Athletic Association
St. Andrew Parish members volunteer to manage the athletic programs in accordance with the bylaws and policies established by the Association as well as the Christian values inherent in the Catholic faith. Its mission is to provide the necessary framework and organization to ensure that every child has a positive experience participating in St. Andrew sports. This includes enacting fair policies and procedures, selecting qualified coaches, ensuring appropriate instruction, providing adequate facilities, supplying safe equipment and spending budgeted dollars wisely. The Athletic Association meets the first Sunday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Office Lower Level Meeting Room.
This St. Andrew committee offers a victim of domestic violence the right to stay safe by offering complete confidentiality, professional counseling and risk assessment, links to free legal consultation, links to private and public community resources, and assistance with an exit plan. Victims can call Father Watson at 451-4290, for assistance.
- The Advent Giving Tree - parishioners can support three organizations including:
- St. Aloysius area - Christmas gifts for children who would otherwise not get gifts
- Christ Child – newborn layette items to mothers in distress
- Missionaries of Charity – food items to Mother Theresa’s order in Jenkins, KY
Festival
Finance Council
The 1983 Revised Code of Canon Law requires the creation of Parish Finance Council, placing in it the competence to advise the Pastor in the administration of parish temporalities. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Parish Finance Council must be directed by the values of the Gospel as well as by good business practice. Efficient and effective use and management of parish resources must be measured as much by their contribution to parish mission and ministry as by commonly accepted business standards.
Council members are appointed by the Pastor and serve three-year terms. Upon completion of the initial term, the Pastor may request that a board member continue to serve for another three-year term. The Council typically meets on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Office.
Fish Dinners
Garden Club
Greeters
In the spirit of hospitality, St. Andrew Parish desires to welcome all to its worshipping community. Just as each of us welcomes a guest into our own homes, St. Andrew would like to warmly welcome its members and visitors. Hospitality is attentiveness to the person, and in many ways we are all called to extend hospitality to others. The Greeter Program is active at all the weekend Masses. If you are a person who enjoys people, likes to smile, and offer an occasional handshake, welcoming people in the Greeter Program would be a practical ministry for you. As the Bible says, "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels" (Hebrews 13:2).
Habitat for Humanity of Ohio
In 2007, with the blessing of the Parish Council, Saint Andrew Parish joined nine other Upper Arlington churches to be a member of the Northwest Area Habitat for Humanity. The goal is to build one house every year, drawing upon the financial and human resources of each of the churches involved. The season begins in March with a fund drive to underwrite the cost of the home and building begins soon after. Volunteers are needed on Saturdays in all aspects of the construction process and in hospitality, lunch preparation and publicity.
Heart & Hand Community Outreach Van
Saint Andrew Parish and Ashland Performance Materials have successfully teamed to develop a program enabling parishioners to donate non-perishable food items and gently used clothing to the Holy Family Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. Items can be dropped at 1840 Lane Road. Weekly deliveries are made to Holy Family on Wednesday mornings. The program is entering its seventh year and has been made successful through parishioner generosity.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic men’s fraternal service organization, with more than 1.7 million members in 14,000 Councils worldwide. The order is dedicated to promoting the principals of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism; their various programs allow Knights and their families to work together to aid the Church, the community and each other. The Knights also operate their own insurance company for the benefit of its members, which has more than $70 billion of policies in force and enjoys the highest rankings from rating organizations A. M. Best and Standard & Poor's.
Knights of Columbus Information & more
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the US since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. Its purpose is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members and evangelization by corporal and spiritual works of mercy under the mantel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At St. Andrew, members of The Legion of Mary meet to pray the Rosary and report on Legion related work on Friday mornings, immediately following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, in the Bryce Eck Activity Center Vrable Library or at an alternate location for the convenience of members.
The Saint Andrew Liturgy Committee is a group of parishioners who appointed by the pastor provides a forum for receiving input from fellow parishioners regarding worship activities or concerns. The committee is comprised of representatives from different aspects of liturgy, such as art and environment or Eucharistic ministers; along with two at large members. The committee helps to develop ways to provide oversight of all the liturgical functions, as well as communicate liturgical actions and beliefs to the parish. The committee meets monthly from September through May.
Open Shelter Lunch
St. Andrew Parishioners take bag lunches (sandwich, drink, dessert and side) to The Trinity Episcopal Church the second Sunday of every month. Parishioners may also donate needed items such as personal hygiene items, blankets, sleeping bags, tarps, and nonperishable food, to one of our contact people for delivery to the Men’s Open Shelter program.
Open Shelter Dinner
Currently, thirty St. Andrew parish families provide a well balanced warm meal to the homeless people who come to the Open Shelter for assistance. The dinner usually consists of baked ham, green bean casserole, potato salad/cheesy potato casserole, tossed salad, bread, milk, bananas & cookies. This lovely dinner is delivered to the Open Shelter on the fourth Thursday of each month, September through May at 5:00 p.m., excluding November and December. (Dinner is provided on another evening in those months.) Meals are presently being served at the Broad Street United Methodist Church.
Parish Council
The purpose of the 12-member council is to advise and assist the Pastor in matters of importance to the parish, provide strategic planning and foster communication and coordination among parish organizations. Council members are elected by the parish and serve three-year terms. The council meets monthly usually on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings are open to all members of the parish. Coucil will continue to oversee the implementation of the Parish Strategic Plan adopted in 2005, as found on the Parish Self Study page of the parish website.
Parish Council Information & more
Respect Life Society
Members are dedicated to promoting the protection of life from the time of conception to the time of natural death. The group actively supports pro-life groups through prayer and education. The group meets monthly, times and dates vary.
Senior Activities
The St. Andrew Senior Parishioners participate in activities which promote their social, spiritual and physical well being. In 2009, participants traveled to the Argossy Casino, the OSU vs. Toledo game in Cleveland, and to lunches at local restaurants. “Movie Tuesdays” were hosted onsite throughout the summer and fall as well as driving class. Bingo/euchre luncheons are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Bryce Eck Activity Center. Whether a social event, activity, or trip, many find that these activities allow them the opportunity to make new friends and renew old friendships.
Senior Activities Information & more
Singles Group
StAFF, the “Saint Andrew Faith and Friendship” group, is the community for unmarried Catholic parishioners, 21 years of age and older, who gather regularly to enhance their commitment to their faith and parish by participating in church, community service and social events. Past activities have included sponsoring cookouts on the rectory patio, attending parish events and meeting monthly to make sandwiches for St. Lawrence Haven. This fun and energetic group is always looking for new members and participants may come to as many or as few events as desired.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Inspired by Gospel values, the St. Andrew Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul leads women and men to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are in need or are suffering. Members, called Vincentians, include every ethnic and cultural background, age group and economic level. Funding comes from donations of parishioners on the fifth Sunday of the month. Members visit homebound and nursing home parishioners, collect food for the St. Stephen’s Community Center, make sandwiches for the homeless and needy who come to St. Lawrence Haven at S. Fifth and E. Rich Sts., help other organizations with inner city needs and have an annual blanket drive, hygiene and cleaning products collection, and clothing drive. Volunteers also help the needy through the new St. Vincent de Paul Volunteer Center at 578 E. Main St.
St. Vincent de Paul Society Information & more
Welcoming Committee
The Welcoming Committee contacts newly registered parishioners in hopes of helping them to feel at home in their new spiritual community of St. Andrew Parish. This group of volunteers offers home visits to the newest members and encourages parish engagement based on their personal areas of interest. The committee’s goal is to warmly receive newcomers as they adjust and ease into their new environment.
Women’s Club
With over 54 years of service, the St. Andrew Women’s Club brings the women of St. Andrew Parish together to inspire one another in Christian living. Its mission emphasizes works of support to our parish, our community and our country. Best known for the annual holiday bazaar and spring fashion show, these events foster a sense of community spirit and raise funds for areas of need within the church and community. With funds raised through dues and special events, the Women’s Club provides support to: the Parish School of Religion Program (PSR), the new St. Andrew Preschool; beautification projects in the church and choir; altar care and the parish altar servers by purchasing cassocks and surplices; the Bryce Eck Activity Center; the Open Shelter; the Missionaries of Charity; special needs of the Holy Family Soup Kitchen, and the St. Gabriel AM Radio Program. The Women’s Club also recognizes the importance of support through prayer and ministry. The group is responsible for daily rosary recitation; the Prayer Line; two spiritual retreats to encourage ongoing adult faith formation; featured movies about Saints; a Lenten Soup Supper with a guest speaker; and provides donations to single mothers through Birthright, sponsors the Bloodmobile, and offers books and other religious articles to area prisons. The Board meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Rectory Den, on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May. Meetings are open to all women of St. Andrew Parish. Special programs are scheduled throughout the year. Please watch the bulletin and parish website for details.
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