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.
BLOOD DRIVE
The Red Cross holds a Blood Drive twice a year (September and
April) at St. Isaac's in the Parish Hall. Sign up sheets
are available at the church entrances at the time of the
drive. The usual hours for the drive are 1:00 to 6:30
P.M. however occasionally times may vary.
CAREER NETWORK
The Social Action Committee coordinates a two-part
program to assist the unemployed and underemployed of
the parish:
· Parishioners are asked to support this program by
advertising in the Parish Bulletin (at no cost) job
opportunities of which they may be aware.
· Those who are unemployed may submit a skills summary
to be published periodically in the bulletin. After
reviewing the candidate's summary, parishioners aware of
open positions requiring the identified skills are asked
to call with their information. It will be passed on to
the candidate for follow-up.
All information is handled confidentially and in
accordance with the submitter's request.
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. Over 100 parishioners volunteer to collect once each year for the
Catholic Charities door to door solicitation. This unselfish giving of their
time is an important way for every parishioner to directly participate in doing
God's work. The needs of the appeal are met only because so many of our
parishioners are willing to become involved and serve the Lord.
CCD (See Religious Education. )
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.
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 REGISTER TAPES
Genuardi Supermarket register tapes are turned into cash for the many ministries
of St. Isaac Jogues Parish. These tapes generate approximately $5,000 of income
for the parish in a typical year. Parishioners need only drop the tapes in any
collection basket, or at the Rectory Office, and the committee will organize,
sort, tabulate and turn them into Genuardi's. St. Isaac's receives 1% of the
face value of all tapes turned in.
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 .
MERCHANDISE GIFT CERTIFICATES
Merchandise certificates may be used at Acme, Genuardi, and
SuperFresh. Whether you call them, Merchandise Coupons or Gift
Certificates, and just recently Genuardi's introduced Gift Cards . . . every
time you use them 5% comes back to St. Isaac's to be used in our Pro-Life and
social service programs such as Mom's House. They cost you nothing extra, they
are safer than cash, and easy to use. Available in denominations of $5, $10, and
$25; Genuardi Gift Cards are available in $50 and $100 and are used as debit
cards.
For your convenience, coupons are now available: · Sunday in the Parish Hall ·
Weekdays at the Rectory Office (business hours) · with a call in advance to
arrange pick up
MOTHER THERESA'S
Mother Theresa's Sisters (Missionary Sisters of Charity) offer a temporary
shelter in Norristown for 30-35 women and children and also provide a daily soup
kitchen. Volunteers are welcome. Volunteer drivers are needed for occasional
pick-ups and deliveries to Norristown. Donations of food are always appreciated.
OPERATION FOOD PANTRY
Operation Food Pantry is an on-going project of the Social Action Committee.
Non-perishable food is collected before and after all Masses the first weekend
of every month. Acme and SuperFresh gift certificates can be purchased and
donated to the Food Pantry.
The food and certificates are delivered and distributed to needy families at our
sister parish in Philadelphia, St. Malachy. 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.
PARISH COFFEE
Refreshments are served each Sunday morning in the Parish Hall, immediately
following 10:30 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 are always
welcome. (Coffees are not held on major holydays, holidays and most summer
weekends.
PARISH SOCIAL EVENTS
Various St. Isaac social events are held in the Parish Hall throughout the year.
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.
POST ABORTION HEALING
A Catholic approach to healing abortion's pain can be found with Project Rachel.
Project Rachel links psychological counseling with the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
The Center for Post Abortion Healing offers individual, family, marital and support group counseling. A 15 week support group provides a safe and caring environment with other women who have experienced the pain, emptiness and heartache which so soften follow an abortion. Under the guidance of a professional therapist, women can end the isolation by sharing their stories and begin the journey toward healing. This includes looking back on her decision, her support system, her family and relationships to explore the areas which may have been damaged. We work on anger, repressed grief, forgiveness of others and acceptance of God's forgiveness. The Center for Post Abortion Healing also offers Rachel's Vineyard Weekend Retreats.
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.
SOCIAL ACTION VOLUNTEERS
Social Action volunteers provide our parish community with and opportunity to
share its talents, skills and time with others. This group's goal is to provide
assistance and service to fellow parishioners as well as to a handful of area
social service agencies.
These volunteers act as a valuable resource group for our parish family.
Assistance is available in a variety of areas including babysitting,
companionship, driving, form preparation, legal and financial planning
assistance, shopping, cooking, yard work among others. The time commitment is
minimal and new volunteers are always welcome. By putting the words, "They will
know we are Christians by our love," into action, we gain some sense of
fulfillment and reward. Please contact us if you have any questions. If you have
a personal need of your own, know where help is needed or can give help, please
don't hesitate to call!
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 Tree and distributed among the families
of St. Malachy's. Under the auspices of the Social Action Committee the Food
Pantry is replenished on the first Sunday of each month.
WOMEN'S CLUB
All women of the Parish are cordially invited to join St. Isaac Jogues Women's
Club. Monthly meetings are the first Tuesday of each month in the Parish Hall. A
monthly activity is planned for each meeting as well as a Fall and Spring
special event fundraiser. Events are designed to meet the social, spiritual and
charitable needs of the group as well as the community.
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
or e-mail Jonathan at chairperson@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.