The Documents of the Second Vatican Council tell us that “the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well” (Gaudium et Spes, 1). Even before Vatican II, the Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit the prisoner, bury the dead) have been part of our identity as Church, both universally and locally here at St. Thérèse.
If you would like more information, please refer to Justice & Peace on our contact sheet.
Youth may serve in many of the ministries listed. If you have not yet been confirmed, however, please consult with our Director of Religious Education.
AIDS Patients’ Meal Preparation ~ takes place in the church kitchen once a month by the Ladies of St. Thérèse. The meals are then frozen and delivered to ACCESS in Norfolk.
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Talent:
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Ability to perform basic cooking procedures
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Time:
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Approximately 4 hours each month.
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Angel Tree Prison Ministry ~ helps provide Christmas gifts for children of prisoners. Parishioners purchase and wrap the gifts which are given in the prisoner’s name and with their message of love. Parishioners also deliver the gifts to children’s homes.
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Talent:
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Ability to purchase and wrap a gift for a designated child, and bring it to church. Drivers with a valid driver’s permit are also needed to deliver the gifts.
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Time:
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1-3 hours in early December.
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Grief Support Group ~ provides support for those who have experienced the death of a family member or someone close to them.
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Talent:
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Willingness to listen and discuss with others experiences of death. Those with experience in counseling are welcome as well.
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Time:
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Meets every other Thursday, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
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Haitian Outreach ~ acts as a link between St. Thérèse and our “twinned” institution: Maison Fortuné Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti. They provide funds for long term care and education of over 100 children. In addition, they coordinate an annual retreat by Church members to Hinche, coordinate and ship supplies via the Diocesan container, and sponsor a fund-raising visit to the U.S. by Lefort Jean-Louis, Director of Maison Fortuné.
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Talent:
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Fund-raising experience, organizers, educators, medical personnel, builders, planners
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Time:
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2-3 hour monthly meeting
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Homeless Shelter ~ takes place in the church every winter for a week. Parishioners are needed to help with the many activities involved in caring for homeless visitors from Downtown Portsmouth. Several parishioners are needed each night to stay overnight to manage the building.
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Talent:
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Comfort in interacting with strangers, hospitable personality, cooking and/or serving skills, cleaning skills.
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Time:
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3 – 4 hours (unless staying overnight) for one evening during the week that we host.
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Migrant Ministry ~ collects clothing, bedding, hygiene
articles, and some food items for the approximately 10,000 – 15,000
migrant workers who work on the Eastern Shore from March to
October (40 – 80 families often remain during the winter months),
and transports the goods to the Eastern Shore.
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Talent:
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Ability to collect and help store items. Valid driver’s license helpful. Spanish language skills helpful, but not necessary.
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Time:
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Approximately 2 hours per week in February and March
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Ministry of Care ~ provides a presence, prayer and Holy Communion to parishioners who are hospitalized, in a health-care facility, or homebound, and provides transportation for parishioners in need (to church, doctor, etc.).
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Talent:
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Comfort visiting and interacting with persons in their homes or institutions, valid driver’s license.
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Time:
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Approximately 3-4 hours per week, usually during the day.
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Ministry of Consolation ~ provides caring and listening for parishioners who have experienced the death of a family member. Also assists family with practical needs (e.g., food, cleaning, legal needs, etc.). Communicates needs to the parish.
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Talent:
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Comfort and ability assisting families in grief. Expertise in applicable disciplines (e.g., lawyers, military, etc.), ability to cook and deliver a meal, ability to use a phone (for telephone tree), send cards, attend ministry events.
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Time:
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Meets for 2 hours once every three months. Other time as needs arise
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§ Funeral Reception Food Donation:*
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Talent:
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Willingness to donate food, homemade OR purchased for funeral receptions.
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Time:
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1 to 2 hours per reception as need arises
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§ Funeral Reception Volunteer: *
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Talent:
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Willingness to help set up, prepare, serve and clean up for funeral receptions
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Time:
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2 to 3 hours per reception
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* members are usually not called for every reception unless the need arises but are free to volunteer with food or help at any time!
Norton Appalachian Ministry ~ collects donations – everything from diapers to furniture – to be transported to the Dominican Sisters of Hope in Norton, Virginia. Through the Advocate Center, they assist approximately 700 families per year. They also support a Domestic Abuse Shelter.
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Talent:
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Ability to gather and store items, and to load and transport them.
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Time:
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Donations are accepted throughout the year, and are loaded and transported 1 or 2 times per year. Transportation involves a full day of driving and unloading.
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Oasis Social Ministry ~ is a non-profit, interfaith charitable corporation whose mission is to provide a variety of comprehensive services to the homeless, needy and underprivileged people of Portsmouth and Chesapeake. Services include a soup kitchen providing breakfast and lunch, a food pantry, thrift shop, utility and rent assistance, holiday meals and gift baskets. The Oasis Opportunity Center provides life-skills training. St. Thérèse helps prepare and serve breakfast the first Monday of every month; helpers assist with the soup kitchen and Thrift Store. All parishioners are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to Mass each week for the food pantry.
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Talent:
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Practically any skill or talent can be utilized. Volunteers are especially needed for transporting donated items to the food pantry and thrift store.
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Time:
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Varies depending on the ministry.
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Parkinsons’ Support Group ~ provides support for those who are suffering from Parkinsons’ Disease as well as their families and caregivers.
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Talent:
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Willingness to listen and discuss with others experiences with the disease. Those with experience in counseling are welcome as well.
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Time:
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Meets first Saturday of each month, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
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Thanksgiving Food Collection ~ is an annual appeal to re-stock the Oasis Pantry shelves prior to the holidays. We often repeat this appeal in the summer as well (“Thanksgiving in July”).
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Talent:
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Ability to purchase a bag of food and bring it to church. Parishioners are also needed to transport the items from church to Oasis.
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Time:
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Approximately 1 hour once or twice a year.
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Walk for Hope ~ is an annual spring event, where parishioners gather pledges to raise funds for the Portsmouth Area Resource Coalition (PARC) for homeless families.
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Talent:
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Ability to walk or travel in a wheelchair for 2 kilometers
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Time:
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Time gathering pledges varies, and 2-3 hours for the walk itself (usually on a weekend).
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Walk for Hunger ~ is an annual spring event, where parishioners gather pledges to raise funds for the Oasis Social Ministry that serves those in need.
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Talent:
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Ability to walk or travel in a wheelchair for 2 kilometers
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Time:
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Time gathering pledges varies, and 2-3 hours for the walk itself (usually on a weekend).
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