+ SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania +

Parish Organizations

Organization Name	Description
Altar Servers	Servers assist with various duties during weekend and other parish liturgies. Open to young people after First Communion. Training is provided.
Mass Coordinators	Parishioners who prepare our church for the weekly Masses and who help with special events.
Ministers of the Eucharist	Those parishioners who have been commissioned to minister the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass. Communion Ministers also take Communion to the homebound and nursing home residents. People are chosen on the basis of their consistent faith as well as their moral standing in the community. A desire to be considered should be expressed to the pastor. Call the rectory if you know someone who is in need of a home visit.
Gift Bearers	Participate in the Offertory Procession by carrying the Offertory gifts during weekend and special masses. Individuals or families are encouraged to commemorate a special personal celebration, like an anniversary or birthday, in this way.
Rosary Groups	There are two rosary groups in our parish. On Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the lower church, parishioners meet to recite the rosary in devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. On Sunday after the 10:00 a.m. mass, the rosary is recited for special intentions.
Usher/Greeter	Greet and provide hospitality to all who enter our church. They also assist with the Offertory and take up all collections in church.
Gospel Choir	A parish organization focusing on the performance of American Gospel music. Anyone ten years and older is welcome.
Vocal/Instrumental Ensemble	A group of singers and instrumentalists who accompany the noon mass during the school year.
Cub Scouts	Cub Scouting is a family program for boys 1st-5th grades, using age appropriate activities to achieve the aims of scouting; citizenship training, character development and personal fitness. Annual activities may include family camping, Holiday food drive and other service projects.
Boy Scouts	The Boy Scout Program is offered to boys 11-17 years old, or who have completed the 5th grade. Scouts follow the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law (duty to God and Country, duty to others, duty to self) and the aims of scouting (citizenship training, character development and personal fitness). Boy Scouting is a program of outdoor activity, self-paced advancement, leadership development and personal growth. The De Sales troop camps 5-6 times per year and participates in community and service activities. www.geocities.com/troop_152
Venture	Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women 14-20 years of age. Under the guidance of male and female adult advisors, Venture scouts plan their own program of meaningful activities including service, leadership and adventure.
Girl Scouts	The Girl Scout program helps girls 5-17 develop self-worth, learn new skills, explore a wide range of opportunities, make lasting friendships and have fun!
Communicator	The Communicator is our parish electronic newsletter. Published bi-weekly, story ideas and articles are welcomed. More information or to subscribe send email to communicator@stfrancisdesales-parish.org.
De Sales Youth Organization	Is an ecumenical group that meets weekly and is open to all members of the community aged 10 to 18. Dedicated coordinators are made up of laity and rectory staff and foster an atmosphere where ideas are shared and plans are made with input from all members of the group. The youth events are designed to help foster spiritual enrichment, service and camaraderie.
Knights and Ladies of St Peter Claver	St Francis de Sales parish has its own council and court of the Knights of St Peter Claver. There is a junior division known as the Junior Knights and Junior Daughters. The primary principles of the Knights include charity, family and assisting tin the Catholic Church. Anyone who is a practicing Catholic may join.
Legion of Mary	This group is a world-wide organization of Catholic men and women who aid their pastor by performing spiritual works in the parish. This is done by placing themselves under the banner of Mary so that with her help they may develop greater holiness in their own lives as well as spread a deeper devotion to her among others. St Francis de Sales parish sponsors an adult group which meets on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory. A children’s’ group meets on Fridays after school.
Literacy Center	Founded by the Immaculate Heart Sisters, it provides outreach programs to the community and is an equal opportunity education institution. It provides programs in ESOL, ABE and instruction for English-speaking adults who wish to take the high school equivalency examination. Classroom and computer assisted instruction is available to all students. A volunteer staff of teachers, offered training by the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, teach at the Center.
Miraculous Medal Novena	This group is a world-wide organization of Catholic men and women who foster devotion to the Miraculous Medal. The group prays every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the lower church.
Social Activities Coordinators	The goal of this ministry is to bring the parish together in community, welcome newcomers and help us all get to know one another. Coordinators help plan social events and celebrations for children, families and adults.
Star Harbor Senior Citizens Center	The goals of this center are social, spiritual, charitable and civic. Activities include fellowship, luncheons, casino trips, picnics and occasional bus trips.
Stewardship Committee	Performs the ministerial task of leading parishioners into an awareness of a deeper life in Christ. The goal of the Stewardship ministry is to help people integrate their personal and faith lives and to share their time, talent and treasure with their families, church and community.
Aid For Friends	The mission of Aid for Friends is to serve needy, isolated shut-ins, primarily the frail elderly, in the five-county Greater Philadelphia area, with free daily home-cooked meals delivered weekly by volunteer visitors, and also to provide shut-ins with free outreach services. The goal is to help the homebound maintain their cherished independence by supporting their determination to remain in their own homes for as long as possible and to enhance their quality of life. There is no regular commitment. You may contribute as your time permits.
Faith Sharing	Using the Sunday Lectionary readings as the basis for faith sharing in small groups, parishioners share, each through their own experiences, the personal meaning and message that the scripture holds for them.
Faith Sharing, Young Adult	Provides an opportunity for young adults (18-35+) to come together weekly to share the Word of God. Fosters a deepened spirituality, new friendships and fellowship.
Adoration	Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held every Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon in the lower church. All parishioners are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for personal prayer.
Adult Enrichment	– Provides adults an opportunity to grow in knowledge of spiritual topics. Lectures take place on a periodic basis January – June. Members of our parish are encouraged to seek spiritual growth through educational programs and parish/community involvement.
Behrens Library	Located in the church’s Reconciliation room, the Hermann Behrens Memorial Library has been open since September 2001. It contains a growing collection of books numbering more than 1,000 volumes and is named in memory of Fr. Behrens (1944-1996), a renowned Sumerian scholar and beloved de Sales priest-in-residence. Library Coordinators are welcome.
Collection Counter	Helps every Sunday with counting the collection.
De Sales Night	A long standing De Sales tradition, parishioners get together for a gala evening of dining and dancing the last Saturday before Ash Wednesday. It is the major social event of the year. Volunteers are needed to help in the many planning activities leading up to the event.
Bereavement	Through our bereavement ministry, we reach out to offer our love and services to the grief-stricken family. When there is a death in our parish community, volunteers visit homes, make telephone calls, even bring small gifts to the family in mourning. They also offer help with the planning of the funeral mass. As part of their mission, volunteers go through a series of grief counseling seminars to prepare and qualify them for this ministry.
Forty Hours	Celebrated each October, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed continuously for a period of forty hours. Services and a mass are celebrated and a guest homilist is often invited to participate.
Giving Tree	Held annually at Christmas, parishioners are asked to take gift tags from Christmas trees located in the church and provide a gift for the person described on the tag.
Home-Bound Ministry	See Special Ministers. Eucharistic Ministers visit ill or infirmed parishioners.
Home and School Association	Hold meetings to keep parents informed of programs and operations of the school. It brings in guest speakers and holds fund raisers to fund needed equipment and supplies.
Lectors	Volunteer their services to the parish to proclaim the Word of God and lead the Prayer of the Faithful at parish liturgies on Sundays, Holy Days and daily Mass when possible.
Liturgy Planner	In order to foster full conscious participation of the assembly, planners seek to enrich the worship experience by responding to the needs of the congregation and engaging them in devotions and ritual. A desire to be involved in this ministry should be expressed to the pastor.
Manna Bags	The Manna Canned Food collection provides many struggling families and individuals emergency food supplies during times of crisis.
Musicians	Instrumentalists provide accompaniment to enhance the sung prayers of the community. New members are always welcome. Volunteers are sometimes needed for funerals.
Parish Flea Market and Porch Sale	The Parish Flea Market and Porch Sale are held annually in October and June. Interested parishioners are encouraged to serve on the committee.
Pre-Cana	Engaged couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage are referred to the Pre-Cana program sponsored by the Archdiocesan Family Life Office which can be reached at (610)660-9002 or famlife@adphila.org.
Pre-Jordan	Instruction is given to parents when baptism is arranged. One confirmed practicing Catholic is required as a godparent.
Respect Life Activities	The parish supports activities which emphasize education and action regarding life issues for all stages of human life.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)	RCIA is the process by which adults become members of the Roman Catholic Church. The process is concerned with the total formation of the person into believing with the Church community (doctoral formation), living with the Church community (practical formation), praying with the Church community (liturgical formation) and serving with the Church community (apostolic formation). This gradual development culminates in Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist at Easter.
School Aides	Volunteers who assist in the parish school with clerical, library and/or kitchen help.
Sunday School of Religion	Volunteer catechists teach classes in Religious Education. These catechists include parents of students and other interested parishioners.
Thanksgiving Outreach	Each year the parish collects and distributes food to community families in need. Our parish community, along with local corporate sponsors, donates the food necessary to provide baskets to many deserving families.
Walkathon	An annual fall event, the walkathon is in support of Parish School. Students, parents and friends of Catholic education are encouraged to participate by sponsoring the walkers.