Ministries: Outreach and Support Ministries

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2

The St. Charles mission statement "Together, we share faith in Jesus, live the Gospel and care for others" is put into action every day by the members of the many outreach and service ministries available at St. Charles. In addition to cooperating with and being involved in several agencies and organizations, the parish financially supports (a % of our monthly plate collection) the efforts of other persons or groups of goodwill, who work for the achievement of a more just and compassionate society. There are 20 ways we care for others:

Backpack Project: A CISSP (Community Interfaith Student Support Program) interfaith community effort since 1993 to provide over 850 backpacks filled with school supplies for Livermore students in elementary, middle and high school grades whose families experience a financial hardship when attempting to provide their children required supplies at the beginning of the school year. Backpacks are sold after masses during the summer to be filled by parishioners or donations are accepted so that St. Charles can purchase supplies and fill the packs. Packs are filled, tagged and distributed by volunteers prior to the start of school. Each June, look for flyers and bulletin notices with information about purchasing, filling and distributing packs.

Christmas Giving Tree is held during Advent and is sponsored by the Angel Network, an interfaith group who works with the school district and Livermore food pantries to qualify eligible recipients. Parishioners are asked to take a tag off a tree and purchase clothes, gift-certificates, food and wish-list items for needy families and residents of two convalescent homes. 15-20 families are given wrapped Christmas presents, turkey and ham gift certificates, boxes of canned foods and baking goods and several grocery store gift certificates. Watch for announcements by the Social Concerns Committee in the November and December bulletins and monthly mailings.

CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) is a combined program with St. Charles and St. Michael’s. CYO focuses on a fall and winter basketball program for boys and girls in 2nd through 8th grades. Approximately 700 children participate on 70 teams. They rely on the volunteer ministry of parents and young adults for coaching, assistant coaching, team parenting and administration. The program, open to all children in the city, is the largest outreach ministry in our parish. CYO offers an outstanding opportunity to be a role model for the children, showing them by example the qualities of leadership, good sportsmanship, and how to serve God and the community. 

Eucharistic Ministries to Our Neighbors - At St. Charles, Ministers bring the Body of Christ to those who cannot physically attend our community worship celebrations. An ill or homebound person knows the value of a visit and a hand offered in friendship and care.  Our faith community is blessed to minister to: Hacienda Care Center, Rosewood Gardens,  Silver Oaks and Tiffany Gardens,  Valley Memorial Hospital Rehab and skilled nursing facility and those who are home-bound for the short or long term.

Grief Support offers friendship and understanding to the bereaved. Members do not try to lead people through the grieving process, as individuals will come to terms with their loss in their own way. This ministry helps the bereaved express and interpret their feelings and offers emotional support. Individuals are assigned to bereaved families or individuals whom they will follow for an indefinite period. Some activities include making a personal visit or phone calls or sending cards. Sometimes, grief supporters help by driving an individual to an appointment or by completing the person's grocery shopping. Comforters are parishioners who have received six weeks of training by the Grief Outreach Program of the Department of Aging at Catholic Charities of the East Bay. Training sessions are held locally. The Grief Support Ministries of St. Charles and St. Michael's also offer a Remembrance Mass four times a year, which alternates between the two parishes.

The Helping Hands Meals ministry was created to provide dinners for parishioners who need help during a recovery period or other difficult time. It provides a wonderful way to help another family or individual in our parish community. Requests are made to the rectory office and the parish secretary will call or e-mail several members of the ministry with dates and details. Members respond if they are able to assist and are provided all the needed information, including the number of people in the family and any food preferences or restrictions. The parish secretary keeps the “master meal list” and coordinates all the meals. Contact the parish secretary: 447-4549.

Knights of Columbus is a national Catholic men's fraternal organization. Its purpose is to provide spiritual support and development to its members and to aid the parishes it serves and the community through various works of charity and fundraising activities. Enrollment is open to men 18 years of age or older. Membership drives are held at St. Charles once a year and during the Stewardship Faire. For more information Click Here for a link to our web site.

Lenten Collections is a 6-week drive sponsored by the St. Charles' Social Concerns Committee starting on the first Sunday of Lent and continuing through Holy Thursday. Various charitable and outreach agencies are supported every year with parishioner's contributions of money, food, clothing or other needed items. A flyer is mailed prior to Lent with dates and a wish-list for each designated agency, such as Livermore's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Interfaith Sharing food pantry, Tri-Valley Haven Shelter and Open Heart Kitchen and Oakland's St. Andrew-St. Joseph Soup Kitchen, Catholic Worker House and Elizabeth House.

Open Heart Kitchen serves free hot meals to anyone who is hungry every Tuesday and Wednesday at Asbury Methodist Church on East Avenue and on other days at locations in Livermore and Pleasanton. Teams of 6 to 8 people from St. Charles work together to prepare and serve lunch and dinner on the 1st Tuesday of each month and dinner on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Their responsibilities include setting up the dining room and kitchen, preparing and cooking the meals, serving food, washing dishes and cleaning the dining room and kitchen after the food service ends. Their commitment of time is from either 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM (lunch) or from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM (dinner). Teams are scheduled and rotated at least every month. Sign-ups are held at the annual Stewardship Faire in the fall.

Prayer Circle: The E-Mail Prayer Circle consists of a group of caring individuals who pray for the special and specific needs of our parishioners. On Thursday of each week, the parish secretary e-mails the prayer requests that we have received from the community. All Prayer Circle members have to do is to include these people in their normal prayer time and thinking about them and asking for God’s special blessing for them. Occasionally, an address or phone number is included in the prayer request in case you would like to send a note or card to someone. Contact the parish secretary to request prayers or to be included in the prayer circle: 447-4549.

Social Concerns Committee: The parish's primary outreach ministry exists to a) educate parishioners about social needs, social justice and respect life issues; b) encourage the parish to take an active role in the relief of social ills by giving direct service and financial support; c) carefully distribute the parish’s tithing funds; and d) expedite parishioner participation by providing resources, support and guidance. This committee and its members participate in many activities to benefit the less fortunate of our community. The Social Concerns Committee meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM from September through June, and as scheduled or needed for special collections or projects.

Sunday Food Collection: Parishioners are encouraged to bring non-perishable and canned food to mass on Sundays to be included with our gifts of bread, wine and tithes brought to the altar during the Mass. A collection basket is located in the vestibule by the hospitality table. Food items are distributed to the several food pantries in Livermore supported by St. Charles. This is a very good way to teach our children how to be good stewards and give back generously to God.