Parish Ministries
Many parishioners participate in various parish ministries and social outreach services. Each of these groups assists in carrying out the spiritual, educational and social mission of our parish. Please join the other members of our parish community in performing these services:
PARISH ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Adult Religious Education
Adult religious education consists of programs and lectures throughout the year. Please see Weekly News for details.
CONTACT: Tom Livaccari 834-1220 Contact
Altar Guild
Different members of the Altar Guild meet each week to assist in the maintenance of the altars. Twice a year at Christmas and Easter, a larger group prepares the church for these great feast days.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Altar Servers
This ministry is open to boys and girls in the fourth grade and older as well as to adults. Men and women are encouraged to join this ministry and are reminded that in the early Church it was the senior members of the Faith Community who served in the sanctuary.
CONTACT: Msgr. Kelly 834-1220 Contact
Basketball Program-Children
Basketball is for third through eighth grades. The program is open to all parishioners. The goal is for all children to participate and learn the basics and fundamentals of not only basketball, but of team sports and teamwork. Practice is usually once a week and games are scheduled once or twice a week.
CONTACT: Gerry Beitel 833-1435 Contact
Basketball Program-Men
This group plays basketball on weekends in the school gym.
CONTACT: Jim Jeffry 833-5813 Contact
Bereavement Group
The loss of the person we love is not "something we get over". It is a process of integrating that person into our lives in a new dimension. Our Bereavement Group will follow a step by step program to facilitate this process and move the numbed and wounded energies into healing and integration.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Book Group
A small group of parishioners meet once a month in the rectory to discuss books on spirituality. This group is willing to assist other parishioners who wish to form a similar spiritual book discussion group.
CONTACT: Lu Doyle 834-1220 Contact
Cancer Sewing Group
St. Augustine's cancer sewing group meets in the school cafeteria from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, from September to June. Volunteers assemble pads for cancer patients at Rosary Hill in Hawthorne, NY. Donated sheets and pillow cases are used to make the pads which are then packed and brought to Rosary Hill.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Choir
The choir assists in providing liturgical music for all Masses, major feasts and celebrations.
CONTACT: Michael Ward 834-1220 Contact
Eucharistic Ministers
Eucharistic Ministers are parishioners who serve the parish by distributing Holy Communion at Mass. They also bring Communion to those members of the parish who are sick and the homebound.
CONTACT: Msgr. Kelly 834-1220 Contact
Family Mass Coffee Hour
Volunteers provide coffee and pastries following the 10:30 a.m. Family Mass
CONTACT: Li-Chuan Hung 834-1220 Contact
Family Mass PreSchool Program
3 and 4 year olds join for story telling, art and music activities related to the Gospel
CONTACT: Sister Suzanne Duzen, SS. C. M. 834-9523 Contact
Food Pantry
The Larchmont/Mamaroneck Task Force sponsors an interfaith food pantry for neighbors in need. At the Mamaroneck C.A.P. Center and the Hope Pantry at 50 Washington Ave in New Rochelle on every Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, volunteers distribute bags of food to be prepared by the recipients at home. Volunteers also pick up and gather donated food, sort it out, fill the bags and welcome people.
CONTACT: Anne Avenius 834-1220 Contact
French Community
Liturgies in French are scheduled several times a year in the parish. There is also a religious education program conducted in French.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Habitat for Humanity
In conjunction with the Christian Social Action Committee of the Parish Council, members of the parish are encouraged to join together to assist Habitat for Humanity in Westchester. Groups from the parish have helped on homes being built in Mount Vernon and Yonkers. Senior citizens as well as young people from the parish have participated.
CONTACT: Anne Avenius 835-2776 Contact
Ladies Auxiliary
St. Augustine's Ladies Auxiliary is both a spiritual and social arm of the parish and promotes fellowship and support. Membership is open to all parishioners. The functions of this group include a day of recollection, Woman of Spirit Award Luncheon, Holly Party and other get-togethers. The Auxiliary is always ready to assist the parish in any capacity. This group welcomes parishioners to join the board and play an active role in the implementation of its activities.
CONTACT: Anne-Mieke Smeets 834-0194 Contact
Larchmont Catholic Library
The Library holds a collection of books, periodicals, video and oral tapes. The Larchmont Catholic Library is located on Larchmont Avenue in the former school building of St. Augustine Parish. Books are also available in the rear of the church.
CONTACT: June Hesler 834-1220 Contact
Larchmont Interfaith Council
The Larchmont Interfaith Council is a group which meets informally for the purpose of promoting interfaith relations. It has evolved into a dynamic force of individuals committed to improving the quality of life in our community. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month from September to June.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Lectors
Lectors are women and men with clear and resonant voices who make the announcements and read the scriptures at Mass.
CONTACT: John Twomey 833-5180 Contact
Legal Outreach Program
Lawyers in the parish are invited to participate in an Interfaith Legal Outreach Program to render pro bono legal assistance to low-income Westchester residents. Assistance is provided on a wide variety of legal matters, including landlord-tenant law, immigration law, government benefits law, domestic violence matters, elder law and family law. Clients are pre-screened prior to referral to attorneys.
CONTACT: John Spollen 834-6814 Contact
Legion of Mary
An organization of men and women under the banner of Mary, who offer their services to the pastor to aid him in performing spiritual works of mercy. Objectives are (1) spread of devotion to Mary, especially through the Rosary; (2) performance of apostolic works; (3) personal sanctification. Duties include attendance once a week at the Praesidium, daily recitation of the Legion prayer, and performance of assigned apostolic work weekly.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Meditation Group
Jesus said, "Do not go on babbling like the heathen ." Thousands of lay groups, world wide, practice mediation. Prayer is not a matter of talking to God, but of listening to Him. "Be still and know that I am God." Examine your prayer life. Has it grown? Matured? Is it rich in the presence of God? In mediation God does the work. Give Him a chance.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Midnight Run
Midnight Run is an organization that ministers to the unsheltered homeless in New York City. Each month, St. Augustine's, in cooperation with other area churches, brings food, clothing, and toiletries to these people. Volunteers are needed to help in many ways -large and small-provide food, pack food, make phone calls, sort clothing, help area churches. For more information on Midnight Run and Midnight Run Soup click here.
CONTACT: Jeff Smith 833-9824 Contact
Parents with Young Children Playgroup
A supportive and playful atmosphere for parents and their children aged 0-3+.
CONTACT: Contact
Parish Council
The Parish Council consists of members of the parish who assist the pastor in planning and implementing the direction and activities of the parish. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month from September to June, at 8:00 p.m. in the Rectory. All parishioners are invited to the meetings.
CONTACT: Thomas Livaccari 834-1220 Contact
Pastoral Ministry to the Aging
St. Augustine Seniors Program was initiated in 1980 to meet the existing and increased demand for spiritual, social, and recreational activities for the aging of our parish community. The goals are to coordinate and implement a program for older adults which will provide opportunities for them to participate more fully in parish and community life; and to render supportive services which will enable them to live in a caring parish environment. This is accomplished through spiritual ministry, outreach to the elderly, health and recreational activities, advocacy, and fundraising to support the program.
CONTACT: Nancy Angiulo 834-1220 Contact
Prayer Network
The Prayer Network is composed of parishioners who are willing to pray for the needs of others in the parish. We have a telephone chain and calls with new prayer requests and updates are usually made on Monday nights. If there are emergency prayer requests, these calls are made as soon as possible.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Reflections
Parishioners help write and publish this newsletter regarding parish activities.
CONTACT: Mary Margaret Johnson 834-1220 Contact
Religious Education
GRADES K TO 9: The religious education program is offered for children in the local public schools, grades K-9. The Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist are offered in second grade and the Sacrament of Confirmation in ninth grade. Teachers, substitutes and helpers are always needed. Please see above for Adult Religious Education.
CONTACT: Sister Suzanne Duzen, SS. C. M. 834-9523 Contact
Retreats
Each year, around the beginning of Lent, parishioners are invited to attend s men's and women's retreat held on separate weekends at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale. The retreat begins on Friday eveninig and ends at noon on Sunday. Retreatants are provided with the opportunity to meet in private sessions with the Passionist Retreat Team, participate in conferences, prayer sessions, workshops and reconciliation and enjoy quiet time for relaxation and reflection. For more information visit www.passionists.org.
CONTACT: Nancy Angiulo or Joseph Gryzlo 834-1220 Contact
Rosary Group
The Rosary Group meets Sunday night at 6p.m. in St. Augustine's School Room 103 to pray the Rosary.
CONTACT: Lorena Finnell 834-1220 Contact
Soup Kitchen
Our parish has been participating in the work of Mother Teresa's Queen of Peace Soup Kitchen since the late 1970's. Every Saturday, two or three volunteers or a family group pick up food left at the church and bring it to the Soup Kitchen in the South Bronx.
CONTACT: Kevin Brosnan 834-1220 Contact
Thanksgiving Dinner Drive
Each year parishioners prepare cooked meals for families in need as referred to the parish by local agencies working with these families. Parishioners are asked to sign up on posters at the entrance to the Church and Auditorium. Each person signs up for a particular size meal which should be a complete cooked dinner including all the trimmings, excluding alcoholic beverages. Dinners are brought to the Church on Thanksgiving morning prior to the 9:30AM Thanksgiving Mass. After the Mass parish volunteers distribute the meals to families and agencies. Each Thanksgiving St. Augustine's parishioners provide approximately 500 meals to local needy families.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Ushers/Greeting Committee
1) Greeters-who wear a small Welcome badge to identify themselves-arrive about 10-15 minutes before Sunday Mass to greet those entering the church. Participation can be on a weekly or monthly basis.
2) Ushers are especially needed at Christmas, Palm Sunday, and Easter. Men and women volunteers are also needed to take up the weekly collection at Sunday Masses.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Welcome New Parishioners
New parishioners are welcomed into the community by this committee which provides information regarding the parish and sends the new members a plant.
CONTACT: Margaret Vivolo 834-1220 Contact
Young Adults Group
This group is being organized for younger, post college adults both single and married. Please see Weekly Announcements for information about this new program.
CONTACT: Rectory 834-1220 Contact
Youth Group
The youth group focuses on providing appropriate social, spiritual and service-based activities and events for high school age students. The group participates each month in one service project, one social activity and one spiritual event.
CONTACT: Lisa Marr 834-1220 Contact
