Purpose

To offer caring support and grief education to persons who have experienced bereavement due to the death of a significant person in their lives.

Responsibilities

• Volunteer Grief Writers to send quarterly notes or cards offering caring support and prayerful remembrance to families at St. Brendan’s parish who have had the death of a significant person
• Offers Good Grief Support sessions in the spring and fall to provide caring support and grief education
• Support our parish in setting up activities for those dealing with grief and bereavement

Helpful Attributes 

Compassionate, caring, listening and communication skills

Training & Time Commitmen

• Volunteer Grief Writers meet with ministry leaders to discuss sending notes or cards
• New facilitators must have completed a grief education program plus meet with ministry leaders to be oriented to facilitator training

Purpose

In faithful partnersPurpose

In faithful partnership with God and one another, the St. Brendan’s Garden Ministry is an agent of Christian hospitality and sharing. Our purpose is to supplement the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry by growing fresh produce for those in need. In addition, there is an opportunity for learning and community involvement.

Responsibilities

Volunteers plan, plant, harvest, and maintain the garden in an environmental and sustainable way. All produce harvested is organized and set out weekly for distribution by the Food Pantry. Home gardeners are also encouraged to bring any excess produce to the Food Pantry.

Helpful Attributes

A love for the earth and a willingness to share, learn, and “dig in”.

Training & Time Commitment

No experience is necessary—there are coaches to guide and instruct. Any amount of time, talent, or treasure is welcome.hip with God and one another, the St. Brendan’s Garden Ministry is an agent of Christian hospitality and sharing. Our purpose is to supplement the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry by growing fresh produce for those in need. In addition, there is an opportunity for learning and community involvement.

Responsibilities

Volunteers plan, plant, harvest, and maintain the garden in an environmental and sustainable way. All produce harvested is organized and set out weekly for distribution by the Food Pantry. Home gardeners are also encouraged to bring any excess produce to the Food Pantry.

Helpful Attributes

A love for the earth and a willingness to share, learn, and “dig in”.

Training & Time Commitment

No experience is necessary—there are coaches to guide and instruct. Any amount of time, talent, or treasure is welcome.

Purpose

Our purpose is to spread the truth of our Catholic Faith to as many separated or divorced Catholics as possible and help them to understand that this faith, given to us by Jesus Christ, is the pathway to hope, healing and renewal. We want to help get you started–and keep you going–on this path by providing you with programs, information, resources, and encouragement.

Responsibilities

Allow Christ to walk with you as you rediscover His healing and rejuvenating power through the wisdom, richness, and truth of your Catholic faith. Attend programs that engage you providing a pathway, offering peace through living in the mercy and truth of our faith. A support team is available to any divorced/separated member of the parish to listen, guide and support through this traumatic circumstance.

Helpful Attributes:

Participant have a willingness to find life after divorce that is meaningful and fulfilling, when living in full communion with the Church. Additionally, if you have a sincere desire to minister to people who are suffering in this way and desire to give back to the Church, then this is the ministry for you!

Training, Time and Commitment:

Time commitment is flexible as the programs and retreats vary. If you are interested in being a facilitator, training will be provided in the Journey of Hope program. You will be given the knowledge of Church teaching regarding the sensitive areas involving divorce and separation.

Purpose

Providing meals in the social hall of the Church after funeral Masses.

Responsibilities              

The committee will contact family, set up the reception, prepare the meal, serve the meal, clean up, and being available to guests during the reception.

Helpful Attributes          

Flexibility in schedule

Training & Time Commitment

No training necessary; time commitment varies with number of funerals.

Emergency Assistance Hotline: 770-205-2324

Purpose

Good Samaritan Emergency Assistance is St. Brendan’s parish outreach to serve the poor and needy in our church and neighborhood. Its emphasis is serving people in need with a person-to-person approach.

Responsibilities

This ministry provides financial and social service resources to persons in need who contact us on our St. Brendan Hotline or are referred to us by St. Vincent de Paul or other agencies. Volunteers also organize parish-wide community service projects such as food drives, coat drives, Operation Duffle Bag to assist children in need, Meals on Wheels, and the Christmas Giving Tree program.

Helpful Attributes

Wanting to help those in need within the parish and community.

Training & Time Commitment

Regular meetings once per month

Volunteers determine how much time to commit

Purpose

The Our Family Program is a Social Justice and Outreach Ministry which helps Latino families become a more integral part of our parish and our civic community.

Responsibilities

A key goal of the Our Family Program is to educate Latinas and through English Language classes, life skills instruction, and cultural exchange to better prepare them to function in American culture. The program provides classroom and computer-aided instruction in English. Qualified volunteer teachers instruct all classes. Classroom volunteers assist students in understanding lessons. Each student has a volunteer mentor, a bilingual woman who acts as a “Big Sister.” Mentors build relationships with students and encourage their progress. Life skills are taught each month. Cultural exchanges, Fiestas, are held for American and Hispanic holidays. Volunteers maintain and beautify the Learning Center where classes are held. Students and volunteers support and cooperate with our pastor in the development of parish initiatives.

Helpful Attributes

Teaching, mentoring, classroom volunteering, social events coordination, building maintenance, concern and caring for immigrant families.

Training & Time Commitment

• Volunteer Orientation (2.0 Hours)
• Two three-hour classes per week, homework, weekly three-hour life skills or tutorial sessions on Fridays and special social and cultural events throughout the year

Purpose

• To assure that area prison and jail inmates may know the love and mercy of Jesus through us
• The core activity is being done by Kairos Ministries at the state prisons

Responsibilities

• To support the Kairos Prison Ministry at selected state prisons with prayer, volunteers, sponsorships, and providing meeting space at our church
• To increase access to the Sacraments for the inmates at Forsyth County jail

Helpful Attributes

• A desire to serve those in prison
• Having completed a Cursillo weekend is desirable

Training & Time Commitment

Kairos volunteers are required to attend Department of Corrections badge training (about a six-hour session.) Training is provided at team formation meetings before the Kairos weekend at the prison. This ministry also involves about 40 hours of team meetings and a Thursday night through Sunday afternoon weekend twice a year. Volunteers are asked to commit to a year of monthly follow-up meetings at the prison (about 96 hours total.)

Requirements

You cannot be on the visitors list for an inmate in the prison at which you wish to work. Those with any criminal record require permission from the Warden of the prison prior to working there.

Contact: Elizabeth Garcia / RespectLife@StBrendansATL.com / Mobile: 470-345-5703

Meetings: Third Wednesday of each Month @ 9:30am and 7pm, in the Youth Room (same content covered in both)

Purpose

• To promote awareness and participate in activities regarding Respect Life issues under the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
• Sponsors and conducts pro-life activities, which can include educational programs, support to pregnancy counseling groups, and grassroots legislative action

Responsibilities

Members of the ministry vote on what “work” or activity will be performed by the group either at the Parish level or the Archdiocese level and then proceed to delegate responsibilities to ensure the completion of the work or activity.

Helpful Attributes

Commitment and care for life

Training & Time Commitment

There is no training or experience required, all are welcome. Please email RespectLife@stbrendansatl.com for more information.

Ministry Purpose

To serve the hungry in our community with a caring spirit and respect for their dignity –

“Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you … “

Volunteers

Our volunteers share a common goal … to provide a welcoming environment, a friendly smile, and a word of encouragement.

Responsibilities

St. Joseph Food Pantry has many volunteers, divided into teams with specific responsibilities. The inventory team works on Monday adding new food donations to the pantry shelves. Items are processed by marking bar codes, sorting by item and expiration date. Many of the parish youth are involved in working in the Food Pantry and organizing food drives. On Wednesday, the assembly team fills recyclable grocery bags for client distribution. Distribution is Wednesday 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Volunteers arrive at 4:00 p.m. The shopping team coordinates with inventory to shop weekly for needed items. The Food Pantry also has a client registration team that includes a bilingual person, financial and data input leaders as well as volunteer and visiting group coordinators.

Training & Time Commitment

Pantry volunteers get “on the job” training by coming to the pantry on either Monday morning for inventory (9:00 - 11:00) or Wednesday afternoon. Volunteering at St. Joseph Food Pantry can be a rewarding and fun experience and a wonderful way for our youth to learn about serving others.

Distribution Times

Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.