COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community Outreach
Austin Street Centre
On the second Monday of each month, St. Monica parishioners provides meals to the less fortunate homeless “clients” of Austin Street Homeless Centre, near downtown Dallas. Volunteers prepare or purchase dinner items then drop the food off at St. Monica’s Family Center kitchen on the day we serve dinner. Although not required, you are always welcome to go down to the Centre and serve with us. Austin Street is Christian-based and has an on-site Chapel. The Centre takes no government funding – only private donations and grants. Donations of clothing and over-the-counter medicines are always welcome. For more information, contact Derek Blake at
214-663-8812 or email at dblake88@gmail.com.
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Bread Ministry
The volunteers in this ministry collect donated bread, rolls, cakes and desserts, and pastries from five Tom Thumb stores, one Kroger, two Central Markets, and from two local restaurants (Panera’s and the Grand Lux Café). They distribute the donations to areas of need in the community (Missionaries of Charity, Family Gateway Center, Dallas Life Foundation, Union Gospel Church, North Dallas Shared Ministries, St. Joseph’s Residence, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help). Contact: Tony Cardillo at 214-714-6452, or at tonycar1@tx.rr.com.
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EMHC Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
We are a spiritual ministry that offers to bring Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist to those St Monica parishioners who for one reason or another are not able to attend Sunday Mass and have requested this ministry. We take The Blessed Sacrament to their home, rehabilitation center, or nursing home and pray with these people. We are here to bridge the gap between St Monica Parish and parishioners who are not able to worship with us in community at Sunday celebrations of the Mass. We require that those serving in our ministry undergo training as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion first. They must be trained as an EMHC first, and then also be trained in our ministry. For more information contact Paul Tomaso at 214-533-6296 or tomaso@prodigy.net.
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Helping Hands
St. Monica’s Helping Hands organizes bereavement lunches for its parishioners. Meals are prepared in the Family Center kitchen, and served in the Family Center lounge by caring volunteers. For more information, contact Maria Juarez-Plank at 214-366-7173 or mplank@stmonicachurch.org.
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North Dallas Shared Ministry
This group provides assistance to people in need through a shared ministry of forty-six congregations. Assistance consists of food, limited financial help for rent and utilities, job counseling, clothes closet, free health clinic, and referrals to other agencies. Contact Ruth Ann Janson at 214-725-1083 or ruthann@ndsm.org.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
The ministry is made up of volunteer shawl makers that donate of their time and talents in knitting or crocheting shawls to be gifted to someone with a special need. The ministry donates all finished shawls to individuals in need of spiritual healing due to medical or health issue, during bereavement or other personal needs or challenges. All shawls will be accompanied by a prayer card and receive the blessings of our parish priests. The group meets on Mondays, from 10am to 12pm, in room 109 in the Family Center. Lessons in knitting are provided for those without experience. If you are interested in joining, would like to make a donation of knitting materials, or know of someone in need of a shawl, contact Margaret Schwab at 214-384-2209 or magmac516@aol.com.
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Prison Ministry
The Prison Ministry is in need of volunteers who can commit to at least two Saturday mornings a month to go to Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 7:20 am, to celebrate a communion service and bring Holy Communion to prisoners. Volunteers serve in pairs, with women going into the women's’ units and men going into the men’s units. This is a Corporal Work of Mercy and an opportunity to reach out to the less fortunate. For more information, contact Alex Schilpp at 214-697-8916 or alexschilpp10@gmail.com.
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Senior Outreach Ministry
The St. Monica Senior Outreach Ministry focuses on senior education on many levels and subjects that range from ages 40 and above. For more information, contact Elaine Scholly at 904-305-7078 or elaine.rwts@gmail.com.
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Stephen Ministry
The St. Monica Stephen Ministry builds and equips a caring lay ministry to share the love of Jesus Christ by providing confidential one on one distinctly Christian care to all parish members who are experiencing life’s challenges and difficulties. For more information, contact Jim Einspanier at 214-914-2802 or jeinspanier@navigationfinancial.com.
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St. Vincent de Paul Society
St. Vincent de Paul is an international society that provides emergency help with utility bills, rent, transportation, medical expenses, and even emotional and spiritual support. We welcome all volunteers. If you are in need of assistance, contact 972-994-1121. For more information, contact Marguerite Trapp at 972-462-0753 or petfol3@aol.com.
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