St. Norbert Parish Organizations and Groups

EDUCATION

ST. NORBERT SCHOOL BOARD
St. Norbert Day School educates children from kindergarten through eighth grade. Kindergarten is half day. Mrs. Pam Gilbert is Principal of St. Norbert School, which has over 400 students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade in the day school. There are two classes for each grade. There is a hot lunch program. Special programs include Art, music, computer lab, Physical Education, Liturgical Music, weekly Mass, Library, Student Leadership of St. Norbert, Speech League, National Geography Bee, Essay and Poster Contests, Newspapers in Education Week, St. Norbert Newspaper, Track Meet, Musical presentations, President's Fitness, 600-Minute Reading, Pizza Hut Book It Reading Program, Pasta House Reading Program, Junior Achievement, Palmer Music Band, and summer tutoring. Students wear uniforms. The boys wear white dress shirts and navy dress pants. The girls in grades K-3 wear a plaid jumper with a white shirt. Navy shorts are worn in warm weather and long navy pants are worn on very cold days. Plain white, black, or brown shoes are worn by both boys and girls. Used uniforms are available for purchase. Contact the Principal for tuition and registration information. Mrs. Pam Gilbert at 839-0948

HOME AND SCHOOL: Informs school parents of yearly goals for the School. Fosters parent partnership by sponsoring fund-raisers to provide the additional money to accomplish the goals.

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND PSR BOARD OF EDUCATION (PSR)Religion classes for children K-8. Classes meet on Monday night.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CHILDREN: Instruction for children wishing to join the Catholic faith or who, for whatever reason, have not yet received the sacraments appropriate for their grade level.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

FRIENDS IN GOD (FIG): Offers high school students opportunities for discussion, fellowship and service.

ATHLETICS COMMITTEE: Provides a comprehensive sports programs (for grades K thru 8) to promote confidence, skills, fun, and Christian values in a competitive environment. (Baseball/Softball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball). Raises funds to provide for much needed parish improvements, especially for the gymnasium and playing fields. Sponsors occasional adult recreation nights.

BOY SCOUTS - Boys groups are available from grade one through eighth grade. Helps round out young men in God, country, family and himself. Look for sign ups in September.

CUB SCOUTS

ADULT FAITH & SUPPORT

ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Coordinates parish programs (talks, films, etc.), serving the spiritual needs of adult parishioners.

EVENINGS FOR THE ENGAGED: Engaged couples are paired with a married couple for prayer, discussion, marriage preparation and discernment before making this life commitment.

DOOR TO DOOR EVANGELIZATION: Pairs of parishioners travel throughout the neighborhoods of our parish boundaries, in a door-to-door effort to promote Catholic presence and to invite our neighbors to join us in faith and worship.

SEPARATED AND DIVORCED CATHOLICS GROUP: Provides support and activities for Catholics who are separated or divorced.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Arranges weekends for couples with good marriages.

RETROUVAILLE: Arranges weekend for couples with troubled marriages.

PRAYER

24-Hours of Adoration - every Tuesday after 8am Mass till 8:30 pm . Individuals and families commit to at least one specific hour per month.

PRAYER GROUPS:

• Prayer Chain
• Our Lady Spiritual Vessel, Tuesday p.m.
• Heart of Jesus Charismatic Prayer Community, Thursday, 7:00 p.m., Chapel
• Jonah Team Ministry, after 9:00a.m. Mass, first Sunday of Month, Church

LITURGY

• Individual cantors
• Sunday 9am and 11am choirs
• Children's choir
• Funeral choir (rehearses 1 hour before funeral)
• Bell Choir: Provides music for special liturgies, and lso perform at area nursing homes or churches. Volunteers do not need to read music, but must commit to scheduled rehearsals and scheduled Masses.

LECTORS: Proclaim the pre-Gospel scriptural readings, the petitions, and the closing announcements during Mass. Attendance at a special training program is required. High school age through adult

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Individuals(ages 18 and over) who are commissioned to perform as extraordinary administers of the sacrament of Holy Eucharist:

• during Mass or
• during home visitation to the sick and homebound.

GIFT BEARERS: Schedules parish families to be gift bearers during weekend and holy day liturgies.

LITURGICAL LINENS: Provides services of washing, ironing, and mending altar linens and server albs. Provides sewn baptismal robes.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Sunday during 9am and 11am Mass (Sept - May). Provides children (grades K thru 4) teaching on the Sunday gospel readings.

ALTAR SERVERS: Youth (5th-8th graders) who serve at weekend or special liturgies. Teens/adults conduct server training and maintain server rotation schedules.

ANGEL DUSTERS: Volunteer teams maintain a rotating weekly commitment to do ‘light’ cleaning of the church. Efforts include dusting, clearing pews of leftover papers, watering floral arrangements, cleaning glass doors etc.

HYMNAL MAINTENANCE: Replaces all missals in hymnal book jackets. Effort requires one or two hours approximately 5 to 6 times a year.

USHERS/GREETERS: Provide hospitality at all weekend liturgies. Welcome people as they enter the Church. Acquaint visitors or new parishioners with facilities and services available. Help find seating for those attending heavily-attended services. Ages teen thru adult welcome.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (RCIA): Program for adults wishing to investigate or join the Catholic faith. Volunteer sponsors, prayer partners, catechists, and faith sharers welcome. All training provided; no special prior experience required.

SOCIAL

COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS: Provides hospitality after all Sunday Masses for parishioners of all ages to greet old friends and make new ones. Volunteers make coffee and provide table setup/cleanup.

Men's Commission: Provides social and spiritual programs for all men of the parish. Raises money for charity. Sponsors men’s annual retreat, social events for entire parish, as well as many service projects.

50 PLUS CLUB: Provides social and informational programs for parishioners, 50 years old or older.

PARISH PICNIC COMMITTEE: Organizes and runs parish picnic -- includes arranging for rides, food and game booths and co-ordination of volunteer workers.

MOM’S GROUP: Coordinates low-cost activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers and their parents.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: A Catholic, fraternal and service organization. Sponsors many spiritual and social events for the Knights and their families, as well as for the whole parish.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: Open to wives or widows and adult daughters of Knights. Group raises money for charity and sponsors many service projects.

SERVICE

SERVICE TO PARISHIONERS:
FUNERAL MEALS: Parishioners bring dishes for family members of parishioners being buried from St. Norbert.

SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE: Works to stimulate parishioner awareness of Catholic social teaching and ways to respond to the teaching. Includes participation in North County organizations and events.

HONDURAS PROJECT: A yearly parish-wide effort to send money and volunteers to the hospital and nutrition center in El Progresso. This effort began as a support to the lone efforts of former parishioner Dr. Mary Carter to minister to the sick and the needy of Honduras.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY: Provides temporary emergency financial assistance to families within or near our parish boundaries.

BLOODMOBILE: Twice a year blood drive at our parish, providing us a convenient way to be blood donors. Volunteers help with registration, canteen, and of course give blood.

KAREN HOUSE: Catholic Worker shelter in the City of St. Louis. Sandwiches are made at home, individually bagged, and stored in the freezer in the rectory basement. Volunteers drive the sandwiches to Karen House.

MISSIONARIES of CHARITY SOUP KITCHEN: St. Norbert groups help prepare and serve lunch to the poor at the North St. Louis soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa). Clothing donations are accepted.

ST. PATRICK CENTER: Provides assistance to area poor and homeless. Parishioners contribute casseroles and school supplies. Volunteers transport items to the Center.

T.E.A.M. PANTRY: The Emergency Assistance Ministry (TEAM) is a cooperative ministry of many North St. Louis County churches serving the poor of Florissant and Hazelwood with Rental/Utility Assistance and food. Non-perishable food donations can be left in the Cry Room closet. Volunteers drive items to TEAM and staff the food pantry at 265 St. Catherine St. (near St. Ferdinand Rd) in Old Town Florissant. call 314-831-0879. Items may also be dropped off at the following locations: J.F.K Community Center, 315 Howdershell Rd. or James J. Eagan Center, 1 James J. Eagan Dr. (near Parker Rd and Waterford)

PRISON MINISTRY -- RESIDENTS ENCOUNTER CHRIST (REC): Provides retreat weekends to prison inmates. Volunteers are trained before assisting in any retreat. Donations of baked cookies for a weekend or money to defray the lodging costs of REC Team members or prayer support during a weekend are always welcomed.

FACILITIES

PARISH MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE: Parishioners help maintain parish facilities with their carpentry, electrical, heating/air conditioning, construction/structural, plumbing and landscaping/grounds expertise.  Teens, retired persons, women and men are all welcome.

POND MAINTENANCE: Provides periodic care of pond. Readies pond for winter and cleans it for spring.

FINANCE AND FUND RAISING

FINANCE COMMISSION: Coordinates finance-related activity and serves in advisory capacity to pastor on financial issues.

ADA PLEDGE DRIVE COMMITTEE: Volunteers contact every registered parishioner, to solicit their financial support of the annual Archdiocesan Development Appeal (ADA), which collects funds for the many charitable activities and services provided by the archdiocese.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE: Organizes promotion of stewardship and festival of ministries, processes Time and Talent surveys and forwards volunteer information to the appropriate organization contacts.

TITHING COMMITTEE: Provides quarterly disbursement of parish funds allocated for the poor and those involved in works of charity (locally, nationally, and internationally).

MAILING ASSISTANCE: Team of parishioners prepares newsletters and other materials for mailing.

TOGETHER WE’RE BETTER (TWB): Together We're Better is an opportunity for parishioners to benefit parish and school by purchasing certificates that can be used at area stores and restaurants. No cost to purchaser but percentage is returned to school or parish. The Together We're Better order form is on the school web site.

FALL DINNER AUCTION COMMITTEE: Organizes and runs auction and dinner – includes solicitation of parishioners and area businesses for auction items.