Outreach Ministries

Communion for the Homebound/Nursing Homes

Each week, lay ministers of the Eucharist from the parish take Eucharist to those who are homebound. The Pastoral Minister also brings Eucharist weekly or biweekly to those who request it.


If you or someone you know is homebound and would like a pastoral visit, please call the Parish office at 262-694-6018 for more information.

Elizabeth Closet

Elizabeth’s Closet is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping families in need obtain items for their babies and toddlers. Items provided include diapers, wipes, baby wash, clothing, and blankets. Formula and baby furniture may also be provided when available. If assistance is needed, please get in touch with the parish at 262-694-6018 Ext: 4153 and leave a message. A volunteer will return your call to schedule a pickup.

 

Donations for the Closet are accepted year-round and may be tax-deductible. Donations can be dropped off in the bin at the church's main entrance or brought to the church office during normal business hours. Be sure to watch the Parish bulletin for items of specific need throughout the year. Our community’s support for this ministry is greatly appreciated.

 

To volunteer to assist this ministry, please call the Parish Office at 262-694-6018 or email: Parish@stmarycatholic.org.


Chairperson: Sue Samer

Hospital and Nursing Home Visits

Hospital Visits: members of the pastoral staff visit all three hospitals in Kenosha weekly. Occasionally, we miss people because parish information was not obtained at admission, or the person is not in their room when we call. If you know that you will be going to Aurora Hospital, please call the parish office in advance, as they usually do not contact us when a parishioner becomes a patient. If you are in the hospital for an extended period and we do not visit, please call us. If someone is hospitalized out of town, please call the parish office.


Nursing Home visits: St. Mary Parish ministers to Hospitality Manor and Kenosha Care Center weekly. Mass is celebrated every other week at Hospitality Manor, and on alternate weeks, a communion service is led by a deacon or a pastoral minister. Kenosha Care Center has a weekly communion service. A communion service is also held monthly at Canterbury Assisted Living Facility. Other parishes in Kenosha provide the nursing homes with Mass or communion services on a regular basis. If someone is placed in a local nursing home, please let us know.

Human Concerns

Here is the information for the committee's 2020 Lenten projects, including the Ash Wednesday Soup Supper, Matthew 25 Collection, and the annual Rice Bowl Collection.


Here is the committee's February 2020 ministries report.


Human Concerns coordinates much of the parish’s outreach to those of our community and parish family. We sponsor:


  • A food collection for people in need every Sunday of the year 
  • A Thanksgiving and Christmas food and gift collection (Giving Circle) 
  • A Mother’s Day rose sale for the Wisconsin Right to Life Organization
  • Participation in the Shalom Center Hunger Walk in May
  • Health committee
  • St. Vincent de Paul Conference
  • Ash Wednesday simple meal
  • Lenten Matthew 25 collection
  • Emergency outreach funds for the poor
  • Assists with the Stewardship Outreach Committee
  • Assists with the work of the Shalom Center
  • Assists with the INNS Program
  • Assists with the Elizabeth Ministry program

 

We consider it our responsibility to keep the parish informed about the needs of our parish and the greater Christian community in our state by publishing informative articles in the parish bulletin, sponsoring adult speakers on various topics, and through the energetic input and interaction of the committee members.


We are always looking for interested members to join our committee. We meet on the third Monday of each month, September through June, in the TBD.


Contact Deacon Wilson Shierk 262-697-0227

Jail Ministry

The Jail Ministry provides materials utilized by the libraries to both Kenosha County incarceration facilities. The chaplain offers the men and women reading materials, paperback novels in English and Spanish, magazines, crossword puzzles, word searches, and materials for communications such as paper, envelopes, and stamps. The chaplain’s library also provides simple board games such as Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry, Risk, Battleship, Stratego, table puzzles, and decks of cards. Deacon Ron Lesjak collects any donated items (new and used) and takes them to the chaplain. 


Please get in touch with Deacon Ron Lesjak at rflesjak@gmail.com or 262-694-9143

Ministry of Hope: Helping Others Providing Encouragement

The Ministry of Hope provides support and comfort to individuals and families in our parish who are experiencing an illness, difficult times, or grieving a loss.

 

  •  Funeral Luncheons - The Ministry of Hope volunteers offer their time and talent in preparing and serving funeral luncheons. Desserts, salads, drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere are provided for the family. The only cost is minimal for the main dish of your choice. To use this ministry, please contact Alyce Ausse.
  •  Sunshine Group -These Ministry of Hope volunteers meet on the first Monday of every other month beginning in January in the Rectory at 1:00 pm. The group sends get-well and sympathy cards to parish members. Donations of cards and stamps are always appreciated and can be dropped off at the Rectory or Church. Please mark all donations for the Ministry of Hope. Contact: Jackie Slana


New members are always needed to help in any of the above areas. Please offer your time and talent to one or all of these important areas of St. Mary's Ministry of Hope by calling the Parish Office at 262-694-6018.

Pastoral Wellness Ministry

The mission of St. Mary’s Health Ministry is to integrate the concept of healing into our faith life.


The scripture urges us to preach, to teach, and to heal. Healing of body, mind, and spirit goes hand in hand with the Gospel message. Health refers to the overall well-being of the whole person and the community in which they live. It is within that context that we work.


Some past projects have been programs on depression, healthy living, blood drive, health fairs, and ongoing monthly blood pressure screenings. Brochures are available in the church. Call the Pastoral Wellness help line directly at 262-925-4167 to make an appointment.


CPR/AED training is offered to any interested parishioner. St. Mary’s has AED units in the church, gymnasium, and school.


Ministry members do not need to be health professionals. 


Chairperson Deacon Wilson

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The St. Mary Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls, lap robes, and chemo caps for anyone who may be ill, undergoing a medical procedure, suffering from a loss or bereavement, or just needing an extra hug. The Ministry also makes special baptismal blankets for each newly baptized child. Prayers are crafted into every stitch, and each completed creation is blessed and displayed in church for people to take. Small pocket prayer shawls are also available at each church door for someone who needs an extra prayerful hug to take with them. The Ministry also makes scarves, hats, and washcloths for the Giving Circle to help people in the Kenosha community.

 

The group generally meets once a month on a Saturday morning. New crafters are always welcome. Leave your information at the parish office so you can be contacted for the monthly meeting.

 

Chairperson: Linda Cheney

Shalom Center Ministries

The Shalom Center provides a variety of outreach programs for people in need. Services include a homeless shelter, a soup kitchen, food collections, and hunger awareness activities. Volunteers are needed to support all of these programs.

 

  • Emergency Family Shelter: The Shalom Center’s 24-hour homeless shelter program is located within the Shalom Center’s facility at 4319 39th Ave, (262) 658-1713. Volunteers are needed to support this program.
  • Soup Kitchen prepares and serves an evening meal twice a month at their new location, 4319 39th Ave. You may also help prepare supper for the Soup Kitchen Network (local church communities that take turns each weekday evening preparing a meal for all who wish to eat). Contact the Shalom Center to get a list of daily locations. 
  • Food Pantry Volunteers Needed! We are seeking volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks, such as taking orders, stocking shelves, and distributing food.   

 

Chairperson: Deacon Wilson Shierk


St. Vincent de Paul Society

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a Catholic lay organization that consists of volunteer members who help those in need. SVDP provides person-to-person assistance that promotes human dignity and integrity. In addition to assistance with the material necessities of life, members visit and offer companionship to those who are homebound, hospitalized, or confined to institutions.

 

As a reflection of the family of God, SVDP members are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. They form small groups called “conferences” that meet regularly, pray together, and carry out their selected charitable works. They are united in the worldwide movement of the St. Vincent de Paul Society by a common philosophy and mutual sharing.

 

For information about St. Mary’s affiliation with St. Vincent de Paul Society, contact Kathy Norris and Pat Winston or the Parish Office at 262-694-6018 Ext: 4176