St. Francis Social Outreach

The Saint Francis - Saint Romuald Social Outreach Community reaches out to the parish and the town to people who need help during a difficult time, for example, after the death of a loved one, or hospitalization or accident, or when a meal or a ride to the doctor is needed. And at joyous times too, when we welcome new families to the parish or celebrate the birth of a baby whose parents chose life.

Mass and Reception to Welcome New Families into the Saint Francis Parish Community

Three times a year, the parish welcomes new parishioners into the Saint Francis family. Newcomers are invited to a special noon Mass on Sunday, when they are welcomed before everyone present. Following the Mass, refreshments are offered in Helen Bouchard Hall-a wonderful opportunity to greet other parishioners and enjoy a little lunch and sociability.

Contacts: Peg and Art Lavallee (789-1063) if you are new to the parish, would like to work with the volunteers to greet new parishioners at a reception, make sandwiches or dessert, or participate in other aspects of preparing for the receptions.

This will be our third year to hold the Baby Shower. Working with students and others in the parish community, we put out a call for supplies-infant layettes, blankets, diapers, outfits, anything useful. In cooperation with local agencies, we arrange delivery to agencies that have made the decision for life.

This effort requires some planning and coordination. Look for more information in upcoming parish Bulletins.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the activities of the St. Francis Social Outreach community. There are organization meetings on the fourth Monday of every month (except December and August), . Notice of time and place is published in the parish Bulletin. You don't need to attend the meetings in order to volunteer.

If you don't want to attend the planning meetings, you are still welcome to participate by volunteering your time to one of the activities listed here, or by letting us know if you know anyone who would need help in one of the areas that we serve.

On the Fridays during Lent, this year February 15 through March 22, various parish groups make and serve soup and bread between 6 and 7 p.m. just before Stations of the Cross.

If you need a ride to a medical appointment during the week or weekend. We desperately need drivers. Most rides are local, but occasionally we get a request to go to Providence or Boston.

Working with the Neighborhood Friendly Visitor Program under the auspices of the Diocese and the State of RI, volunteers give an hour a week visiting the homebound or people in nursing homes.

On Sundays, there is a basket in the vestibule of the church, where you may leave non-perishable items or gift certificates for food. At certain times of year, we call for volunteers to assist with special events, like making up Thanksgiving or Christmas baskets, baking for the holidays, and some delivery services to those who cannot come to the church to pick up.

Year round, every Sunday night from 5:00-6:00 pm, at the Church of the Ascension, corner of Main and Kenyon Streets, Wakefield.

Run and funded by The Church of the Ascension, the Sunday soup meal is free to anyone in the community. Saint Francis Parish sends a crew to help out on one Sunday per month. Volunteers are welcome to call for more information.

Working with the Parish office, we keep track of those who have died and follow up after an appropriate time with phone calls and visits. Occasionally, we present to the parish a talk by a parishioner trained in ministry to the dying, and we would like to work toward having an 8-week bereavement support group.

When we hear of someone who has taken ill, or suffered a difficult life change, we like to send a note to offer our prayers and whatever support we can.

We get calls for different things-when someone is home from the hospital and unable to cook, our volunteers make and deliver meals to the family. Once in a while, we are asked to make refreshments for a reception after a funeral. We provide the refreshments for the receptions after the welcome Masses for new parishioners.


	St. Francis of Assisi Parish \| home St. Francis Social Outreach ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saint Francis - Saint Romuald Social Outreach Community Mission The Saint Francis - Saint Romuald Social Outreach Community reaches out to the parish and the town to people who need help during a difficult time, for example, after the death of a loved one, or hospitalization or accident, or when a meal or a ride to the doctor is needed. And at joyous times too, when we welcome new families to the parish or celebrate the birth of a baby whose parents chose life. Calendar: Coming soon! Ongoing Social Outreach Activities Sunday Soup Meals at the Church of the Ascension Lenten Meals Neighborhood Friendly Visitor Program Meals and Food Pantry Bereavement Correspondence Mass and Reception to Welcome New Families into the Saint Francis Parish Community Three times a year, the parish welcomes new parishioners into the Saint Francis family. Newcomers are invited to a special noon Mass on Sunday, when they are welcomed before everyone present. Following the Mass, refreshments are offered in Helen Bouchard Hall-a wonderful opportunity to greet other parishioners and enjoy a little lunch and sociability. Contacts: Peg and Art Lavallee (789-1063) if you are new to the parish, would like to work with the volunteers to greet new parishioners at a reception, make sandwiches or dessert, or participate in other aspects of preparing for the receptions. Baby Shower This will be our third year to hold the Baby Shower. Working with students and others in the parish community, we put out a call for supplies-infant layettes, blankets, diapers, outfits, anything useful. In cooperation with local agencies, we arrange delivery to agencies that have made the decision for life. Contact: Paula Thayer 789-8825 This effort requires some planning and coordination. Look for more information in upcoming parish Bulletins. Regular Planning Meetings Anyone is welcome to participate in the activities of the St. Francis Social Outreach community. There are organization meetings on the fourth Monday of every month (except December and August), . Notice of time and place is published in the parish Bulletin. You don't need to attend the meetings in order to volunteer. If you don't want to attend the planning meetings, you are still welcome to participate by volunteering your time to one of the activities listed here, or by letting us know if you know anyone who would need help in one of the areas that we serve. Co-Chairs: Annie Cooney 783-7034 and Judy Dewey 792-3794 Lenten Meals On the Fridays during Lent, this year February 15 through March 22, various parish groups make and serve soup and bread between 6 and 7 p.m. just before Stations of the Cross. Contact: Anne Cooney 783-7034 Transportation If you need a ride to a medical appointment during the week or weekend. We desperately need drivers. Most rides are local, but occasionally we get a request to go to Providence or Boston. Contacts: Janet Feerick 792-1381 and Delores DiPrete 789-6479 Visiting the Homebound Working with the Neighborhood Friendly Visitor Program under the auspices of the Diocese and the State of RI, volunteers give an hour a week visiting the homebound or people in nursing homes. Contact: Dana Hawkins 789-8479 Food Pantry On Sundays, there is a basket in the vestibule of the church, where you may leave non-perishable items or gift certificates for food. At certain times of year, we call for volunteers to assist with special events, like making up Thanksgiving or Christmas baskets, baking for the holidays, and some delivery services to those who cannot come to the church to pick up. Contact: Celeste Long 789-2901 Sunday Soup Meals Year round, every Sunday night from 5:00-6:00 pm, at the Church of the Ascension, corner of Main and Kenyon Streets, Wakefield. Run and funded by The Church of the Ascension, the Sunday soup meal is free to anyone in the community. Saint Francis Parish sends a crew to help out on one Sunday per month. Volunteers are welcome to call for more information. Contact: Anne Cooney 783-7034 Bereavement Working with the Parish office, we keep track of those who have died and follow up after an appropriate time with phone calls and visits. Occasionally, we present to the parish a talk by a parishioner trained in ministry to the dying, and we would like to work toward having an 8-week bereavement support group. Contact: Sister Madeline Pucella 783-6668 Correspondence When we hear of someone who has taken ill, or suffered a difficult life change, we like to send a note to offer our prayers and whatever support we can. Contact: Paula Thayer 789-8825 Meals and Refreshments We get calls for different things-when someone is home from the hospital and unable to cook, our volunteers make and deliver meals to the family. Once in a while, we are asked to make refreshments for a reception after a funeral. We provide the refreshments for the receptions after the welcome Masses for new parishioners. Contact: Concetta Wilson 783-4672 Volunteers Please call if you have any questions about the Social Outreach Community, if you would like to hear more about what we do, or how you could help. Contacts: Annie Cooney 783-7034 Judy Dewey 792-3794 (co-chairs)