Outreach Ministries
Catholic Volunteer Corps
New Parish Initiative: Catholic Volunteer Corps We are very grateful to parishioner Shaun McKenna who is spear-heading a new initiative at St. Mary’s. The Catholic Volunteer Corps (CVC) is an outreach program for persons who may need assistance with tasks like picking up medicine, yard cleanup, rides to Church, small household repair needs, light painting, carpentry, house clean up, etc… Our local Knights of Columbus will be partnering with us, as well as our Pastoral Care staff member, Sr. Barbara Lavin, OP. We are ready to roll! In order to request assistance or to offer your volunteer services, you can call 781.320.9188 or email at stmarycvc@gmail.com. Someone will get back to you within 24 hours. Help us to grow by inviting those who could use a hand and those who can offer one!
Life Teen & Edge Core Members
Do you have a love for working with middle schoolers or high school teens? Our Edge Core members work with grades 6-8 on Wednesday evenings and lead them in small group discussion and faith formation. Our Life Teen Core members work with grades 9-12 and are concerned with being relational ministers in the lives of our young people. The requirement is Sundays plus an additional time during the week. For more information, please contact Lindsey Webb for Edge, and JP Manning for Life Teen.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (to the sick, nursing homes and homebound)
Bring the Eucharist to those who are unable to come to Church. Provide a vital pastoral link between the parish community and those who are sick and homebound. Seeking compassionate people who are good listeners, have a great love for the Eucharist, and love for the elderly and sick. Training is provided. Time commitment of 1 to 1.5 hours twice per month.
Contact: Sr. Barbara Lavin (781) 326-0550 X39
The Society of St Vincent De Paul
An international Catholic organization of lay persons dedicated to help those who are suffering. No work of charity is foreign to the Society. It serves persons in need regardless of creed, opinion, color, caste and origin.
We have 2 separate ministries going on of which we need help.
#1 Youth conference – Looking for a few more members ages 22 - 30 to join the newly formed board of directors. The board members will coordinate activities and volunteer work for people in need. The volunteer work can include driving people to church, the food pantry, picking up prescriptions, driving people to doctors appointments, etc. Also, they will coordinate activities like raking leaves and shoveling snow for the elderly or possibly helping maintenance staff on the grounds.
#2 The volunteer pool consists of people of any age willing to do the tasks listed in # 1.
The goal and mission is to form a family of the youth, middle age and elderly all working together for the common good of our parish and community lead by The Holy Spirit. Everything we do is in God’s name and we can do nothing without his guidance and blessings. Our mission is to make life altering positive changes in peoples’ lives.
Meetings are held each Monday night for board members.
Contact: Lew Uttarro
Legion of Mary – (Including Prison Ministry)
Reach out to residents of the parish to promote the Rosary and participation in parish life. Assist in the religious formation of children. Reach out to families who have recently baptized a baby and families who are grieving loss of a loved one. Active ministry in the Norfolk County House of Corrections in Dedham. Visit prisoners teaching them to pray the rosary, to grow in the faith and to appreciate their value in the eyes of God.
Meetings are held on Wednesdays from 10am to 11:30am in the Parish Center for prayer and discussion of apostolic works. Visits to the prison are conducted most days. Visits are at various times of day depending on the day of the week. Training provided.
Contacts: Carol Parillo (781) 326-6108 or Ruth Spangler (781) 326-5271
Care to Those Who Are Grieving the Loss of a Loved One “Compassionate Links”
On behalf of the parish community, make telephone calls to family members who have lost a loved one to death. Looking for faith filled people with an ability to listen with empathy and show compassion. Training and support is provided.
Contact: Sr. Barbara Lavin (781) 326-0550 X39
Bereavement Services
Assist in conducting bereavement services for families who have lost a loved one in recent months. Welcome families, assist with prayer service, and join families for a small collation after the service. Services are held four times per year.
Contact: Sr. Barbara Lavin (781) 326-0550 X39
Homeless Shelter Assistance
Transfer left over Dedham Food Pantry items to the homeless shelter at Long Island in Boston Harbor. Each week late Saturday Mornings after the Food Pantry closes.
On Thanksgiving and Christmas we travel to the Long Island Shelter to decorate the dinning hall and serve a wonderful meal.
Contact: Audrey Pugliesi
Giving Tree
Assist with Parish giving tree during Advent to help God’s poor at Christmas time to celebrate Jesus’ birthday with new gifts, supports My Brothers Keeper and those helped by Saint Vincent DePaul.
Contact: Bob Lapsley (781) 329-5223
Pro-Life Activities
A variety of opportunities for assisting mothers in need and advocacy for the right to life.
Contacts: Lorraine Loewen (781) 326-7163 or Ruth Loughran
Social Justice Committee
Newly forming committee to help our community to learn about issues and reach out to the community to promote social justice.
Contact: Fr Bill Kelly, Pastor (781) 326-0550