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1.
Advocates
for the Disabled 1.
Advocates
for the Disabled The goal of our Advocates for the Disabled is to be especially aware of the needs of people with disabilities within our parish. We help sensitize people to the needs and gifts of the people with disabilities. We help provide a more appropriate environment for them to be able to participate more fully in our liturgies and various activities. Our religious education program for the children includes "special ed" children. When we are aware of any special needs, St. Augustine's tries to respond. We encourage people to let us know their needs. St. Augustine's is also part of an effort to encourage accessible housing in the neighborhood. On a regular basis Catholic Charities of Brooklyn/Queens offers workshops on such topics as hearing and vision impairments, mental illness, developmental disabilities, the aging process. People from St. Augustine's have attended these workshops. Contact Person: Marge Miller - Anyone interested in getting more information can leave a message at the Rectory. Top 2.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
En Español The Pantry provides 3-day emergency food packages to needy families and individuals residing within the boundaries of St Augustine's Parish. Families with dependent children, the elderly, and disabled and needy individuals are eligible to receive pantry food packages every four weeks. We are open every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration takes place in St. Monica Hall on Sterling Place, and food packages are given out on Park Place from the basement of the Rectory. Eligibility
Food Pantry Policies
3.
H.O.P.E.
(Healing Ourselves and People Everywhere) The H.O.P.E.
dinners are a joint ministry of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Metropolitan
Community Church AIDS Ministry of Brooklyn, and AIDS Interfaith New York.
Begun in 1993, the H.O.P.E. dinners provide a monthly meal and fellowship
for people with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. The dinners are open to people
of all faiths and uncertain faith, and offer a warm atmosphere in which to
socialize, have a delicious meal, and find spiritual nourishment through prayer,
music and reflection. The dinners serve approximately 35 to 45 individuals
each month. Volunteers prepare nutritious, home-cooked food, and bring it
to the Father Dempsey Center at St. Augustine's on the third Sunday of each
month. The dinners reach the most disenfranchised people affected by HIV/AIDS:
gay men of color, active and recovering drug abusers, poor families, and children.
The H.O.P.E. dinners have always been a ministry of abundance and healing.
Strong efforts are made to share abundance -- of food and God's love -- with
each guest, for whom deprivation and sheer survival are the defining characteristics
of their lives. Volunteers are always welcome to help set up, cook, and clean
up. Donations are always welcome, especially for the well-attended holiday
meals. Meeting Time/Place: 3rd Sunday of the month at the Fr. Dempsey Center
at 3 p.m. Contact Persons: Kevin Cooper, Bob Breagy, Janine Deitz.
Top 4.
Pax Christi
Downtown Brooklyn Local Pax Christi is an international peace group with national, regional, and local organizations. It was founded after World War II, particularly to foster peace among nations. Related efforts include working toward nuclear disarmament, elimination of land mines, the end of capital punishment, and conflict resolution between individuals. Pax Christi recognizes violence in the world and in ourselves. Our approach is to counter violence through prayer, study, and action. Meeting Time/Place: We meet the second Thursday of each month. Contact Persons: Rosemary Palms. Top 5.
Golden
Age Club There was a need
to have a parish senior citizens group. We have been in existence for about
7 years. The club is a gathering of our Haitian, English, Spanish senior parishioners
who are 50 years of age and up. The seniors enjoy each otherÕs company by
joining in talking about family, events of the day, parish events and small
chitchat. We plan things to do during the year, such as: bus outings, crafts,
lunches, birthday celebrations, dance lessons, movies, prayer devotions, and
"Bingo." We have invited guests from the police department, medical personnel,
YWCA, etc. Our goal is to have more members (especially males). We are a small
group. Volunteer teachers for crafts are needed for knitting, crocheting,
etc. Meeting Time/Place: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, from 1:30
- 3:30 PM, at the Fr. Dempsey Center, 61 Park Place, Brooklyn, New York
11217 Contact Persons: Sr. Ellen Glavey.
Top 6.
Homebound Program The Homebound Program provides services and companionship for elderly and infirm members of the parish community who are unable to leave home. Parishioners visit, run errands, bring Communion, pick up groceries, drive to appointments and help with other household tasks for clients as needed. We also deliver bags to homebound clients from the parish Food Pantry. Please let us know if you or a neighbor or friend would like a visitor, or if you are interested in participating as a volunteer. Top
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