Parish Outreach Ministries
Sharing the Love of Christ
The Parish Outreach Ministries discern the needs of persons in the parish and wider community, especially the poor, and identify resources to meet these needs, enlisting the active cooperation of parishioners. These ministries acknowledge our baptismal call to service and work for justice. The ministries’ scope of responsibility is two-fold: to meet immediate needs and to work for changes in structures of society.
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Committees
Bereavement Ministry
The Bereavement Ministry provides support and comfort on behalf of the parish to family members when they have lost a loved one. Please consider serving on this ministry even if you can only help on weekends.
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Bethany Hospitality Committee
This committee prepares and serves a luncheon after a funeral in a relaxed and warm atmosphere. Casseroles, baked ziti, salads and desserts are requested. Coordinators of the luncheon as well as people who cook and bake are needed for this ministry.
Lazarus Ministry
As the friends of Lazarus gathered at the time of his death, parishioners who attend the funeral mass at our parish do the same for those who have died, thus are called the Lazarus Assembly. There are no meetings; parishioners attend as members of the assembly when they are available and represent the parish family of St. Augustine’s.
Adult Servers/Cross Bearer
There are two ways in which servers are needed at a funeral. One person is the Cross Bearer and takes care of the incense, and the other person is the Altar Server as at a funeral mass.
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Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Eucharistic Ministers serve at the liturgy by assisting the presider to distribute Communion to all who attend. Greeters: The Greeters are the first people those attending the funeral mass meet when entering our church. A friendly smile, warm hello, and handing of the funeral programs to those who gather for the mass help to create a sense of peace and a place of welcome. Lectors: At our funeral masses, we encourage family members or friends of the family to read the selected Scripture and Prayers of the Faithful. When this is not possible, the parish provides lectors for the mass.
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Covenant Weekend Committee
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Covenant Weekend is our annual showcase of all of the ministries that our parish has to offer under one roof. Spearheaded by the Pastoral Council, this committee implements the creativity and spirit of the St. Augustine’s faith-filled community and organizes the logistics of creating this parish-wide celebration of our baptismal call to ministry. The committee creates and follows a timeline of procedures to meet deadlines for communication to ministry heads, bulletin announcements, handbook revisions and more. Meetings in the spring are conducted as necessary.
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Hospitality Reception Team
This team provides a welcoming atmosphere of friendship and fellowship for celebrations and occasions that occur within the church community. Volunteers in this group can help by providing baked goods, setting up, serving and/or greeting at the various parish event(s). Volunteers will be contacted to see what they would like to provide.
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Information Table
The Information Team provides a sincere welcome to all parishioners and visitors who seek information about our parish. We are the welcoming “face” of St. Augustine’s. This friendly team provides information regarding how to register as a parishioner and how to sign up for church programs and events; it also serves as a gateway to the many different opportunities offered within the parish. If you are a “people” person, we need you! The Information Team provides this service at each Mass on the weekends. No meetings are necessary.
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Pastoral Visitors
Pastoral Visitors are people of prayer called to share in Christ’s healing mission by visiting the sick, elderly or shut-ins of the parish weekly or bi-weekly. By listening to, talking with, praying with, and bringing Communion to our sick and shut-ins, Pastoral Visitors remind them of the parish’s concern and become a visible sign of God’s presence in their lives. Additional opportunities include assisting with sending bulletins and/or cards to our sick and shut-ins.
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Prayer Line Ministry
The Prayer Line Ministry was established at St. Augustine's in 2004. It offers a chance for people to share their need for prayer either for themselves or others, and an opportunity to take the needs shared to God in prayer. No experience is necessary, just a love of God and a love of others. The team of Prayer Line participants will honor confidentiality and be compassionate while lifting others up in prayer. This ministry allows for plenty of schedule flexibility, as each Prayer Line member prays on their own time. Checking email daily is expected. Those who sign a covenant will receive a welcome letter via email with detailed information from the prayer line coordinator. Generally, prayer requests are made via email, but if you do not have an email account, other options will be made available.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
St. Augustine’s Prayer Shawl Ministry was started in 2004. We are a fun group of parishioners who like to knit, crochet and quilt. There is no time commitment to make a shawl, just work at your leisure. We make shawls, blankets, lap blankets, hats, gloves and scarfs. Every baby baptized at St. Augustine’s receives a white blanket and stole to commemorate the occasion. All our items are blessed by St. Augustine’s church. As of 2025, we have given away over 6,000 shawls, blankets, hats, mittens, scarfs and preemie hats. If anyone wants a shawl or blanket, contact the parish office or Carol Turner, and we will see that you get whatever you need. We meet one Tuesday per month in September, October, November, December, April, May and June. We meet in the Gathering Room. A 11 schedule will be provided when you sign a covenant. Ministry coordinator is Carol Turner (315) 743-1277.
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St. Joseph's / St. Patrick's Day Committee
Since these two feast days are both in March, this committee bakes St. Joseph's Day bread and cookies and adds in some St. Patrick's Day goodies as well. Committee members bake in the parish hall and at home. The treats are then offered to parishioners after Masses, and proceeds are donated to the Baldwinsville Food Pantry or other worthy causes.
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Senior Luncheon Committee
The purpose of this committee is to provide a get-together of seniors or anyone else who wishes to come. Everyone brings a dish, which is set up in buffet style. Occasionally there is a presentation of mutual interest. Typically, 35 or so attend. Come and share a meal and good fellowship. The luncheon meets year-round on the first Wednesday of the month. You do not have to be a member of this parish to attend. Feel free to bring a friend. Assistance coordinating the event is needed.
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Social Action Ministry
The Social Action Ministry seeks to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ to promote the well-being of all people through social justice, love and peace. We strive to embrace the dignity of all through active discipleship focusing on values taught and implemented by Jesus for the common good. Catholic disciples on mission are called to put Two Feet of Love in Action! This foundational tool describes two distinct, but complementary, ways we can put the Gospel in action in response to God's love: social justice (addressing systemic, root causes of problems that affect many people) and charitable works (addressing immediate needs and providing emergency assistance). USCBB.
The Social Action Ministry typically meets on the 3rd Monday of the month from 7-8:30 pm, starting in September and ending in May. Usually, we do not meet in December and January. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can express interest in an event or project by contacting the person who coordinates the event. Also, as volunteers are needed for a project, SAM members will be notified by email about one month before the project takes place. We also have subcommittees for the various projects that meet as necessary. SAM members are kept informed through the monthly meeting minutes and monthly and weekly reminders. SAM members will be provided with a SAM calendar listing all events taking place.
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Addressing Social Injustice
Advocates for Social Justice​
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This ministry strives to address social justice issues. Our original group, Race Awareness, formed as a summer book club, reading books that provided insights about what life is like for people of color. We have evolved to discern the effect of living in predominantly white suburbs and how much more enriched our lives are when we interact with all types of people. We advocate for fair housing, lead poisoning issues, refugees, and generally all those that are discriminated against. We are an interfaith group. “Today as in the past, liberating the poor, the oppressed and the persecuted is an integral part of the mission entrusted by God to the Church.” (Pope Francis, Address to International Catholic Migration Commission, 3/8/18)
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Baldwinsville Interfaith Green Team
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Mission: Promote greater love for God's creation by offering ways to better appreciate and connect with the Earth and ways we can better care for all of creation. Our focus is toward prayer, education, sharing awareness, and actions.
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A.C.T.S. - Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse
A grassroots, interfaith network advocating for social justice in CNY, ACTS is a voice striving for a more just and fair community that improves the quality of life for all. Our mission is to come together as people of faith and conscience to address the social, economic, educational and political concerns of our communities. ACTS is faith based, urban-suburban, multi-faith and multi-cultural - doing its work in task forces and in community-wide gatherings. St. Augustine’s has been a member of ACTS since 2007.
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Charitable Works to Meet Basic Needs
Catholic Charities Men's Shelter Meals
Volunteers are asked to help make a chili dinner or pizza prepared and cooked at the parish hall. The meals are then brought and served to the 100 homeless men staying at the Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter.
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SAM's Bakers
Periodically a need arises for homemade cookies to enhance a meal at the Men’s Shelter, for Migrant worker gatherings, on Election Day or for other fundraisers such as the St Joseph / St Patrick bake goods celebrations.
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Emergency Food Bags
Two sets of two food bags are prepared and always available to anyone in need. Each bag has enough food for three complete meals and can feed 4-5 people.
Food Drive: Turkey Day Race Food Drive
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Under the combined sponsorship of St. Mary’s and St. Augustine’s Church, SAM volunteers collect, sort and deliver food items to families in need for a Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. Additional food is donated to the B’ville food pantry and to the local backpack program for school children.​​
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Food Collection
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Food donations from the parish and grocery store gift cards are provided at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter for nearby families in need, as well as for several military families.
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Food Pantry
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St. Augustine’s parishioners ongoingly donate non-perishable food for the Baldwinsville Food Pantry. On a weekly basis, SAM members volunteer to deliver the donated food to the pantry.
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Giving Tree
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Each year volunteers coordinate a program at Christmas time for our parishioners to help provide gifts to be distributed to Baldwinsville families in need, the Baldwinsville Christmas Bureau, and children from St. Vincent De Paul Church in Syracuse. In addition, Ramen Noodles are collected for Jail Ministry as part of Christmas gift bags for inmates at the Onondaga County Justice Center.
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Gospel of Life
Provides educational, spiritual and service opportunities for the parish which focus on respecting all life.
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Jail Ministry
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Volunteers are invited to write letters to inmates on a monthly basis, volunteer in the Jail Ministry office, or become trained to visit inmates at the Onondaga County Justice Center.
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Migrant Workers
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SAM provides support for migrant workers who work at local farms by providing clothing, food and personal supplies, as needed. Members also help sort and/or distribute supplies to workers in spring and summer and visit with surplus baked goods as available. Religious services, including Mass, are occasionally offered at one of the farms. Spanish language skills are helpful but not necessary.
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Ash Wednesday Luncheon
Parishioners prepare and serve vegetarian soups after mass on Ash Wednesday.
Bingo: O’Brien Road Apartments
SAM volunteers sponsor bi-monthly bingo games. Volunteers are needed to help seniors play Bingo and award prizes.
Christmas Party: O’Brien Road Apartments
Volunteers help plan and offer a party for residents.
Outhouse Challenge
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Annually, the parish is asked to contribute to a month-long collection of paper products or toiletry items, which are then provided to the Baldwinsville Food Pantry which relies on this donation to defray costs for items that would have to be purchased.
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Click here for more details.
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Produce Table
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Annually, Volunteers coordinate a produce exchange between those in the parish with garden surplus with others desiring fresh produce. Any funds raised go to the local Food Pantry.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
SAM volunteers coordinate collections of gently used towels, eyeglasses, hearing aids, toddler clothing, toys and sweatshirts. These items are donated to the Men’s Shelter, PEACE, the Lions Club, and Birthright to assist those in need.
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Samaritan Center Sandwiches
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Volunteers prepare sandwiches with church supplied ingredients, typically on the second Wednesday of the month after 10:00 mass in the parish hall. The sandwiches are then delivered to the Samaritan Center.
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School Supplies
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School Supplies
SAM volunteers coordinate parish contributions of school supplies for PEACE, Inc., which then go to Baldwinsville school children.
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Click here for more details.
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Veterans and Soldiers Assistance
Local military families and veterans in need benefit from an annual collection to provide financial support to individuals and/or local Veterans’ organizations.
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St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's Day
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Since these two feast days are both in March, this committee bakes Italian and Irish bread, cookies and goodies. Committee members bake in the parish hall and at home. The treats are then offered to parishioners after Masses and proceeds are donated to the Baldwinsville Food Pantry or other worthy causes.
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Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant is needed to assist the chair in communicating scheduled projects to members, attend and/or take and publish minutes at meetings. Regular contact with the chair would help coordinate the many projects and volunteers needed to successfully manage the numerous projects, bulletin articles and announcements. Communication and automation skills are helpful.
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Case Manager Task Force
SAM has an ongoing committee working on a special project to see if there is a community wide need for a full time locally based case manager. Committee participants are needed to collect data in order to apply for a grant to fund the project.
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Sunday Coffee & Donuts
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This ministry is of a social nature. Members of this committee serve coffee and 15 donuts on Sunday mornings after the10:30 am Mass. We are looking for people who will help pick up donuts at 9:30 am and set up the coffee as well as for people who will serve the coffee and donuts after Mass and then clean up. Commitment varies on how often you would like to participate.
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We'd Love To Have You Join One
of Our Parish Outreach Ministries!