Anointing Mass
Purpose: It is interesting to understand that it was during the Middle Ages that the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick ~ known then as “Extreme Unction” ~ came to be reserved exclusively for those who were dying.
Today, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, administered by a priest, is also offered to anyone seriously ill or facing surgery. The Second Vatican Council urged that this Sacrament be renewed to include prayer for healing as well as for the remission of sin.
Procedures: When an Anointing Mass is authorized, it will be scheduled on a designated date and time, other than the regular Mass schedule. Parishioners are notified in advance in the Parish Bulletin. Ambulatory homebound parishioners, with transportation, are notified and invited to attend. Volunteer medical professionals, easily identified, are available throughout the church to assist anyone who may experience a medical problem during the Mass.
Time commitment: Up to 2 hours for the volunteers.
Apple Tree Project
Purpose: Our goal is to provide all students with the basic, necessary education tools and supplies, enabling them to accomplish classroom activities and complete homework assignments, through an organized parish project. A drive is scheduled for 3 weeks each August, to collect classroom supplies that will be distributed to schools with an enrollment of predominately low income families.
Procedures: Each year, our pastor and parish school principal select 4 recipient schools. Additionally, supplies are given to the Diocesan Community Services satellite office in West Warwick for distribution to low income families with school-age children. The Parish Bulletin and church flyers provide complete project information and dates. Suggestions for needed classroom supplies are provided by the recipient schools and used to create computer generated labels which are attached to green and red paper “apples”. Apple baskets are located on the tables by the doors of church. Parishioners may take as many “apples” as they wish, buy the supplies indicated and place them in marked donation bins in the church and in the rectory foyer. The donations are collected by volunteers, carried from the church, loaded into vehicles and moved to a location where they are sorted and grouped for distribution to the recipient schools.
When there are not enough volunteers from previous years, new helping hands are solicited through the Parish Bulletin.
Time commitment:
There are several components requiring volunteers; the estimated times involved, are:
- Cutting out “apples” and taping supply labels (approx. 1 hour for a group)
- Keep church baskets filled with “apples” (10 min. before/after Mass)
- Collect donations/transport to location (30 min. after 11:30 Mass)
- Sort donations (Up to 2 hours, one evening)
- Deliver donations to recipient school (1 to 2 hours)
Blood Drives
Purpose: To support the Rhode Island Blood Center.
Procedures: Coordinate dates with the RI Blood Center, three (3) times each year; confirm dates and reserve Parish Center space with the parish secretary. Advertise the Blood Drives. Open and close/secure the facility.
Time Commitment: Presence is required three (3) times a year to open the facility at 7 a.m. and close/secure the premises when the Drive ends at 3 p.m. (Minimal, 15 minutes a.m. and 15 minutes p.m.)
Christmas Card Project
Purpose: Send a Christmas greeting card, from our parish community, to residents in Coventry Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Woodpecker Hill nursing homes. SS John & Paul parish is assigned responsibility, by the diocese, to provide for the spiritual needs of Catholic residents in these nursing homes. Our goal is to give each person, of any faith, the feeling of belonging to a community that cares.
Procedures: Create Christmas “ornaments”, by tracing and cutting out hundreds on colored construction paper. From lists provided by the nursing homes, resident name/address labels are printed; these labels are then attached to the “ornaments” which are taped to the Christmas “trees” placed by church doors. Parishioners are invited to take as many “ornaments” as they wish and send a Christmas card to the person on the label. The Parish Bulletin provides timely information regarding the dates of this project.
Time commitment: Several hours weekly for several weeks; if volunteers offer helping hands, the time is minimal.
Christmas Giving Tree Program
Purpose: To provide an organized way for parishioners to buy and donate gifts to be distributed to local families in need at Christmas. Gifts are also distributed to local military families in need, and to residents in local nursing homes.
Our goal is to give hope to needy individuals and families, and a belief that they are part of a Christian community that cares.
Procedures: Volunteers write out coded cards that contain individual information and gift suggestions. Methods include protecting the privacy of individuals. The cards are displayed on Christmas trees in church during Advent. The Parish Bulletin provides timely information regarding the dates of this program and instructions for return of the gifts. The gifts are collected, carried from the church, loaded into vehicles and moved to a secure location where they are sorted and grouped for distribution in time for Christmas.
Time commitment: “Tagging” ~ writing out the coded cards ~ is done in one November evening from 6:30 to 8pm, by a large group of volunteers.
Collecting and moving the gifts takes a group of volunteers approximately 30 minutes after each Mass. One full day is required for several volunteers to deliver the gifts. Volunteers are welcomed.
Community Enrichment Supper Seminars
Purpose: To enhance the lives of members of the community, the Outreach Committee, under the auspices of the pastor, sponsors an evening that includes a light supper and one or more professionals who speak and educate on issues, topics of interest and concern, to the general public at no cost.
Procedures: Periodically, parishioners are asked to complete a tear-off section in the Parish Bulletin, indicating issues and topics that would be of interest to them. These and other topics and issues are discussed in committee. When a topic is selected, arrangements are made for a qualified professional to present a seminar that includes interaction with a Q & A period. A local vendor is chosen to provide a light supper, served by members of the committee who pick up the food, make coffee, set-up and clean-up. Attendees may make a free-will offering.
Time commitment: Committee members volunteer an average of four hours per person, per event.
Drive for the Needy (Annual)
Purpose: To support the Diocesan Community Services satellite office in West Warwick by collecting winter items that include: large and extra large sweatshirts, gloves, hats, sweaters, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, hair brushes, combs, razors, and other personal hygiene items.
Procedures: Schedule drives which are usually held mid-January to mid-February.
Advertise the drives. Position marked collection bins at doors of the church. Retrieve collections. Transport donations weekly to the W. Warwicksatellite for distribution to needy individuals and families.
Time commitment: Minimal (up to 1 hour per week)
Easter Card Project
Purpose: Send an Easter greeting card, from our parish community, to residents in Coventry Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Woodpecker Hill nursing homes. SS John & Paul parish is assigned responsibility, by the diocese, to provide for the spiritual needs of Catholic residents in these nursing homes. Our goal is to give each person, of any faith, the feeling of belonging to a community that cares.
Procedures: Create colorful Easter “eggs” by tracing and cutting out hundreds on colored construction paper. From lists provided by the nursing homes, resident name/address labels are printed; these labels are then attached to the Easter “eggs” which are placed in marked baskets on the tables by church doors. Parishioners are invited to take as many “eggs” as they wish and send an Easter card to the person on the label. The Parish Bulletin provides timely information regarding the dates of this project.
Time commitment: Several hours weekly for several weeks; if volunteers offer helping hands, the time is minimal.
Flu Clinic (Annual)
Purpose: To offer a health service to our parish community by providing easy access to the Influenza vaccine inoculations each year, usually in October.
Procedures: Annually, the VNA Flu Coordinator contacts SSJP to arrange dates and times on a weekend for a Flu Clinic. Space is reserved in the Parish Center; arrangements are made to set up tables and chairs to accommodate the clinical staff and parishioners in a waiting queue. The VNA provides nurses, clerks, and all necessary supplies needed to conduct the flu clinic. Additionally, the VNA provides information flyers to publicize the event, well in advance of the clinic dates.
Time commitment: Up to two hours.
Food Collection for Coventry Food Bank
Purpose: Parishioners support the Coventry Food Bank by donating food and daily living necessities which are then distributed to individuals and families in need.
Procedures: Marked donation bins are located inside the church doors and in the rectory foyer. Weekly, in the Parish Bulletin, parishioners are reminded of the need to donate to the food bank, and the current needs of the food bank are listed. Included is a thank you to the parish community for their consistent generosity. Each week on Sunday or Monday, the donations (heavy bags/boxes of food) are carried from the church and loaded into vehicles. On Monday, the donations are transported to the Coventry Food Bank and unloaded.
Time commitment: This takes 2-3 hours each week. Volunteers are welcome.
Mass Counting
Purpose: The Diocese requires that an Annual Mass Count be performed in every parish and chapel and reported back, annually. There is concern among church leaders of most denominations, that attendance is not consistent. The Mass count enables our Pastor and Bishop to react according to the results they receive.
Procedures: Volunteers (3) sign up to count at each of the Masses on one weekend; a total of 12 volunteers are needed to cover the Masses. The volunteers sign-in, gets a mechanical counter, start counting ½ hour before Mass begins and stop counting about 10 minutes after the start of Mass. Everyone is counted: adults, children and babes-in-arms. At the conclusion of Mass, the volunteers record their numbers in a log, initial, and turn the mechanical counters back to zero. The log provides detailed instructions.
Time commitment: 1/2 hour before Mass and 5 minutes after Mass, once a year.
Husbands and wives, students who have made their Confirmation, singles, seniors… all are welcome to volunteer!
Military Honor Roll
Purpose: Individuals serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, at the written request of a relative or friend, are listed on a framed Honor Roll that is hung in the Alcove of the Sacred Heart in church. Family, friends, and parishioners honor them through prayer. Those who have made the ultimate sacrifice are recognized by a gold star.
Procedures: Twice a year, in June and December, our parish community is reminded of the opportunity to update the Honor Roll by an announcement in the Parish Bulletin that includes an informational tear-off section.
Time commitment: Approximately 6 hours for each update.
Neighborhood Friendly Visitor Program (NFVP)
Purpose: The NFVP is a community-based program developed in 1978; it is administered by the Diocese of Providence and funded by the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs. The purpose is to provide volunteer visitors to the lonely and isolated elderly men and women in Rhode Island, regardless of race, color or creed. Any elder (60 + years) or disabled adult that is homebound or residing in any elderly care facility is eligible for this program. There are no income guidelines and there is no fee for this service. Volunteers offer support and friendship, through face-to-face visits and telephone calls, keeping folks connected to their community and easing the isolation elders and disabled people often feel.
Procedures: Friendly Visitors may read, write letters, play cards or simply enjoy conversation, reminiscing and providing companionship. Volunteers who apply will be asked to complete an application form with 2 references, and an application form with a copy of their valid driver’s license which will be submitted to the R.I. State Division of Criminal Identification for clearance. Volunteers who are accepted into the program will be required to complete the diocesan training which includes submission of monthly visit statistics. Assignments are made by the local Coordinator, matching the Friendly Visitor with a Care Receiver. All are welcome to become Friendly Visitors.
Time commitment: Individual weekly visits are about an hour. Group visits and participation in social games in a facility, may be longer.
Our Daily Bread Program
Mission Statement: “We provide hope for those local families and children in need.”
Under the auspices of the Outreach Ministry, this program was created with the encouragement and support of our Pastor, Very Rev. Paul R. Grenon , by parishioner Tim Maynard with the assistance of Beverly Crehan, Coordinator of the Outreach Ministry. The program began on Saturday, June 30, 2013 with the distribution of 30 lunches at the Diocesan Satellite Office in West Warwick and Crossroads in Providence. Shortly after, the Director of the Coventry Senior Center asked if we would provide lunches to their clients. The program has continued to evolve with the dedicated work of many people behind the scenes, media publicity and weekly highlights in our Parish Bulletin. As of this writing, approximately 75-100 lunches are being distributed each week. Volunteers are always welcome!
Parish Missions
Purpose: The goal of a Mission leader is to help people face the challenges and struggles of life from the perspective of faith in God’s unconditional love and presence in their lives. Leaders’ presentations combine scripture, prayer, and music. They often share their life story that help us to realize that God can and does work in the hearts of everyone in a remarkable way.
Procedures: Missions are widely publicized on the internet and by mailings to parishes. The Liturgical Committee, chaired by an Associate Pastor, reviews the brochures received and presented by the Coordinator, ultimately listing those that meet our needs and sound the most stimulating. Missions are scheduled for several years in advance by agreements reached with Mission leaders that are approved by our Pastor.
Volunteers are needed to support the Mission by fulfilling many roles that may include: driving the priest to visit the homebound; Altar Servers; Lectors; Collectors; and serving at the Mission Reception. Duties vary depending on the requirements of the Mission leader.
Time commitment: Varies from one to several hours. Volunteers are welcome.