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Associated Ministries
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Social Ministries

Social Ministry at St. Isidore

Social Ministry is a ministry of hope and of love, reminding us that God cares for us and will not abandon us in our time of need.  Social Ministry is instituted by Christ and rooted in scripture. "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthews 25:40)

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS "AA"

St. Isidore hosts a large AA meeting on Thursday evenings, with sessions held in the Ott Center.

ALTAR GUILD

This wonderful group of men and women help to keep our church in perfect condition for worship. Tasks range from cleaning altar cloths and linens to polishing pews and furniture in the church. Through the donation of dues and sales of religious articles, the Altar Guild helps to defray the cost of altar bread and wine used during Mass.

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY

St. Isidore offers support and service to the families of our parish who experience a loss through death. When a parishioner, parent, spouse or child of a parishioner dies, the Bereavement Ministry prepares food dishes for the family of the deceased and delivers it to the home where the family meets after the funeral.

The Healing Hearts Ministry sends cards or makes personal visits to the family of the deceased. This contact is very important in expressing to the family that we as their parish family are praying for them and supporting them through this difficult time.

On the Sunday nearest All Saints (November 1), there is a special Bereavement Mass on the weekend to remember all who have died during the last year.

BLOOD DONOR DRIVES

Three times a year, St. Isidore schedules a parish-wide blood drive with Our Lady of the Lake and United Blood Services quarterly. This service is vital to the community and allows a donor family to obtain blood replacement for their immediate family members.

A few days before Christmas Toy Drive Ministry bags the gifts so that St. Vincent de Paul members assisted by our youth can deliver the toys at the same time that they deliver the Christmas food baskets.

CLASSY SENIORS

This group of 50 "somethings"  and over travels regularly to area attractions.  They have toured St. Joseph's Seminary, taken in "Phantom of the Opera" at the Sanger in New Orleans, taken the Blue Bonnet Swamp tour, and most recently, toured the D-Day Museum and lunched at Mulattes Cajun Restaurant. For more information on the Classy Seniors, check our weekly Harvester publication or contact our Social Ministry Director.

Classy Seniors enjoy lunch at Mulattes following a tour of the D-Day museum in New Orleans (below).

COUNSELING – CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES

The Pastor offers pastoral counseling for parishioner’s needs.

Catholic Community Services is a major ministry of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Its Counseling division offers professionally trained social workers as counselors by appointment, at the office in Baton Rouge is CCS’ office building adjacent to the Catholic Life Center

DIVORCED PERSONS

Counseling for divorced persons is available from the Pastor and from the trained counselor of Catholic Community Services. 

Beginning Experience:  Weekend retreats for separated, divorced, and widowed persons are offered four times a year by Beginning Experience "B.E.," an international retreat movement of the Catholic Church offered through its Baton Rouge team.  Contact the church office for information on dates.

GRIEF RECOVERY

Parishioners can call on the programs and staff of a Catholic organization in the diocese devoted especially to this ministry, the Grief Recovery Center.

HOSPITAL MINISTRY

Catholic Chaplains are available at Baton Rouge General, Lane Memorial, and Our Lady of the Lake. The Lake notifies us each day of parishioners who are in their hospital. A family member or friend must call the Parish to let us know someone is in Earl K. Long, Lane Memorial, Summit or Woman’s Hospitals. The General and the Lake have Eucharistic ministers to bring Communion to patients. The Pastor also makes hospital visits.

St. Isidore has a Hospital Visitation Ministry, visiting the General, the Lake, and Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary.

Volunteers are always needed to keep active six teams of volunteers. Each team takes one week in which to make their visits. It only takes a small amount of time–one visit in six weeks. It can be a very rewarding experience for the volunteer as well as the patient.

St. Isidore assists those in need -- who live within the geographical boundaries of our church parish -- regardless of their race, religion, or beliefs. The most frequent assistance is with food, although the parish can assist persons in obtaining other types of assistance.

St. Isidore’s St Vincent de Paul Society distributes food to those who have made arrangements through the Parish Office. Food is usually distributed on Mondays from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. New members for the Society are urgently needed.

See also Christmas Food Baskets.

St. Isidore’s Nursing Home Ministry serves the two homes in our Parish: Baton Rouge Health Care on Thomas Road, and Community Care Center of Baker on Baker Blvd.

Communion Services are held there regularly, assisted or conducted by our parishioners and Deacon Bruno Rizzo. Special care is taken to visit those unable to leave their rooms for the services. Residents receive the Sacrament of the Anointing from St. Isidore’s pastor twice a year.

Birthday parties are given monthly by members of our Nursing Home Ministry, in each of the two homes. The ministry provides a modest present along with the celebration. There is a great need to reach out to these very special people. Some are indeed very lonely and have no family to celebrate their birthday.

Members elected and appointed from both parish and school fill this committee which works on the goals and direction the parish as a whole will grow.

Over 80 members are contacted when any of thousands of prayer requests are received each year. Prayer requests are passed on through the prayer line each day by contacting members at home. Being a minister of our prayer line is a vital part of the parish’s support system.

Those who are elderly and at home can particularly contribute their powerful prayers in this ministry.

Mass and Luncheon for Seniors:  On first Wednesdays of the month (sometimes changed if a holiday falls on that date-- check the parish calendar for altered dates), Mass is at 11 AM in the church, followed by a luncheon in the Ott Center for seniors, sponsored by the Catholic Daughters.

Classy Seniors:  Special trips are taken by the seniors to interesting nearby locations, an opportunity to get out, to visit interesting places, and to enjoy fellowship. Call the Parish Office for information.

Other services for seniors:  Click on any of the following items to go elsewhere on the website for information of interest to seniors: Hospital Ministry, Nursing Home Ministry, Shut-ins, Prayer Line.

SHUT-INS

Holy Communion is brought to shut-ins once a week. It is a particularly beautiful ministry of volunteer Eucharistic Ministers to visit throughout the Parish.  Please call the Parish Office, to request Communion for yourself, or to let us know of someone who would enjoy this ministry. It is of particular help to those who are recuperating from surgery.

Telephoning Ministry:  plays a very important role in the life of the homebound. The members make occasional contacts at the persons request. The ministry keeps the office informed of the needs of our parishioners, who are homebound. They also send birthday and Christmas cards to them.

Transportation for the Elderly:  This ministry provides transportation for the elderly to go to church, to the doctor, or to pick up prescriptions or any other necessary items. This ministry is set up on an "as needed" basis. When a parishioner calls and needs a ride, we call a person on this ministry list and check to see who is available. This is a very appreciated service that we provide for our elderly.

Channel 15 - The Baton Rouge Diocese "Catholic Life Channel":  With local programming during the day, Channel 15 is growing each year.