Saint Max Church

Outreach Ministries

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CHOSEN
Contact: Paul Groh, 513-324-2937, CHOSEN@saint-max.org

CHOSEN (Church Hospitality Network) is a ministry of Serve City, a 52 bed shelter for the homeless of Butler County. St. Max parishioners supply, prepare and serve food to the guests on the third Saturday of the month from 6:00-7:00PM. This is a great way to help live out the Gospel call to love your neighbor. Would you, your family, or your ministry group like to help us?


CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS
Contact: Dave Meyer, 513-236-6675 or Meredith Bolek, 513-464-3214 christmasbaskets@saint-max.org

Christmas Food Basket Ministry is a special, once a year outreach program in which all members of the parish may participate. St. Max parishioners select a specific family in need from lists provided by local agencies, purchase food ($30 per person to the receiving family), and then pack the food in cardboard boxes for delivery to this family during the holiday season. Workers are needed in December to load food boxes into trucks and deliver to local agencies.


FAMILY PROMISE
Contact: Marianne Lingardo, 513-240-0747, familypromise@saint-max.org

Family Promise is a national, non-profit organization that provides support services, meals, and shelter to homeless families in Butler County. Families are assisted based on program criteria without regard to race, color, age or faith. The program is a catalyst for families working to regain permanent housing. St. Max is a host church and will use space in the complex to provide a home setting for group dinners, recreation and social time, sleeping quarters, and three square meals for each family. St. Max will host families a week at a time, four times per year. Volunteer roles range from providing food and fellowship, sleeping in the complex as supervisors, washing bedding, and providing support items.


FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY (FPU)
Contact: Donald & Amie Lee, 513-316-3402, financialpeace@saint-max.org

Financial Peace University (FPU) is a life-changing and inspiring program that focuses on “becoming debt free/building wealth/giving like nobody else.” You will be challenged and motivated to make a plan with your money and future. FPU is a nine-week program designed by Dave Ramsey. The series incorporates biblical scriptures while discussing personal finance lessons. Over five million families, regardless of age or stage in life, have had their lives changed by FPU.


FUNERAL LUNCHEON
Contact: Mary Graf, 513-518-3348, Joy Hunter, 513-236-5966, Nancy Deibig, 757-812-5769,  FuneralLuncheon@saint-max.org

A luncheon is offered to parishioners after a funeral at St. Max. Volunteers host a peaceful and comfortable luncheon for family and friends. Luncheon coordinators and volunteers are needed to make desserts and assist with set up, serving or clean up the day of the funeral luncheon.


LUNCH FOR THE HOMELESS
Contact: Chuck Ciccia, 513-708-3545, lunchforthehomeless@saint-max.org

This ministry is a collaborative effort with several other parishes that make lunches and deliver them to the St. Theresa of Calcutta Kitchen at the St. Francis Seraph Center and the St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker Home in Over-the-Rhine.  We assemble 200 bag lunches in our St. Max Kitchen every Wednesday morning 9:30 - 11:00AM.


MEAL TRAIN MINISTRY
Contact: Stacy Volpenhein, 513-828-8526, mealtrainministry@saint-max.org

New to St. Max this year is the Meal Train Ministry! Do you enjoy cooking and baking and preparing meals for others? Do you want to support those parishioners going through challenging times with a home-cooked meal or carryout? Join our team! We are currently looking for people to help organize meal deliveries to families throughout the parish when needed. Meetings bi-monthly. If interested, or for more information, please contact Stacy Volpenhein. 


NURSING HOME BINGO
Contact: Glenn Algie, 859-240-2972, nursinghomebingo@saint-max.org

This family friendly activity provides fun and entertainment for the residents of Doverwood, a local nursing home. Come join us every first and third Saturday of the month. Minimal prep and clean up. Bingo is something that amuses our youth as well as our seniors so maybe your family would like to participate in this outreach ministry. Teen volunteers and families with children are always welcome!


NURSING HOME ROSARY
Contact: Dolores Thames, 513-779-9625, nursinghomerosary@saint-max.org

This is a weekly ministry wherein volunteers pray a rosary with meditations for the elderly at three area nursing homes. The purpose of this ministry is to intercede for the residents and to unite their prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus by providing prayer support and Christian friendship to those who are suffering, lonely and missing the opportunity for parish community and prayer. Currently, volunteers visit Birchwood, Doverwood, and Chesterwood. New volunteers of all ages are welcome!


OUTREACH ALLOCATION COMMITTEE (OAC)
Contact: Meredith Bolek, oac@saint-max.org

The OAC sets guidelines for the efficient and transparent distribution of monies that the parish tithes, in addition to the monies received in the Charitable Outreach envelopes. The OAC will review applications received from 501(c)3 organizations, vet them, and make recommendations to the Outreach Commission regarding distribution amounts. The committee will consist of parishioners from various ministries and the chair and vice-chair will be members of the Outreach Commission. This process will take place three times yearly.


PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK
Contact: Lakme Kodros, 513-777-4322, ex. 105, pastoralcare@saint-max.org

The Rites of the Catholic Church remind us to bring Christ’s presence to our sick; thus, the Eucharist being brought to our ill is a way to sacramentally unite the sick to our Lord as well as to the parish community from which their illness has separated them. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion visit our homebound, nursing homes, and West Chester Hospital. The only requirements are faith, empathy, and a one and a half hour training session. Time commitment varies; serve at least once every other month for a few hours; weekday and weekend hours are available. To do pastoral care visits to the hospital, there is an additional volunteer and safety training required at UC Health – West Chester which is set up after the St. Max training is complete.


PRAYER SHAWL
Contact: Lois Latzy, 513-777-0256, prayershawl@saint-max.org

This beautiful ministry was created to pray for those in need of our Lord's healing presence. Volunteers prayerfully knit or crochet shawls for those in need of prayer. This ministry meets monthly for ideas, prayer and fellowship. If you would like a prayer shawl for someone in need, please stop by the parish office.


RASKALS
Contact: Peg Hill, 513-907-1148, RASKALS@saint-max.org

RASKALS (Random Acts of Simple Kindness Affecting Local Seniors) is a volunteer effort to help local seniors. Twice a year, typically every spring and fall, volunteers help older adults by doing outdoor chores such as raking leaves, trimming shrubs, washing windows, and cleaning up yards.


RESPECT LIFE
Contact: Lakme Kodros, 513-777-4322x105, respectlife@saint-max.org

The Respect Life Committee is a ministry of prayer, education and action in defense of life. Our mission is to foster awareness in our parish and community of the dignity and sanctity of all human life from conception until natural death. We are dedicated to observing and promoting the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on all Pro Life and Ministry of Care Issues. 


SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL
Contact: Laurie Johansen, 513-638-1829, svdp@saint-max.org

Every day is a "day of the poor" for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the largest lay association of charity in the Roman Catholic Church.  Members of SVdP, called Vincentians, grow spiritually and develop Christian friendships by putting our faith into action when we visit those in need.  Through person to person visits, food, rent and utility assistance, disaster relief, medical care, advocacy and more, the SVdP helps anyone within our parish boundaries move out of poverty to self-sufficiency.

Our faith calls us to serve the poor and the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been answering that call since 1845.   Our conference of 12-14 members during this last year has served over 400 individuals, received 187 calls and made 97 home visits, while volunteering almost 1300 hours!   Membership in the conference offers opportunities for spiritual growth, friendship and service.


STEPHEN MINISTRY
Contact: Linda Sullivan, 513-515-3944, StephenMinistry@saint-max.org

Our clergy will always be on the front lines of any acute crisis; however, there are times when continued care is needed. Stephen Ministry extends this pastoral care and spiritual comfort. Our Stephen Ministry is a ministry of pastoral care that equips the laity to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing difficulties in their lives. After 50 hours of training, a Stephen Minister meets once a week for an hour with their assigned care receiver. This is a two-fold ministry: one that not only provides care to hurting parishioners and others in our community but also empowers the laity to utilize God-given gifts, grow in faith, and continue ongoing spiritual formation and personal conversion. It is a life-changing ministry for both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister. Are you being called to serve? Come experience Christ in a new and meaningful way!


SURVIVING DIVORCE
Contact: Nancy Prince, 412-216-3024, survivingdivorce@saint-max.org

Surviving Divorce is a twelve-week program created to bring hope and healing to those who have experienced the pain and loneliness of a broken marriage. It is for the newly separated and divorced and those still struggling with issues many years later. Developed by Rose Sweet, Surviving Divorce features experts Dr. Ray Guarendi, Ph.D., Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C., Fr. Steve Porter, S.T.L., Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., and Christopher West. It also includes personal testimonies of Catholic men and women who have experienced the breakdown of their families. They courageously share their stories with heart, humor, and wisdom. As they witness to their pain and the healing power of Christ in their lives, participants will laugh, cry, and identify with their journeys from heartache to healing.


SUSAN’S GARDEN – A COMMUNITY GARDEN
Contact: Dave Ellerbrock, communitygarden@saint-max.org or dmaellerbrock@gmail.com

The goal of this ministry is to build community by growing nutritional food for the common good of others. Anything grown in Susan’s Garden will be given to the Community Meal Center in Hamilton and Reach Out Lakota. The garden is also a catalyst to encourage the members of the parish to share extra vegetation from their personal gardens. The intention of this garden is to raise awareness of the nutritional needs of our neighbors to enhance the holistic approach of mind, body, and spirit. Volunteers are needed for: cultivating and preparing in the spring, assisting in planting and feeding in the spring & summer, weeding and helping with weekly maintenance throughout the summer, harvesting in late summer & fall, collecting food donations from others’ gardens in late summer & fall, and prepping the garden for next year’s growing season in the fall. We grow. We give. In return we receive!


TENDER MERCIES
Contact: Bridgette McGuire, tendermercies@saint-max.org

Tender Mercies helps homeless adults with histories of mental illness by providing resources and residency. In the St. Max outreach corner, a menu is always shared for an upcoming dinner; however, we do more than provide a meal. Volunteers are needed to help set-up and serve once a month, on the fourth Saturday, or volunteer to make food and drop off at St. Max by 3:45PM on our designated Saturday. Please consider if this is an outreach opportunity for you!


TRANSITIONAL LIVING
Contact: Peg Hill, 513-907-1148, impact@saint-max.org

This organization assists adults with mental disabilities to live independently. During recovery and this transitional period, these adults learn many skills to help them become self-sufficient. In the gathering space our wreath designates what items are needed for the apartment packages; however, volunteers are always welcome to help with this important ministry. Once a month the items the parishioners bring back (we usually have enough for three apartment packs) are packed and picked up by Transitional Living for those transitioning into apartments.


TWINNING
Contact: Dan Suer, twinning@saint-max.org

This ministry joins our parish with the parish of St. Patrick’s Madera, Soroti, Uganda in an active and on-going faith commitment through prayer, support and love.  The purpose of this ministry is to bind our parishes together spiritually, culturally and in a mutual sharing of available resources, all in Jesus’ name.  It involves each of us crossing over into the other cultural, economic, political, linguistic and religious environments.


WEST LIBERTY OUTREACH
Contact: Kyle & Lisa Schafer, 812-599-6627, westliberty@saint-max.org

WLO provides an opportunity to be part of a 3-day weekend mission trip, just three hours away! The work of WLO includes two Friday-Sunday mission trips each year where we work together to complete specific home improvement projects in rural eastern KY, focused on helping families selected by our Glenmary Sisters liaison. Examples of past projects: building wheelchair ramps and decks around trailers; re-siding a house; fixing up a tornado-damaged home. The weekend trips include Mass or a prayer service on Friday evening, a pot-luck supper, lots of laughter and so much more. Thanks to the generosity of St. Max Parish, WLO organizes clothing drives and a children’s Christmas present collection every year to support the Glenmary Outreach Center and the families they serve.

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