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• Outreach Ministries
• Respect Life Ministries
• Social Ministries
• Support Groups

Social Ministries

Following the Second Vatican Council came a renewal of the Church's mission to preach, teach, and reach. We are all called to remember Christ's example in living our lives - at home, in the workplace, and in recreation. Through the love of Christ, and through the example given to us by Christ, we seek to transform individuals and society so that the God-given gifts of every person are celebrated and utilized for the common good. As Community, we reach within and beyond our boundaries through social affairs, community outreach, recreation and service projects. To minister in any of the following areas, contact Sergio Soto @ x1005.

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Outreach Ministries

A program of youth sports and recreation emphasizing friendly competition through good sportsmanship modeled by adult participants. It uses sports as a venue to the deeper issues of life. All volunteers serve as youth ministers within an athletic context. The sports programs currently covered by St. Brigid are: baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, t-ball, volleyball, and track. The starting age in the program is age 4. General meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Hospitality is an ancient Christian virtue and one that draws down blessings on the hospitable. This ministry models itself after St. Brigid and St. Martha, who both were examples of brotherly love. Martha's home was a Christian meeting place and she provided hospitality to the Apostles, as well as Jesus. St. Brigid had no limit to her charity and power for doing good.

This ministry involves being available on short notice in the mornings and early afternoons when there is a death and funeral in the parish. The menu is put together, shopping, food solicitation, some food preparation, set up, serving, and cleanup are carried out by various members of this team.

Eliminating substandard housing one family at a time and replacing it with a modest, decent, affordable dwelling in partnership with Habitat for Humanity is the mission reflected in this ministry. We have been participating in one "build" a year for several years. Many dedicated hands are required over a relatively short period of time to achieve the vision. People are needed to organize, prepare and serve the lunches, work on the house in the construction crew, schedule the volunteers, pray for the safety of the workers and the new homeowner, etc. The annual build usually begins in September.

The mission of this ministry is to enable the aging population to remain independent in their homes for as long as possible. To achieve this, our ministry from St. Brigid Parish works together with Christian Senior Services to provide a hot meal once a day for those who need this assistance in our area. Christian Senior Services prepares the meals and delivers them to our St. Brigid site at around 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday. Two teams deliver these meals to the homes of the clients whose names are provided by Christian Senior Services. The time involved to perform this ministry is about two hours and scheduling is done on a monthly basis based on the minister's availability.

On Sundays at the 10:30 a.m. and the 12:30 p.m. Masses, care for children birth through age 4 is provided in the nursery adjoining the worship area. There are two adults and several youth who lovingly watch over and interact with your little ones in a safe environment. This gives parents the opportunity to spend quality time with God and community free of distraction.

This is an international Catholic Organization of lay persons founded by Frederic Ozanam and under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. It seeks, in a spirit of justice and charity and by person-to-person involvement of its members, to help those who are suffering. Our ministers are here at various hours during the week to assist with food, clothing, and, sometimes, financial assistance in emergency situations. Please call for their office hours.

There is a monthly food drive on the first full weekend of the month to supply our pantry shelves. Special activities include the Thanksgiving food drive, which supplies Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 80 needy families. At Christmas, the children of our clients are remembered with a Christmas gift that comes from the parish Advent Sharing Tree. Our needy children are also remembered before the start of school with new school supplies to encourage enthusiasm for the new school year, and their success and interest in learning. There is a monthly meeting of the membership on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.

At times a ride to church or elsewhere is needed. If you are available and would like to provide this assistance at any time, please consider this ministry.

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Respect Life Ministries

Four times a year - January, April, August, and November - those parishioners who are able are asked to give a unit of blood. These drives help individuals in our parish, as well as the greater community. Giving is made convenient by The South Texas Blood Center, who sends their staff of technicians to St. Brigid Parish so that parishioners may give after any of the weekend Masses on the designated weekend.

The primary focus of this group is to protect the right to life of every human being, with particular focus on the plight of the unborn. Also of concern are the death penalty, euthanasia, research, etc. This is done through prayer, education, and promoting awareness in others. Each year on Mothers' Day Weekend, a baby shower is held. Parishioners are encouraged to bring a new item for a new baby and these items are donated to Seton Home and Allied Women's Center. This group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Education, advocacy, and social action concerning issues of injustices in the home, workplace, school, church, neighborhood, city, state, country, and world are of consideration. Political candidate forums, environmental issues, health issues, aging information, etc. are just a few of the items explored as the opportunity arises. School supplies and Christmas gifts are collected for the needy in our parish and larger community.

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Social Ministries

A ministry that promotes parish community, goodwill, and hospitality. It is an expression of our motto - "There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met."   This outreach is provided after the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses in the Narthex of the church. Our ministers prepare the coffee, serve it, and clean up afterwards.

The primary purpose of the Guadalupanos is spreading devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This group is very active in the parish through many avenues. They prepare and sell the desserts at the annual Spaghetti Dinner in support of the Youth Mission work. They collectively organize and work at our Homecoming Celebration. They provide scholarships for college. Besides the many service hours given to our parish, time is given to Casa Guadalupe. On December 12, a fiesta is put on free of charge to the parish, following a Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.

While the Knights of Columbus is a National Catholic Fraternal Organization, Council #11596 is dedicated to providing family and service activities that benefit the community of St. Brigid Parish. It holds a monthly taco sale, barbeque dinner sales, etc. to raise funds for college scholarships for the youth of our parish. In addition, the council works jointly with the youth on the annual Youth Mission Spaghetti Dinner, with the proceeds going to our annual youth mission activities. They work on archdiocesan and national activities and charities as well, such as the Tootsie Roll Drive (for the deaf ministry) and the Free Throw Competition for the youth.

Socially, they begin and end the year with sponsoring the annual New Year's Eve Party, Christmas smoked turkey sale, Easter egg giveaway, and major parish events such as Homecoming. The Knights of Columbus meet on the second Tuesday of each month. The families gather for Mass in the Day Chapel at 7:00 p.m. and then the general meeting follows for Knights only at 7:45 p.m. in the Kildare Room.

The Ladies' Auxiliary membership is open to women over the age of 18. Auxiliary 11596 aids the Knights of Columbus Council's spiritual and charitable growth. In addition, the Auxiliary enhances the social life of the entire family, promotes good fellowship and love, and performs selected works of charity. Gathering time is every second Tuesday of the month with Mass at 7:00 p.m. in the Day Chapel and the meeting at 7:45 p.m. in the Parish Library located in the parish hall building.

These compassionate people know what it is like to be new and full of questions. Each month on the first Sunday, at 9:15 a.m. a team conducts an orientation program that lasts about 45 minutes. Newcomers can register in the parish at that time and meet our pastor, deacons, and team members. You will learn how our parish functions, its mission and philosophy. It also gives us a chance to meet and welcome you. It is a very efficient way to learn about the new parish you are joining. You can find out all you need in just minutes, versus many phone calls or just being in the dark. For more information, see the Newcomer Orientation Schedule.

Boy Scout Troop 17 is for boys between the ages of 11 and 18 who are interested in total development from boyhood to manhood - physical, mental and moral. It does this through camping, outdoor adventures, exploring hobbies and occupations, learning, developing and using leadership skills, stressing honor, responsibility and obligation to God, Country and other people. They meet each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. The boys and leaders are a great source of ministry to our parish through their help with the Homecoming Celebration and their many Eagle Scout Projects.

Cub Scout Pack 25 is for boys between the ages of 6 and 11 who are interested in having fun in the company of their friends and under the leadership of adults. The boys learn the discipline necessary to progress through the ranks of scouting. The boys become familiar with doing service projects, what it means to be a good citizen, the feeling of accomplishment, and following their leaders. Each den has a meeting with their leader once a week and then there is a Pack meeting (when all dens gather) once a month on the fourth Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Venture Crew 17 is a program of the Boy Scouts of America and is for youth (boys and girls) between the ages of 14 and 21 who are interested in high adventure camping. They are also committed to service projects and helping with the Boy Scout Troop. Venture meets each Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

On the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m., a strictly social group of parishioners over the age of 50 gather for a morning of games and fellowship. At noon, a potluck lunch is shared. Sometimes field trips are planned.

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Support Groups

There are two groups of AA that meet here on a regular basis. There is a Monday night group of men and women. Meeting time is 8:00 p.m. There is also a Friday evening group that meets at 8:15 p.m.

As the need and opportunity arise, a bereavement education and support program is set up and held at St. Brigid. Both daytime and evening meetings have been held.

Presently, our core group is not meeting on a regular basis. Their purpose is to be of support to one another and to be vigilant of the needs of the physically challenged, and to keep the community aware of obstacles.

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