Service & Activities

Called to Serve…..

As baptized Christians and believers we are all called by God to service….This “calling” is part of us, who we are as followers of Jesus. This “calling” is an obligation to living out the Faith in every day actions….

So as we all grow moment by moment as living members of the Body of Christ, we must look at how we offer our gifts and talents for the honor and glory of God….we begin to understand a little more the phrase… “Living out our Faith.” So as we look to the future we think about how we are compelled to offer compassion, empathy, helpfulness, and support, just at our parish patron saint, Louise de Marillac did all those years ago…

Here are some questions for personal reflection and discernment:

• How do I put my Faith into action?

• What is my Baptismal call?

• How often do I go out of my way to help others?

• Do I notice when people need help?

• Do I look for places to be of service?

• Am I honestly using the gifts God has given me for his honor and glory and the benefit of others?

We encourage active service because it is THE WAY to follow the example of Jesus. It’s NOT meant as an opportunity for gaining “hours” or “points,” but is an integral part of who we are as DISCIPLES and people of Faith. All are invited to serve in our PARISH Community, LOCAL Community and WORLD Community. Performing service is a means to examine and live out our giftedness. The Gospel is very clear….we are called to feed the hungry, comfort those in need, and LIVE service to others. This is a wonderful way to reach beyond ourselves to support other people and respond to the challenge of truly loving our neighbor as Christ loves us!

Confirmation Service Hours Form

Works of Mercy

Corporal Works of Mercy

are acts of love that help us to care for the physical and material needs of others:

• Feed the Hungry

• Give drink to the Thirsty

• Clothe the Naked

• Visit the Imprisoned

• Shelter the Homeless

• Visit the Sick

• Bury the Dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

are acts of love that help us to care for the needs of people’s hearts, minds, and souls:

• Admonish the Sinner

• Instruct the Ignorant

• Counsel the Doubtful

• Comfort the sorrowful

• Bear wrongs Patiently

• Forgive all Injuries

• Pray for the Living and the Dead

Service to the Parish Grouping of St. Joan of Arc and St. Louise de Marillac

Altar Servers – Assists the celebrants at masses.
Lectors – Assists in the readings and petitions.
Contact:
Deacon Rick
412-833-1010
rcessar@sclpgh.org

Catechetical Aide – Assist Religious Education Catechists in the classroom setting and/or the Religious Education Office.
Contact:
Religious Ed Center
412-835-1155
stlreligioused@stlouisedemarillac.org

Child Care – Assist in providing babysitting duties for parents attending meetings or helping with classes.
Contact:
Religious Ed Center
412-835-1155
stlreligioused@stlouisedemarillac.org

Children’s Choir – Celebrate the liturgy with song as part of the choir.
Contact: Gregory Fincham
gfincham@stlouisedemarillac.org

De Marillac Women’s Guild – Help with the annual Craft Fair around Christmas and the July Flea Market.
Contact:
Mary Frances Glausser
724-941-5128

Fish Fry – Assists with set-up, clean-up, serving, taking orders etc. with the Family Fish Fry during Lent.
Contact:
Ed Makowski
makowski45@msn.com

Greeters – Greet parishioners and visitors to St Louise at various masses. Pass out worship aids/programs.
Contact:
Religious Ed Center
412-835-1155
stlreligioused@stlouisedemarillac.org

Junior Ladies of Charity
Contact:
Jeanie Rowles
724-941-6329
ljr329@verizon.net
or
Mary Diederich
412-260-4833
mtdiederich@yahoo.com

Prayer Shawls – This ministry crochets and knits shawls and offers prayers to the recipients of the shawls.
Contact:
Rose Russell
412-833-7192

Service to the Local Community

St Louise de Marillac Parish Service
320 McMurray Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15241-1616
412-833-1010
www.stlouisedemarillac.org
Email: stl@stlouisedemarillac.org

Family Promise of Southwestern PA – Family Promise connects homeless families with a network of local congregations and dedicated staff, all focused on helping these families return to sustainable, independent living in the community.  Family Promise volunteers serve the host churches by providing meals, overnight supervision, and hospitality in the form of crafts, games, movies, and fellowship.  Family Promise is particularly well -suited for parents and children to volunteer together.

St. Anne in Castle Shannon and St. Benedict the Abbot in McMurray are proud members of the Family Promise network.  These parishes need volunteers for all aspects of this vital ministry during the weeks that they host families.

Questions about Family Promise, contact:
Carla Wilding at 412-835-4270 or
carla.wilding@gmail.com
Family Promise direct contact:
724-229-1129
www.familypromiseswpa.org
297 E. Beau St.
Washington, PA 15301

Mooncrest Community– Operated by the Felician Sisters of Coraopolis, Mooncrest Community Center provides after-school tutoring and mentoring programs for children in grades kindergarten through sixth, as well as social activities and educational programs for the adults in the community.

The needs at Mooncrest are extensive and varied. The program coordinators always appreciate school supplies, cleaning supplies, paper products, and hygiene products, as well as “prizes” (small new toys or games) that the Mooncrest children can earn through good behavior.

You may contact Nancy Lowry, the Mooncrest Program Director, at 412-299-5651 or nlawry@feliciansisters.org  to inquire about their current needs.  Please contact Nancy by phone in the morning or by email in the afternoon.

Service hours may be earned for time spent collecting or shopping for these items (perhaps with money “earned” by performing Christian deeds in your home, school, or neighborhood). The time spent delivering these items to Mooncrest is also considered an act of service. These service hours could ideally be performed together as a family.

Questions about Mooncrest, contact:
Carla Wilding at 412-835-4270 or
carla.wilding@gmail.com

South Hills Interfaith Movement – Help with food pantry by unloading, sorting, and stacking food items.
Contact:
Becca Cornell
412-854-9120 X106
5301 Park Ave.
Bethel Park, PA 15102

St. Winifred Food Pantry – Help with food pantry by unloading, sorting, and stacking food items.
Contact:
Maryanne Stock
412-343-1915
550 Sleepy Hollow Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Miracle League of South Hills – Must pre-register. Ages 12 and up.   2 hour minimum. Become a buddy for a special needs player. Game day assistants, announcers, concession help, registration help, etc. needed.
Contact:
412-660-4454
www.miracleleaguesouthhills.org
1551 Mayview Rd.
Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Bethel Park Library – Assist with summer reading activities, children’s department, re-shelving books and general library activities. They will work with your interests.
Contact:
Jackie Williams
412-835-2207X266
www.bethelparklibrary.org
5100 W. Library Ave.
Bethel Park, PA 15102

Mt. Lebanon Library – Assist with special programs and events. Application on website.
Contact:
Ginnie Fickman
412-531-1912×226
www.mtlebanonlibrary.org
16 Castle Shannon Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Peters Township Library – Assist with summer reading program and special events. Accepts volunteers ages 12 and up. Application is on website.
Contact:
Myra Oleynik
724-941-9430
www.ptlibrary.org
616 E. McMurray Rd.
McMurray, PA 15317

Upper St. Clair Library – Assist with summer reading program and children’s event. Application is on website.
Contact:
Colleen Miles
412-835-5540×294
milesc@einetwork.net
www.twpusc.org/library/teens
1820 McLaughlin Run Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15241

St. Clair Hospital – Help at the Welcome Center/Information desk, mail courier, patient escorts. Etc. Must be ages 14 and up
Contact:
Volunteer Services
412-942-2085
1000 Bower Hill Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15243

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store – Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Duties can include cleaning shelves, taking donations, helping bag items at the register, etc.
Contact:
Laurie Heisler
412-882-8519
3423 Library Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank – Volunteer at the center reloading shelves, bagging items, etc. Help with over 40 special events throughout the area. Organize a food drive.
Contact:
Beci and Michael
412-460-3663 X301
VolOps@pittsburghfoodbank.org
1 North Linden St.
Duquesne, PA 15110

Service to the World Community

American Red Cross – Help with special events. Hold a fundraiser for international humanitarian relief. Ages 13-17 application on website.
Contact:
Anna Drenning
anna.drenning@redcross.org
www.redcross.org/pa/pittsburg/volunteer

Catholic Relief Services – Help with raising funds for international humanitarian and emergency relief.
Contact:
888-277-7575
www.crs.org
228 W. Lexington St.
Baltimore, MD 21201-3443

Chimbote Foundation Inc. – Inform others of the “bridge of love and hope” between the Pittsburgh dioceses and the people of Chimbote, Peru by hold awareness classes or producing flyers for fundraising purposes.
Contact:
http://diopitt.org/office-stewardship/chimbote-foundation
Religious Education Center
412-835-1155

Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Fundraise for international humanitarian and emergency relief.
Contact:
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
National Council of the U.S.
58 Progress Parkway
Maryland Heights, MO 63043-3706