Parish Organizations
A. A. (CHESTERBROOK MONDAY NITERS)
Meetings are held every Monday evening in St. Isaac Jogues'
Parish Hall from 8:00-9:00 P.M. It is an open meeting
and visitors are welcome. This group is one of many that
meet in the Suburban Philadelphia area.
ALTAR
SERVERS
Altar Servers assist at Eucharist and other special liturgies on a
rotating basis according to a schedule issued monthly. A training course
is held in preparation for this ministry of service. Any boy or girl in
fourth grade or above who wants to be more involved in the Parish and is ready
to assume this responsibility may apply.
CONFRATERNITY
OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE (CCD)
Visit the "Religious Education" link on our Home Page.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL
Catholic Charities is an opportunity for St. Isaac Jogues Parish to work with
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to provide the resources required for a number
of charitable agencies, institutions, services, and programs that assist God's
needy. The needs of the appeal are met only because so many of our
parishioners are willing to become involved and serve the Lord.
COLLECTION COUNTERS
These volunteers work one to one and a half hours a week, in teams of five or
six. They accomplish the counting and recording of the Sunday collections under
the supervision of the Parish Business Manager.
CUB
SCOUT PACK 81
The mission statement of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to
make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the
values of the Scout Oath and Law. Pack 81 provides many activities and
first-time experiences for boys in grades 1-5. Some examples are outdoor
camping, camp-ins (at places like the Adventure Aquarium, Franklin Institute and
the Battleship USS New Jersey), hiking, skating, skiing and bowling. One
of the highlights of their year is the Pinewood Derby race in which the
scouts build cars that they race against each other. One of their service
projects is to collect, assemble and deliver more than 25 Thanksgiving dinners
to St. Malachy's Parish in Philadelphia.
EXTRAORDINARY
MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION
St. Isaac's Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are commissioned by the Diocese to distribute
the Holy Eucharist whenever the Parish Priests need assistance. They also make
Communion calls to the sick and shut-ins in the parish.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee assists the Pastor in studying and reviewing the financial
needs of the Parish and makes periodic reviews of the giving habits of the
Parish.
GENUARDI'S
ESCRIPT PROGRAM
Register your Genuardi's Club Card to designate St. Isaac Jogues to receive cash
back.
GREETERS/MINISTRY
OF HOSPITALITY
Sign up to become a "greeter" before Mass. There is no special
training needed. All you have to do is arrive 15 minutes before Mass
begins, smile, extend your hand and/or welcoming words to all that are entering
God's house to celebrate the Eucharist.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The St. Isaac Jogues Council of the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal
organization dedicated to serving the needs of our Church, families, youth,
community, and our members. Guided by our Catholic faith, we engage in a variety
of service programs and events to address the physical and spiritual needs of
people, and to enrich their lives. You can learn more about our council at
www.kofcvalleyforge.org .
LECTOR
MINISTRY
Lectors at St. Isaac Jogues are dedicated to proclaiming the Word
of God creatively, powerfully and effectively. Proclaiming takes a great
deal more effort than reading. By proclaiming the Word of God, we help
our fellow parishioners hear and understand God, expressing Himself
through the Scriptures. Lectors are assigned for all Sunday, Holyday, and
National Holiday Masses based on their availability. Each lector has 3 to
4 assignments each quarter.
LEGION
OF MARY
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the
Catholic Church with well over 3 million active members in almost every country
of the world. The Legion of Mary has been approved by the last 6 Popes and
was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion
of Mary is to make its members better Catholics through a balanced program of
prayer and service in union with the Holy Spirit as he operates through Mary, Mother
of the Church. Their works include: visiting people in hospitals, nursing
homes, assisted living, parishioners who are homebound, youth work and other
spiritual needs of the parish and community.
OPERATION FOOD PANTRY
Operation Food Pantry is an on-going project in the parish.
Non-perishable food is collected before and after all Masses the first full weekend
of every month. Monetary donations may be made to the Food Pantry. The
donations are delivered and distributed to needy families at St. Malachy's, our
sister parish in Philadelphia. Contributions are welcomed and we
encourage all parishioners to participate. There is a special need for drivers
who are available on weekdays between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. to deliver the
collected food to St. Malachy's.
PARISH COFFEE
Refreshments are served each Sunday morning in the Parish Hall, immediately
following 10:30 a.m. Mass and occasionally following the 9:00 a.m. Mass. All parishioners and guests are welcome to enjoy a cup of
coffee and a visit with old friends as well as new! New hosts/hostesses are always
welcome. (Coffees are not held on major holydays, holidays and most summer
weekends.)
PARISH
PASTORAL COUNCIL
A Parish Pastoral Council fosters participation of the
entire parish in the life and mission of the Church. The Council as a
consultative body, advises and assists the pastor in areas of pastoral concern.
It develops and recommends parish pastoral plans through consensus in an
atmosphere of prayerful reflection. The pastor of the parish is the chairperson.
Members of the Pastoral Council are to be representative of the entire parish
recognizing and reflecting the parish's diversity. The Pastoral Council needs to
collaborate and cooperate with the parish staff, committees, groups and
parishioners. Membership of the Pastoral Council includes the Pastor as Chair, three ex
officio members, Parish Business Manager, Parish Services Director and Religious Education Director, three appointed lay
representatives and six elected lay representatives. Each elected lay
representative serves a term of three years. Nominations to the Pastoral Council take place annually in April and early
May. Elections are held in May by secret ballot. Two representatives are elected
annually to each serve a three year term.
PERPETUAL
ADORATION
Visit the "Perpetual Adoration" link under Parish Links on our Home
Page.
PRE-JORDAN
PROGRAM
Visit the "Religious Education" link on our Home Page.
PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM
Visit the "Preschool" link on our Home Page.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION
Visit the "Religious Education" link on our Home Page.
SENIORS'
GROUP - JOLLY JOGUES
Parishioners over fifty-five years of age are invited to join our Seniors
Group. Social events, day trips and Christian social service events are
enjoyed while our members build a sense of community among our
parishioners. Monthly meetings are held the second Tuesday of each
month. Please refer to the Parish Bulletin for meeting times and special
activities. A schedule of events is available upon request.
ST. JOHN'S HOSPICE
The Hospice, located in Philadelphia, provides housing for 35 men each night and
breakfast and dinner for about 400 men and women daily. We participate in the
Hospice Hot Casserole Program by preparing casseroles in the months which have 5
Mondays (about 4 times a year). Pans and recipes are available in the rear of
the church as announced and frozen casseroles are to be brought to the Parish
Hall on the designated days. Also, clean men's clothing accepted anytime for
delivery.
ST. MALACHY PARISH
St. Malachy is our sister parish located at 1429 North 11th Street in
Philadelphia. Throughout the year we assist St. Malachy spiritually, financially
and materially. Each year Thanksgiving dinners, donated by our parishioners, are
delivered. Each year up to 15 cars and vans are filled to capacity with
Christmas gifts from our Advent Giving Trees and distributed among the families
of St. Malachy's.
USHERS
St. Isaac's Usher Ministry provides ushers for all Sunday,
Holyday, and National Holiday Masses. Usher team leaders solicit
volunteers and provide the necessary training. Usher manuals are
provided.
WAY
OF CHRIST (formerly RCIA)
Visit the "Religious Education" link on our Home Page.
YASKI - Young
Adults of St. Katharine's and St. Isaac's
We are a group of Catholic young adults between the ages of 21 and 39
from all over the Archdiocese of Philadelphia joining together for faith,
fellowship, and fun! We share in our commitment to the Blessed Sacrament,
sanctity of life, and Catholic heritage to foster relationships and grow
together in unity. Every week we host a Bible Study to examine the
readings for the upcoming Sunday, and after that we get together for fellowship
at a local restaurant. Visit http://www.yaski.org
to learn how you can join in on the fun!
YOUTH MINISTRY
St. Isaac's offers the unique opportunity for youth, grades six through twelve,
to fully immerse themselves in the Catholic Faith. Activities within the
community, socials, spiritual and service events, worship services and
athletics provide the means for the youth to establish and strengthen
relationships with others. At the heart of this group is the mission of
realizing God's significance in the world and to live as Christ in word and
deed.