If you're interested in any of the following activities or would like more information, please contact the committee members listed.
Advent Project
A monetary collection is taken to provide Christmas plants to nursing home residents and shut-ins from our parish. This small gesture lets them know that they are thought of during this special season.
Birthright
Birthright offers an alternative to abortion by providing caring, non-judgmental support to girls and women who are distressed by an unplanned pregnancy. Birthright services are free, absolutely confidential, and available to any woman regardless of age, race, creed, economic or marital status. Birthright's Philosophy is that
"It is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born."
- For more information, contact Mary Moothart, 266-3316
Catholic Worker House
Members of our parish donate food, serve, and dine with the residents of the Catholic Worker House, 321 E 8th Street, Waterloo, Iowa, once a month on an "on-call" basis.
- For more information, please contact Winnie Hayes at 266-0763.
Community Meals
To help those in need, meals are served once a week at the First Methodist Church, 8th and Washington Streets, Cedar Falls, each Tuesday
(except for the first Tuesday of each month).
St. Patrick's is responsible for donating, preparing, serving, and cleaning up on the 2nd Tuesday each month. The participants look forward to the social evening, nourishing food, fun, and fellowship.
- For more information, please call Judy Weekley, 266-8711 or 266-7898.
Crises Response
Everyone faces challenges and sometimes a little assistance is needed during times of accident, illness, or other losses. Its the loving response that we can provide that may ease the trouble for another. Perhaps you could prepare and deliver a complete meal to a family? Or act as an emergency care giver? Or provide transportation to a doctor or dentist appointment.
Habitat for Humanity
The
Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.
St. Patrick's members may become involved by working with the family, by helping with construction, or by providing a meal for the volunteer workers.
- For more information, please contact Luann Alemao at 266-8021
Helping Hands
From time to time, the parish office receives requests from senior parishioners or a person with a disability asking if there is someone who could help with minor repairs, lawn care, snow removal, or moving furniture or other miscellaneous items. A truck and driver, or someone handy with tools or a paint brush would be of great help to these members.
- Please contact the Parish Office at 266-3523.
Homebound Visitation
Volunteers from the parish are individually matched with elderly or otherwise shut-in members of the parish. The volunteers are expected to visit and socialize with their partner at least once a week. The visit can be as simple as talking, or may involve sharing a meal, playing cards, or sharing a common interest. The visit provides a link between the individual and the parish, promotes Christian fellowship, and provides a much needed opportunity for socializing.
- For further information, please contact Caty Juhlin or Carolyn Lee at 266-3523
Matthew 25 Fund
The Matthew 25 Fund reaches out to those in our community who are turned down for assistance (for whatever reason) by other agencies.
We maintain a small food pantry to help people thru a crisis. We are always in need of food items that can set on a shelf for a week or two until a need arises.
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Items such as cereal, peanut butter, canned meat, pasta, canned vegetables, canned fruit, instant potatoes, soups, crackers, fruit juices, or Velveeta cheese (which doesn't require refrigeration) are just a few of the items that can be left at the Parish Office as a donation for the pantry.
Or, you may wish to make a cash donation - just place the donation into an envelope marked Matthew 25 Fund and place it in the collection basket at any of the masses.
- Money earmarked for Matthew 25 is used for gas money, partial rent assistance, utility assistance, payment for prescription medicines, or other cash emergencies that may occur.
A family temporarily without food knows we are here. People with medical, emotional, or physical problems have been helped. Someone stranded in Cedar Falls because of car trouble finds their way to our door. Many of the things we take for granted everyday are often just the thing we need to provide in order to help the poor or needy.
- For more information, please call Caty Juhlin or Carolyn Lee at 266-3523.
Meals On Wheels
A non-profit, volunteer based service, Meals On Wheels delivers nutritious midday meals to people who are elderly, disabled, or homebound, and unable to prepare their own meals. St. Patrick's parish members deliver meals in the months that have 5 weeks.
- For more information, contact Jane Jones, 266-3256
Nursing Home Ministry
Parties are held approximately four times a year at the nursing homes in the Cedar Falls area. St. Patrick provides refreshments and plans entertainment for the residents. School children from St. Patrick School often entertain at these events.
- For more information, please contact the Parish Office at 266-3523.
Prison Ministry
St. Patrick Social Concerns would like to begin a Prison Ministry to address the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women and children, to their families and to those who work in the prison environment.
- If you're interested, please call Tim Boller at 277-8149.
Sister Parish
St. Patrick is twinned with John Bosco Parish in Haiti. Members of our parish made a visit in 2002 and their experience is captured on
this mission page. There are many ways that parishioners can become involved in this project - become a member of the committee, donate funds earmarked for teacher salaries, or donate funds and/or supplies to the medical clinic.
- For more information, contact Joni Krejchi at 277-4028 or Amy Hoyer at 266-8711
Social Concerns Collection
On the 2nd Sunday of
each month, cash in excess of $200.00 collected during the Offering at each of the masses, is earmarked for the Social Concerns Committee. Each month, the Committee designates a local agency, group, or cause to receive the money from this collection. Past receipients have been Operation Threshold, Habitat for Humanity, and the Catholic Worker House.
- For more information, please contact Tim Boller at 277-8149.
World Responsibility Fund
Each fiscal year
(July to July) the parish tithes a certain amount of money from the parish budget to be donated to worthwhile projects to help the needy in the United States and throughout the world. Approximately half of the money budgeted is donated to our sister parish, John Bosco Parish, in Haiti. The remaining funds are donated to projects designated by the Social Concerns Committee, subject to Father Secora's approval.
- For more information, please contact Tim Boller at 277-8149.