Service & Outreach Ministries

“A blessing in every stitch “

Shawls and blankets, handcrafted with prayer, are symbolic of our unconditionally loving God. They wrap, and fold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter, and beautify. Those who have received these shawls and blankets have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles. ( Janet Severi Bristow, co-author of the Prayer Shawl Journal and Guidebook.) 

How we bring God’s love to our time and place…

The prayer shall/blanket ministry members create lap blankets and shawls for those parishioners experiencing difficult times. God tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and that’s what we do for our brothers and sisters in Christ because we never know when they need a prayer. Prayers are offered for the recipients as the blankets and shelves are crafted and then blessed.

Volunteers are needed to knit, crochet, or tie fleece blankets and shawls. We also need volunteers to deliver and visit recipients. Donations of wool and fleece are appreciated. If you would like to be part of this ministry or have any questions, contact Elaine Luschas. 

Welcome, welcome, fellow parishioners and friends! This Lent, come enjoy a meatless meal, good fellowship and time with our Lord either by attending Stations of the Cross or spending some quiet time in the church. Kids can play in the gym, we can watch a movie, all ideas welcome! We offer a choice of two soups, a meatless dish, salad, plus PBJ for the kids. Optional donations will defray costs.  If you would like to donate a soup or dish or have questions, contact Gary & Kim Honabach .

Gary Honabach

Do you like to send cards? We have many greeting cards in the office and from time to time we get donations of greeting cards. The greeting card ministry team are notified by the office of parishioners that we feel could use some consolation.

Contact:

Parish Office

(570) 784-0801

Warmth from the Heart: Our church wants to help our community stay warm again next winter with your help. We’re collecting warm clothing for infants, children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly.

Please provide clean gently worn items or new: coats, jackets, boots, shoes, shirts, pants, jeans, sweaters, sweatshirts, sweatpants, flannels, pajamas, snow pants, socks, hats, gloves, mittens, sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, or anything else that provides warmth. Please, nothing electrical!

Please put your gently used items in a box or bags labeled “WARMTH FROM THE HEART” putting it in a container near the water fountain in the cafeteria. Help will be needed with organizing periodically as items are brought in.

We will have the days of giving October 29-31.

Please contact Cindy Womer, cmwomer@gmail.com if you have questions and if you can help!! We also provide help when community members need it throughout the year.

Contact:

Cindy Womer

A properly functioning parish finance council is integral to good parish financial management, is required by canon law, and a key element of a parish internal control system. The Parish Finance Council provides oversight of the financial management of the parish. Major responsibilities of the Parish Finance Council include input to, and review of the parish annual budget and periodic financial statements; review of internal controls and procedures; and planning for the temporal needs of the parish. Finance council membership is by appointment. The council meets bimonthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month.

Contact:

Bill Padner

The Society of the Compassionist is an ecumenical collection of volunteers who visit the chronically ill and dying to provide support, to receive and partner in the suffering and loneliness that can be difficult to bear.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11: 28-30

Contact:

Ken Cover

About

A group of volunteers which are called upon twice a year to assist with stuffing envelopes and organizing mailings, for instance, the Advent and Lenten mailings to all Parishioners.

Anyone interested is invited to call the Parish office and be added to the list. This is not a binding responsibility; the office will call and check up on your availability as needed.

Contact

Parish Office
570.784.0801

About

Do you have a flair for decorating, a passion for design, or color, or flowers? Or are you willing to help iron occasionally or water flowers?

We are always looking for Parish Friends to help make the church look beautiful, especially during Easter and Christmas seasons, when lilies and poinsettias need extra loving care.

Contact the office or Rachel Lauck to leave your name, and we will be happy to contact you.

Contact

Rachel Lauck
570.466-3864

The Bloomsburg Food Cupboard is right across the parking lot on the parish grounds, in the Father Devine Community Center. We distribute food every week on Tuesdays, from 11:30am -2:15 pm and on Sundays, from 9:15 am-10:15 am. In inclement weather, we may have to close early. All we require is a proof of residence in Bloomsburg, Central Columbia, Benton, Millville, or Southern Columbia School Districts. We feature a market in which each family can choose from different categories to select foods their families prefer.

The Food Cupboard is supported by dozens of churches, schools, organizations, and community businesses.

Though not an official St. Columba Ministry, we offer this link for all who like to be involved as so many of our parishioners are.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

Contacts:

Martha Sheehe and Lynn Smith, co-administrators

Contact

Want to volunteer at the Food Cupboard?
Just click on the link below

Angel Tree Program

Our mission is to serve the poor by bringing Christ to others, sharing our treasure, and giving hope to the youngest of our community.
During the Advent season, we display gift suggestions for needy families in our area on a tree in the church.

Gifts are purchased, wrapped, and returned to the tree by a designated date.
Our gifts are then sorted and delivered to the designated families for their Christmas.

For those new to this long-standing program, the angels from families that are in need are put on a tree at the beginning of Advent. The angels on the tree list the child’s age, clothing sizes, and any requests made by the parent for their child (please note that there is a spending limit of $50 per person).
You take an Angel from the tree and wrap the gifts you can provide for that child. Make sure you attach the angel securely to the gift then bring it back to the church and place it under the tree.

May your heart go out to those families that are asking for diapers, coats and boots. Please consider picking an angel and getting a gift for these children. Our focus at Christmas and all year long is love so if you do not want to participate in the Angel Tree Project, please consider giving to the Love of Neighbor fund, Your Loving Choices, visiting those who are homebound, or some other form of outreach over the Holidays to express and share the Christmas Spirit. May Christ continue to bless you for your generosity.

Contact

Gary Honabach

About

It is our Diocesan policy that each Parish must have a Parish pastoral council to be a consultative board with the pastor to oversee different aspects of Parish life. They create public reports of Parish activity from their monthly meetings and provide input and advice as they discuss and consider issues that affect the Parish community. Membership of the Parish Council is by self-nomination.

Contact Rose Rhoads or Father Mowery for more information about Parish Pastoral Council.

Contact

Rose Rhoads
570-784-0808

About

Funeral Luncheons are a helpful service for parishioners wanting to have an easy place togather following the funeral of a loved one. The team sets up the cafeteria and assists, if needed, in the serving or setup of catered lunch items provided by the family. When the family calls to inquire about funeral luncheons, we share the following list of caterers which has been useful.

Catering OptionsDownload

Setup begins immediately following the 7:30 am Mass prior to a participating funeral program. The setup consists of arranging cafeteria tables and chairs, covering the tables and setting up service for the number of anticipated attendees. Setup also involves preparing other tables for beverage and food service.

Serving begins as soon as families return from internment in a local cemetery or immediately following the service. This time consists of moving food to the serving tables and monitoring family needs.

Clean up in the cafeteria and kitchen follows. This is truly a blessed volunteer service that is suitable for adult parishioners of all ages.

Contact:

DANA AND Nancy Hock

Angels for Life was born in 1995 when a group of St. Columba Parishioners convened to discuss how we could bring awareness and education to our Parish on the sacredness of all human life.  

We have had several big projects over the years and have our regular yearly events: the Pro-Life Fair Booth, Life-Chain, March for Life, the Renaissance Booth, the Mother’s’ Day Carnation Sale, and participation in the fundraisers for Your Loving Choices (our local Crisis Pregnancy Center). 

We also educate through bulletin articles and a bulletin board in the cafeteria (which will also be used for other Parish service groups). We have an ‘Angels’ Action Alert’ email list to inform of upcoming legislation dealing with protection for the lives of all from the preborn child to the infirmed elderly.  

Our hope and goal is help create a culture in our churches and in all of society in which human life is respected and dignified the way God intended.

Contact

Rhonda Dougherty