Outreach

MINISTER TO THE SICK

The Christian approach to pain, suffering and sickness is compassion, mercy, tenderness and caring. The Bible calls Jesus the Great Physician. He is the cure to the ailments in your life. When it comes to guilt, worry, depression, fear, bitterness, boredom, loneliness, etc., he is the great physician who heals physically, spiritually and emotionally.


Our Caring Ministers visit parishioners in efforts to help the bereaved, homebound, hospitalized and those in any particular need. They reach out to members of the St. Augustine/St. Joseph parish family, bringing the comforting presence of Jesus, prayers, listening skills, and sharing concern in their time of need. If you or someone you know would benefit from this ministry please contact the parish office at 419-628-2614 or kwuebker@roadrunner.com.


GRIEF SHARE

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences so you don’t go through the grieving process alone. It is a 13 week program that meets once a week. Each week your GriefShare group will watch a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. After viewing the video, you and the other group members will spend time as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week’s video seminar and what is going on in your lives. During the week you will have the opportunity to use your workbook for further personal study of the grieving process and to help sort out your emotions through journaling. Your group will spend time discussing questions and comments from the workbook study.


GriefShare is offered at St. Augustine Parish in September each year. Other Griefshare groups in the area are available year round. To register or find a group visit: https://www.griefshare.org/


STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Ministry, a non-judgmental, confidential, one-on-one Christian care ministry, has been active at Holy Redeemer Parish since March of 2019 and is now open to the NW8 Family of Parishes. Since 2019, our nine Stephen Ministers have given care to 16 parishioners, five men and eleven women. They have logged over 800 hours of compassionate care given to their individual care receivers.


Our Care Givers minister to members of our parish who are dealing with bereavement, are hospitalized or convalescing, homebound, a resident of a long-term care facility, chronically ill, disabled or terminally ill, or the caretaker for an ill or disabled patient. Other areas of ministry include parish members dealing with miscarriage, coping with infertility, or dealing with adoption issues.


Family changes can also require a caring lay person’s help. This could include those newly married, separated or divorced, remarried, a single parent, dealing with a child with exceptional challenges, or a new baby. When a parishioner’s job is terminated or relocated, or he or she is starting a new job or retiring, a Care Giver’s help may prove beneficial.


For more information, or if you would like to be connected with a Stephen Minister, please contact Linda Kuenning at 419-302-2223 or Ellen Topp at 419-733-4440.


FOOD DONATIONS

Donation bids for non-perishable foods are located at all entrances of church. You may bring in items at any time. St. Augustine & St. Joseph also does a food drive twice per year and donates to Agape Food Pantry, St. Marys and Calvary Baptist Food Bank, Minster.


If you are in need of food, please visit:


Agape Food Pantry
1220 E Spring St, St. Marys, 45885
Tuesdays: 9:00 am – 10;45 am & 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Thursdays: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm


Calvary Baptist Food Bank
71 N Hamilton St., Minster, 45865
Call: 
419-628-3717


SOUP KITCHEN

St. Augustine & St. Joseph send volunteers to assist at the Holy Angels Soup Kitchen located in Sidney, OH every Wednesday. If you would like to volunteer, please meet at 9:00 am in the parking lot of St. Augustine to car pool or call the Soup Kitchen director at 937-498-0598 to set up a date/time that works for you.


The Soup Kitchen is a non-profit, non-denominational, ecumenical outreach agency that serves meals every Monday – Wednesday – Friday, 11:00 – 12:30. If you are in need of a hot meal, the doors are always open to you at 330 E Court St, Sidney, OH 45365.


MISSION COMMISSION

The Mission Commission is a group of volunteers who desire to serve the community member’s need for food, clothing, special mission projects, elderly and those who find themselves in desolate situations. The Mission Commission’s goal is to help as many people as possible through fundraising efforts. If you are in need of assistance, please fill out the following application and return to the rectory office by fax at 419-628-1078 or email info@staugie.com. 


CHRISTMAS ANGEL PROGRAM

Through generous donations from the parish community, we provide Christmas gifts of clothing, toys, and Christmas dinner to families in dire need, to the foster children of Auglaize County, and to Sister Marge Eilerman of Kentucky. Each year, angels are placed on Christmas trees set up in the entrances of church for parishioners to fulfill. To be considered for the Angel Tree Program, please call the rectory office at 419-628-2614. All information will be kept confidential.


MILITARY PACKAGES

Do you know someone serving in the military who would enjoy a care package from home? Send an email to info@staugie.com or call 419-628-2614 with name, address where they can receive packages, and how long they will be serving at that address.


We supply our local soldiers who are serving in active military duty care packages filled with comfort items to let them know we are thinking and praying for them. If you would like to donate items for soldier care packages (letters, cards, travel toiletries, coffees, batteries, books, magazines, crosswords puzzles, non-perishables like Beef jerky, tuna, trail mixes, Girl Scout cookies, etc.), please drop off in the bins located at the entrances of church. Please mark the item “soldiers” so they are not mixed with items that go to the food pantry. St. Augustine will box them up and cover the cost to ship them.


ELDER CARE

In keeping with the mission of Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley, our Northern Counties Office is committed to caring for the elderly and disabled in the communities we serve.


The Senior Visitor Service: introduces a trained volunteer to a socially isolated senior who lives alone or is homebound. With oversight and support from a social worker, a Senior Visitor is assigned to a specific client and makes a personal weekly visit and/or regular friendly phone calls. Routine visits of about two hours provide time for the creation of a lasting friendship. Volunteers can assist with small tasks such as watering plants or writing letters, or simply spend time together listening to music, watching a movie or television show, or playing cards or games.


The Caregiver Relief Service: offers temporary in-home support to help spouses or family members who care for dependent elderly adults at home. A trained volunteer offers a regular three to four hour respite period, a break during which a caregiver can relax, visit friends, go shopping, or do other activities to relieve stress. The trained volunteer can provide companionship, supervision, meal preparation, and some personal care.


To begin the process of arranging for the in-home visiting service, please contact Catholic Social Services at (937) 498-4593 or (833) 289-0227.


UTILITY & RENT ASSISTANCE

Home Energy Assistance Program assists elderly and low-income families with seasonal utility bills to avoid shut-off. Winter crisis program runs November 1st – March 31st. Summer Crisis program runs July 1st – August 31st. To apply contact the Council on Community Affairs office in Auglaize County at 419-604-2291.


Rent Assistance Program provides housing assistance to individuals in need to prevent homelessness. To apply contact the Council of Community Affairs office in Auglaize County at 419-604-2291.


Other resources who will assist with those in need include:


Helping Hands Financial Aide (utilities, rent, food, clothing)
419-394-8700


Mercy Unlimited (utilities, food, clothing)
419-738-3161 
https://www.mercyunlimited.org/


Auglaize County Job & Family Services
419-739-6505 
https://www.auglaizecountydjfs.org/


PREGNANCY & PARENTING SUPPORT

Discovering that you’re pregnant can be one of the most joyful moments of a person’s life. But even the most enthusiastic new parents may be unprepared — emotionally, financially, and educationally — for the joy, challenges, and occasional heartbreak of parenthood. Here are a few options to help you through your journey:


Catholic Social Services is committed to providing a continuum of exceptional programs to support mothers and fathers throughout their experience. CSSMV’s programs can help young, first-time, or struggling parents successfully make the journey from pregnancy to a healthy birth to effective parenting. https://cssmv.org/programs-services/pregnancy-parenting-support/


Rustic Hope is a 501c3 non-profit organization that offers free support to single mothers before, during, and after delivery. We are Christ centered and family focused. Services may include temporary housing, transportation, food, clothing, baby supplies, daycare, adoption information, post abortive counseling, parenting classes, etc. More importantly, Rustic Hope provides unconditional love. We consider every woman and child we help an important part of our family.


Rustic Hope can also assist young women interested in making an adoption plan for their baby by providing life books of families willing to adopt, and offering support to both the birth mother and adopting families. All adoptions are handled as private adoptions. Rustic Hope is not a licensed adoption agency. We do not charge for any of our services. The adopting family is responsible for handling and paying for all legal fees and providing proof of a current home study.


Contact us at:


mcfamilyfarm@yahoo.com


937-526-4336


http://rustichope.org


The Family Life Center of Auglaize County is a pro-life ministry to women and men regarding pregnancy decisions. We provide factual information about parenting and adoption. 100% Free, Safe & Confidential services include: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and accurate information on pregnancy, fetal development, and abortion procedures and risks. Services for teens and adults, call for your free appointment 419-300-9756 or visit: http://www.flcac.com



VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

St. Augustine Parish has a multitude of opportunities for parish members to volunteer their time to others within the parish family. For specific information on any of these additional opportunities visit the Parish Life & Volunteer Opportunities.

Share by: