St. Agnes Parish Religious Education Programs

Although the job takes about two hours to complete, it is truly a labor of love to provide this important service for our Parish. Please contact Linda if you'd like more information.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES
Administer: Marge Powers
Contact: Kathleen Nelson (215) 945-2550, (215)957-6699
Fax: 215-945-3595
E-mail: knelson@chs-adphila.org

Catholic Social Services (CSS) maintains an office in the former convent building of St. Agnes Church. The address is 427 North Main Street, Sellersville, 18960.

CSS offers services to families and individuals in the community. Case management services can assist an individual or family in crisis with emergency assistance, support and advocacy, information and referral, and to develop a plan to improve their situation.

CSS also provides supportive services to women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Working on a one-to-one relationship, women’s needs can be assessed. Assistance finding medical care, planning for long term, information on resources and options, as well as addressing basic needs such as finding baby items, looking for day care, assistance food and formula needs will be provided.

CSS can assist an individual or family looking for services for an elder loved one. Discussions on long term care options, referral information and advocacy for seniors can be provided.

CSS can provide trainings and life skills groups to meet the needs in the community. Parenting classes for new parents.

CATHOLIC YOUTH AND ADULT
ASSOCIATION (C.Y.A.A.)
Contact: Carol Pepe (215) 257-5619

The C.Y.A.A. is a group of Catholic men and women performing works of charity and fund raising activities for the benefit of the parish, such as helping in the kitchen for the Christmas Bazaar and providing refreshments for social events.

Membership of the club is comprised of voluntary members who are parishioners of good character who have reached the age of 18. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month in the Social Hall. Please call Carol if you would like more information.

CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION (C.Y.O.)                                     Contact: John Maguire                                                                               Email:  jjmaguire3@verizon.net
The Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) ministers to our parish youth by providing a Christ centered environment for them to grow spiritually, physically, and socially. The organization offers participation in seven sports for grades 5 through 12.

C.Y.O. also offers a non sports oriented program called the Task Force. This group encourages our children's spiritual growth through service to others and through open discussion and a sense of belonging in a group of peers with a common Catholic background.

C.Y.O. also offers social activities for grades 5 through 8 throughout the year.

(Note: The C.Y.O. program is sponsored jointly by St. Agnes Parish, Sellersville and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Hilltown.)

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR COMMITTEE
Contact: Lynn von Mechow    215  257-6147
Grand Raffle: Florence Curran (215) 257-3546

The annual Christmas Bazaar is held on the first weekend in December. It is the major fund raising event of the parish. The various tables, as well as the kitchen, are run by our parishioners and feature gifts, crafts, baked goods and household items. Please call Lynn if you would like to help.

The Grand Raffle features valuable, interesting prizes, thanks to the generosity of “Supporters of the Grand Raffle”.   Proceeds of the Bazaar and Grand Raffle benefit the St. Agnes Parish Trust Fund for Catholic Educational Ministries.

CHURCH CLEANING CLUB
Contact: Ethel McGinnis  215-257-4509

The church building is cleaned in the morning on the first Wednesday of every month. No commitment is necessary; just show up when you are able to lend a hand.  Come and assist with this vital parish task. Help to keep our church of St. Agnes beautiful!

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
Contact: Ethel McGinnis   215-257-4509

This group serves the delicious donuts, juices and coffee that are offered following the 8:00 am and 10:00 am Sunday Masses once each month (except during the summertime). They also provide the congregation with an opportunity to get to know one another. Please call if you would like to help.

LOVING HANDS FOR BABIES
Contact: Rosemary Dorsi   215-257-9738

Loving Hands for Babies is a knitters and crocheters group that focuses on creating baby items for local Pregnancy Centers. The group meets every Tuesday in the Social Hall Meeting Room; however, you can also work on items from your home. Please contact us if you would like to get involved.

MINISTRY TO PARISHIONERS WITH DISABILITIES
Contact: Jeanette Brown (215) 257-1811
E-mail: Disabilitysa@comcast.net

The St. Agnes ministry to parishioners with disabilities seeks to find ways to welcome parishioners with disabilities into fuller participation in the life of the parish community. Approximately 20 percent of the population – one person in five – has some disability that limits one or more essential life functions. The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) estimates that 14 million Catholics in the United States live with a disability.

Our parish efforts to reach out to persons with disabilities include the examination of access features of our buildings, assistance to those preparing to receive the sacraments, availability of assistive listening devices in church, as well as wheelchairs, walkers, etc.; the collecting and distributing of educational and informational literature, participation in Archdiocesan celebrations of Mass for persons with disabilities, and the like.

For information on welcome, access, education, or to volunteer your assistance in building this ministry, contact Jeanette Brown.

PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL
Contact: Monsignor Wendrychowicz (215) 257-2128

The membership of the Finance Council advises the Pastor in areas related to the parish's financial planning process in support of the parish's mission and pastoral goals. The Council develops and proposes to the Pastor a strategic financial plan and an annual financial plan for the parish and also recommends to him directions for the implementation of the approved plans by the parish's administrators, staff and heads of parish organizations.

The purpose of the Council is to ensure that the parish, in achieving its mission as effectively as possible, is exercising responsible stewardship of parish resources. The Council helps the Pastor to oversee allocation of the parish's material goods and financial resources in a manner which is consistent with the long-term and short-term objectives of the parish.

Ordinarily, the Council meets four times per year. Committees of the Council meet in-between.

SACRISTAN VOLUNTEERS
Contact: Norman White (215) 258-0593

The parish sacristans volunteer their services, some on weekdays, some on weekends, to oversee preparations for Mass. In addition to unlocking and locking the church building, sacristans prepare the sacred vessels and cruets for Mass, see to the readiness of sound systems, keys, lights, candles, altar linens and related equipment. They arrange liturgical books and supplies as needed. The sacristans see to the availability of hosts, sacramental wine, collection bags, ciboria and chalices.

Volunteering as a sacristan is a worthwhile and rewarding use of time for persons whose schedule lends itself to this service. Training is provided in the form of reference notes and meetings with the Pastor. In addition, the Sacristan Coordinator provides an orientation to the storage and use of equipment and supplies.

SILVER AND GOLD CLUB
Contact: Mary Hafler  215-257-3176

The Silver and Gold Club is a social and educational group for the 55 plus age group. The club includes members from the parish and from the local community, and meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Social Hall. Club members enjoy special social events and educational speakers relevant to senior adults. Members take periodic trips and may get involved in the Walking Club, and the Sunshine Club. Please contact us if you would like to get involved.

ST. AGNES PARISHIONERS IN SERVICE(SAPIS)
Contacts: Ted and Lynne von Mechow (215) 257-6147
E-Mail: ancestorkid@comcast.net

“St. Agnes Parishioners in Service” (SAPIS) is a group of parishioners who help those in need in the area of the parish, primarily by participating in a monthly food collection. Baskets are provided at the entrances to the church building at all Masses on the weekend of the second Sunday each month. Donations include non perishable foods, cleaning products, toiletries, baby food and diapers.

SAPIS also received an allotment of donations from parishioners’ gifts to the “poor and needy” (known as the St. Agnes Service Association) and, in addition, receives the food donated annually by members of the parish’s Youth Forum in September.

SAPIS distributes a portion of the parish’s charitable giving in keeping with the list below.

Collected items are distributed to:

1. The Lord’s Cupboard of St. Agnes Church (receives food from SAPIS) - provides meals for those recently discharged form the hospital, for families following death of a relative, for those in need of a food basket during the holidays.

2. The Penn Foundation (receives food from SAPIS) – serves clients who are emotionally stressed, developmentally challenged, abused or addicted.

3. Pennridge F.I.S.H. (receives a variety of donations from SAPIS) – serves those who need temporary emergency assistance with shelter, food and clothing and to assist low-income residents waiting for government assistance. FISH also operates the ‘Emergency Food Assistance Program’ [TEFAP] supported by the Bucks County Opportunity Council, Inc. and the ‘Surplus Food Distribution’ from the USDA at its pantry.

ST. AGNES YOUTH FORUM (SAYF)
Contact: Deacon Harry Antrim (215) 721-9113

"A Vision of Youth Ministry" states, "Youth Ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community." At St. Agnes our youth ministry program is built around the framework presented in the publication "Renewing the Vision" written by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The goals of our parish's Catholic Youth Ministry are:

The Youth Forum meets on a regular basis during the school year, usually in the church social hall. Watch the bulletin for the current schedule and any special activities.

Our activities are a mix of service, social and spiritual. We do many service activities including: a clothing drive, food drive, Christmas giving tree, breakfast with Santa and Easter hunt. We serve the parish community with a waffle breakfast; we serve the CYAA at their year-end breakfast; and help facilitate a retreat for the Confirmation class. Socially, we get together for trips to Dorney Park, going to movies, hayrides, sleep-ins, and anything new we might want to do. We are always trying to do something new. We have many open discussions that help facilitate our spiritual growth. The highlight of our spiritual journey is our annual trip to Steubenville Summer Youth Conference. By taking "time out" from our busy lives, we get to spend a summer's weekend to explore our faith. We join 3000 other teens for this high-energy weekend and we come home having experienced the awesome love God has for all of us.

If you are a teen, or know of one who's looking for a role in the Church, or if you have an interest in being part of the leadership team, then accept my invitation to join us. Come to our next meeting and check us out. We ask you to “GET CONNECTED”.

THE LORD'S CUPBOARD (T.L.C.)
Contact: Jen Girone  215-723-6078

The Lord's Cupboard is an outreach organization made up of both men and women who give graciously of their time and talents both during the holidays and throughout the year, with the focus being on charity and service toward neighbor. The Lord's Cupboard consists of Meal-Makers who volunteer on an as-needed basis to prepare dinners for those members of our parish who could use a genuine "pick me up," such as a patient being discharged from the hospital, a new mom, or as a thoughtful, caring gesture to a family member who has suffered the loss of a dear one.

In preparation for each holiday season, Basket-Makers organize and distribute holiday baskets. Donations of canned goods, non perishables and gift certificates of all types are accepted at any time. These items are used to fill the baskets, help out those in need throughout the year, and if need be, aid the Meal-Makers in preparing meals. When food donations are in abundance, The Lord's Cupboard gives to the less fortunate in our community, in the name of St. Agnes Parish.

In addition, T.L.C. also provides Company Keepers. These volunteers offer short visitations along with smiles to those homebound who may desire a listening ear and a little conversation from a caring Christian. It is the hope of T.L.C. that through contact and thoughtful generosity in reaching out to others, the links of love are connected and as a result valued friendships are produced within our church and our community.

In order for T.L.C. to be a success we rely on the generosity of many. We also count on the concern of each parish member to notify us when we can be of service to one of our brothers or sisters in Jesus. We invite you to become one with us, and give, in turn, that love God has given you.

WEDDING REHEARSALS
Contact: Florence Curran (215) 257-3546
Wedding coordinators conduct rehearsals and prepare the participants for all phases of the wedding. The coordinator also attends the wedding to help ensure that all goes as planned.