The Christian Community at The Shrine of St. Joseph

The Christian Community
[ An Intentional Eucharistic Community ]
at
The Shrine of St. Joseph

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Community Social Ministries

[ Spiritual | Outreach | Education | Service ]

Our social ministries provide much of the "glue" that bonds the Community together, because they enable us to get to know each other better in more informal settings. A wide variety of activities provides something for just about everyone, and all activities are run by Community member volunteers.

New ideas (and workers) are always welcome! Some of these activities are also our major fund-raising events, which makes them doubly valuable and doubly fun.

Barbeque Ribs and Steak Dinner
The Community's new fundraiser to help take the place of the Christmas boutique in raising funds for the Community. As well as being a fundraiser, it will serve as a community builder while reaching out to the surrounding areas. With the first dinner scheduled for June 26, 2010, we are hoping for this to become an annual event.

Book Club
The Book Club provides an informal setting for book discussion. Meetings are loosely structured. The person who suggested the book leads the discussion and provides critical commentary about the book and its author. This Club is mainly social. The focus of the discussion is often on personal reactions and feelings about the book. As a result, it is a bonding group, with members getting to know each other. New members are always welcome. Meetings are held once a month in members' homes. A yearly weekend getaway is also held.

Chili Cookoff
This informal yearly family event is usually held in February, a perfect time to warm up the insides. Any Community member can enter a chili in the cookoff contest (popular vote), and many come just to eat and enjoy the live music -- and vote on their favorite chili recipe. Each year we usually get 15-20 entries ranging from mild to five-alarm, so there is a lot of great food and great fun for young and the not-so-young. Even if you don't like chili, we have hot dogs, salads and snacks galore. No one goes hungry!

The list of 1st-place winners since this event was re-established in 1996:

1996 - Catherine Quinn
1997 - Ryan Donovan
1998 - Ryan Donovan, Dick Schwarz
1999 - Catherine Quinn
2000 - Jeanne Myers
2001 - Richard Fiocco
2002 - Catherine Quinn
2003 - Scott Hampton, Mary Hart
2004 - John Burton
2005 - Edna Speeney
2006 - Paula Jones
2007 - Joanne Collins
2008 - Julie O'Connell
2009 - Dan Badgley
2010 - Dan Badgley (back-to-back wins!)
2011 - Maybe You !!

Coffee (Sunday after Liturgy)
The Community welcomes all to enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, or juice each Sunday immediately following Sunday Liturgy. This is a great time to converse, to socialize, and to meet new people. Beverages are provided by a Community member or team of members (commitment is for just one Sunday at a time) who prepares, serves, and cleans up afterwards. Expenses are reimbursed. New volunteers are always welcomed. See below for volunteer instructions. NOTE: THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE!!

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Coffee-Preparation Instructions (updated April 2010)

Shrine Country Fun Festival
Typically held on the 3^rd Saturday each September, this family-oriented annual event is the major fund-raiser for the Shrine of St. Joseph. There are activities galore all day long for all ages, including kids' games, face painting and other arts-and-crafts activities, hay maze, a giant flea market, tricky tray, cake walk, a live auction with a real auctioneer, food, drinks, ice cream, jewelry sales, 50/50 raffle and much more! All Shrine communities, including the Christian Community, pitch in with volunteers to help make the event a success.

Social Life Committee
The Social Life Committee was founded on the belief that having fun and celebrating life together are essential for the health and well-being of our Christian Community. Members plan, publicize, set up, etc. various activities held throughout the year, such as parties and dances. Meetings are held approximately once a month during the fall, winter and spring.

Welcoming Ministry
The purpose of this ministry is to provide vehicles through which all members of the Community can take part in helping and supporting each other, as well as in welcoming newcomers. Members of this ministry coordinate a list of Greeters for Liturgy, provide name tags for Community Sunday (usually the last Sunday of the month), serve as hosts for welcoming coffees, distribute the Welcome Booklet, send cards, visit in hospitals, make meals, and drive for the sick and disabled. Meetings are held as needed.

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