PARISH SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE
Parish Social Ministry (PSM) is an outreach organization dedicated to developing lay leadership and a spirituality based on the Social Justice teachings of the Church that initiates action on social issues affecting the parish, community, nation, and the world.

Committee Meetings - First Wednesday of Each Month

Contact - Parish Social Ministry Office - 764-7545
Director - Dorothy Medeiros - 764-0325, ext. 104
PSM Chairperson - Kathleen DiCamilla - 764-9361



DIRECT SERVICE
Parish Outreach Office
Volunteers on this committee answer outreach phone calls daily and work directly with those in need of emergency assistance, i.e., utilities, rent and housing. Also, St.Helena's Food Closet collects and distributes food to those in need. Transportation is also provided by St. Helena's Parish.

Coordinator - Phyllis Robinson. Sewing Group Volunteers sew and knit baby items for those in need. Throughout the community; they also knit lap blankets for homebound parishioners.

Coordinator - Judy Wilbank

Caregivers
Caregivers' ministry provides information and support to individuals and families who are caring for a family member or a friend. Home visitations, retirement and nursing home visitations are done by volunteers as requested.

Coordinators - Kathleen DiCamilla and Cynthia Whisker

Lazarus Ministry
Lazarus Ministry contacts and helps families of deceased parishioners. Providing greeters at funeral liturgies, preparing meals and house sitting are several ways parishioners assist families. Also, an afternoon of remembrance is held every November for those deceased that year.

Coordinator - Rita Gazzillo


COMMUNITY SERVICE
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver hot meals to the elderly, the physically and/or mentally disabled and to those living alone with no other means of available support.

Coordinator - Bridget Kirk

Emmanuel Dining Room
Emmanuel Dining Room, located in Wilmington, provides meals to the needy. Our parishioners supply casseroles, and then parish teams deliver and serve the food to the hungry at the dining room.

Coordinator - Peg and John Coen

Holiday Giving
Parishioners are asked to give food for Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets and Christmas gifts through the "Giving Tree".

Coordinators - Linda Deeney and Diane Neary


SOCIAL JUSTICE
Social Justice Ministry
Social Justice Ministry looks at the root causes of social injustices such as homelessness, affordable housing, poverty, and other social justice issues at the local, national and international levels. Volunteers study and distribute information on important issues from organizations such as, Bread for the World, Pacem in Terris, Pax Christi, Network, Perpetual Pump for Ghana, and the Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative

Respect Life
Respect Life ministry promotes and educates the parish on Right-to-life issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, stem cell Research and the death penalty.

Coordinators - Patty Grimes and John Coen