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Bereavement Ministry -
Individuals who help others who have suffered a loss of
a loved one. Each facilitator is required to undergo
training in grief and loss in order to lead a group and
create an environment where people can gather and
express their own grief, learn more about the process of
grieving and, through prayer and ritual, mourn the loss
of a loved one. The group led by the facilitator is
close-ended and meets for a series of seven sessions.
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Blood Drive - The parish conducts blood drives
each spring and fall under the auspices of Long Island
Blood Services with the assistance of the St. Agnes
Council of the Knights of Columbus. Information about
the blood drives will appear in the bulletin. Anyone 17
years or older, in good health and weighing at least 100
pounds may donate blood. (16 year olds need parental
consent and if you are over 75 you will need to bring a
note from your physician.) Everyone must have picture ID
with signature (i.e. driver's license).
Consider donating your blood to save lives. If
you are unable to donate, consider donating your time to
help during the drives registering donors after Masses,
making phone calls or helping with hospitality during
the drive.
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 Giving
Tree - The Giving Tree began in 1994 as
a St. Agnes Youth Group activity and two years later
expanded to the entire parish. Since then several
thousand ornaments have been distributed every year by
hundreds of adults and children from St. Agnes. Our
generous parishioners donate thousands of gifts after
which the Giving Tree committee swings into
action—sorting, organizing and preparing the gifts for
distribution.
The gifts are donated to various outreach and charitable
organizations which use the gifts to make the Christmas
season brighter for those less fortunate among us. |
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 Knights of Columbus
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The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal and benevolent
organization of Catholic men witnessing to the faith by
their camaraderie and their works of charity. St. Agnes
Council 2548 sponsors several youth organizations and
activities such as the parish-based Boy Scout and Cub
Scout troops and annual essay competitions and the
basketball free-throw contest. The council assists the
parish in all areas of stewardship with its members’
time, talent and treasure, which they offer both
individually and collectively. Its charitable works
include financial assistance to seminarians and to other
worthy organizations and causes. Among the many
activities that the Council sponsors, promotes and
supports is the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade.
Throughout the year, members and their families have the
opportunity to enjoy and participate in many religious
and social activities. The St. Agnes Council meets on
the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the Youth
Ministry Room of the Parish Ministry Building.
MORE...
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 Parish
Outreach -
Based on love of neighbor and the love of God, St. Agnes
Parish Outreach provides assistance to our brothers and
sisters in need throughout the year. For over 34 years
it has been helping people from all parts of the
Rockville Centre community. Our mandate comes from St.
Matthew’s account of the final judgment, when we will be
judged on our love of neighbor as well as our love of
God. Among the services Outreach provides are:
Food, clothing and furniture assistance, Information
and referral, Advocacy, Assistance to families in
securing home health aides, companions and house
cleaners, Networking with the St. Vincent de Paul
society, the Mayor’s office and the Economic Opportunity
Council, Delivering Meals on Wheels to the frail elderly
of our community, Holiday baskets for Thanksgiving,
Christmas and Easter for the needy, Sponsoring a
Christmas toy drive, You can participate in many ways:
by donating food, clothing, furniture, gift cards, cash
or your time, and, especially, your prayers.
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Parish Party Committee
- The Committee prepares for the
annual parish party held every fall in the Parish
Center. The parish party provides an opportunity for the
parish to enjoy an evening of conversation, music,
dancing, dining and enjoyment and to honor someone who
has made significant contributions to the parish. Each
spring the Rector asks a different couple to chair the
event and form a committee to organize the event and
produce the journal which is a major fund raiser for the
parish. Besides making the party a reality, the
committee has proven to be a vehicle wherein friendships
are developed and nurtured.
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 Pastoral Council
- Pastors know that Christ
did not mean for them to shoulder the entire mission of
the Church themselves. A pastor needs to consult with
the laity who in turn have the right to express their
views and concerns to the pastor. An important structure
to foster this collaboration is the parish pastoral
Council. The Council is generally comprised of eleven
members of the parish and the Rector. The Council could
be envisioned as a “think tank” for the pastoral staff.
It reviews the Parish mission statement and seeks better
ways for the parish to envision its goals. The Council
meets once a month.
MORE...
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Parish Website Team
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The Web Site Team of the Parish of St. Agnes Cathedral
is a voluntary group of parishioners, open to all ages.
The team exists to answer the challenge of searching
out, evaluating and implementing ways in which the
internet and technology can be used to spread the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
We do this in order that people may be assisted
in living out their baptismal calling; that people may
continue to grow into becoming one body; and to extend
our parish’s faith and knowledge.
The team directly maintains our
parish website (www.stagnescathedral.org)
as well as assists St. Agnes Cathedral School in
maintaining the school’s website (www.stagnes-school.org).
The parish website is maintained as a primary
source of timely and value added information for our
parishioners and internet visitors.
In addition, the
team administers the e-mail accounts of the pastoral
staff and parish ministries. Assistance and technology
advice is provided to all parish organizations and
ministries in meeting the needs of their members.
New members are
always welcome as we look for ways to enhance our parish
presence on the internet.
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 Respect
Life
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The mission of the Respect
Life Group is to “promote the sanctity of human life
from conception to natural death through prayer,
education, advocacy and peaceful presence.” The group
meets monthly September through June. It participates in
the annual events—“March for Life” in Washington D.C.,
“Stand-Up for Life” in Huntington and the “National
Night of Prayer.” The group also prays the rosary in
front of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in
Hempstead; hosts educational speakers on current life
issues; promotes boycotts of companies that support
Planned Parenthood and abortion; urges legislative
action in support of human life and fundraises for
organizations that support life-affirming alternatives
to abortion.
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St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Advocates and educates on behalf of the poor and
elderly. The Society works closely with the Parish
Outreach Office and meets twice monthly. A central
part of the Society's work is to meet with families in
need, assess their situation and work to fill these
needs. The Society attempts to help with their day
to day needs-food, clothing, shelter and direction.
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Senior Club
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The Senior Club welcomes all people in the Rockville
Centre community and surrounding areas who are 50 years
of age or older. Members participate in both spiritual
and social activities. The club sponsors outside
speakers, outings and trips, luncheons, socials and a
“lending library.” It also supports the Parish Outreach
Center with food and clothing. The club’s meetings
provide the opportunity to socialize with coffee and
cake as well as learn. The club meets on the first
Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish
Center. New members are always welcome.
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 Stewardship Committee
- Stewardship acknowledges
that God is the source of all our gifts and talents, and
we are the caretakers of these gifts. Effective
stewardship education and formation rely on leadership
by example. Stewardship encourages us to make a
difference and to become involved. It challenges
individuals and families to re-examine their
relationship with God, each other, the workplace, the
community and the parish. It increases awareness and
appreciation of the presence of the Lord in our lives.
Where stewardship has been implemented, both givers’ and
receivers’ lives have been changed. True conversion has
taken place in the hearts and minds of many who embrace
Stewardship as a way of life.
The promotion of the practice of stewardship is
important for the mission of the Church and for the
spiritual well-being of each individual Christian.
“Everyone benefits from the sacrificial gift one makes
of his time, talent and treasure" (Pope Benedict XVI).
The Stewardship Committee facilitates and supports the
growth of the Parish by responding with our Time, Talent
and Treasure in response to God’s many gifts.
MORE...
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