hours each week so the family caregiver can be refreshed in spirit. The program requires that each volunteer attend a six-hour training session sponsored by the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW).

Grief Support Group: Offer assistance to those who are grieving in a support group atmosphere

Healing Prayer Ministry: (*2 parts) Volunteers are always needed to help plan these events.

*Prayer Phone Tree - Parishoners are on a phone tree and act on prayer intentions by passing the intention on to the next participant on the tree, and by praying on the intention.

*Healing Services - Annual Healing Mass at the Grotto, monthly anointing after the 11AM mass in the Crypt, Healing/Anointing Mass twice a year at the Senior Life Mass, Annual Grief Memorial Service in November and prayer intention basket in the crypt are all part of this ministry.

Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound and Sick: Two teams of Eucharistic Ministers take the Eucharist to the homeound of our parish on Sunday. Eucharistic Ministers are assigned usually once a month and communion rounds can take 2-4 hours, depending on the number of homebound needing visits.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
South Bend, IN
Phone:

BACKGROUND: St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization that provides basic assistance to the most destitute in the South Bend Community. They have been operating in South Bend for over twenty-five years. They provide a variety of basic kinds of assistance to families and single people who have no other place to go.

MISSION:
St. Vincent de Paul is an international organization to help sufferers.

PROGRAMS OFFERED:
*Assistance Program (234-6211)
*Soup Kitchen
*Budget Counseling (234-6211)

VOLUNTEERS:
Donations of clothing, food, and household items are always welcome for the thrift store that the society operates. Volunteers are also needed to work in the thrift store that the society operates. St. Vincent de Paul will come to campus to collect used items if arrangements are made. Anyone organizing a food or clothing drive can work through this grass roots organization.