Ways to Serve
Local Service Opportunities
red cross blood drive
On Wednesday, April 14th, from 12pm-5pm, we’ll roll up our sleeves and help save lives! St. Paul’s will once again proudly partner with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country!
According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are desperately needed in the ongoing pandemic, especially those with blood types O negative, A negative and B negative.
Sign up to donate blood here. If you would like to volunteer for the blood drive, please sign up for a shift here. There are many ways you can help, but most importantly, we hope you come to donate! There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life. Contact Nate Simon with questions about donating blood or volunteering for the event.
feed my sheep: saturday march 20, 2021
Feed My Sheep is an annual food packaging event in partnership with the Rock County Rotary. Catholic parishes in the Madison area purchase all of the food for meals. Food packages will be sent to Central Wisconsin & Minnesota, Nicaragua, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The packaging event will be held at the Catholic Multicultural Center (1862 Beld St, Madison, WI 53713). You must provide your own transportation.
Feed My Sheep is asking that volunteers sign up as a group with people you are comfortable serving alongside for 60-90 minutes. Please have your team/family leader signup for your entire squad – for example, a student might sign up for one spot (one half of a table line during one time slot) and will indicate that her 5 housemates will be joining her by writing in everyone’s name. More information about Feed My Sheep and sign-up can be found here.
UW Frozen meals program
Our next door neighbors at Pres House (731 State St, Madison, WI 53703) are hosting the UW Frozen Meals Program. The mission of the UW Frozen Meals Program is to provide frozen meals at no cost to students who face food insecurity while simultaneously reducing food waste on campus. Last semester, the program gave away over 1000 meals to UW-Madison students!
St. Paul’s and other organizations in the UW-Madison community are committed to sending students to fill several one hour shifts each week. Each shift is staffed by two students, each from different organizations, and Pres House different questions and topics for conversation to build common ground. The goal is for students to get to know someone from a different community than their own.
View open shifts and sign up here. Please list “St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center” when the registration site asks you what “organization” you represent.
drive groceries for the river food pantry
After launching a free food delivery program, called River Delivers, last fall, The River Food Pantry has experienced unprecedented numbers of grocery delivery requests from local households who are unable to pick food up in person. In response, The River has partnered with RSVP of Dane County to help recruit more volunteer drivers to deliver food to our neighbors who need it most.
River Delivers works with volunteers to schedule weekly deliveries of groceries and meals to Dane County residents who do not qualify for other delivery services and who lack transportation to the pantry for curbside distribution.
RSVP volunteers for River Delivers will specifically serve seniors and people with disabilities. The RSVP volunteer position also offers mileage reimbursement at .56 cents/mile and additional liability insurance.
More information about volunteering for River Delivers can be found here. If interested, please email Mary Schmelzer, RSVP Driver Services Co-Manager, or call her at 608-441-7896.
Winter and Spring Break
Service Trips
Every year students and staff from Saint Paul’s make an impact on communities throughout the United States through winter and spring break service trips. Teams have traveled to Walls (MS), Chicago (IL), New Orleans (LA), Bapchule (AZ), Charleston (SC), Camden (NJ), Houston (TX), among other locations, to encounter those in material and spiritual need.
Mass Ministry
Lectors
Lectors proclaim the word of the Lord to the congregation, drawing the assembly more deeply into the mystery being celebrated. They prepare the readings in advance. They approach the ambo with dignity and reverence, and proclaim the readings in a strong, clear voice. Lectors are scheduled on a rotating basis.
Altar Servers
Altar servers assist the priest during Mass. This assistance comes in the form of being candle bearers, book servers, and the assistants of the priest at the altar. Altar servers are scheduled on a rotating basis.
Master of Ceremonies
The Master of Ceremonies assists the priest and directs the altar servers during Mass. The MC helps to prepare the altar for the Consecration and cares for the sacred books during Mass. Masters of Ceremonies are scheduled on a rotating basis.
Sacristans
Sacristans prepare the chapel for the celebration of the liturgy. They put sacred objects and books in their proper places to allow the Mass to proceed smoothly. They also work with the liturgical ministers, giving guidance and instruction as needed. By helping other participants in the liturgy, sacristans help create an atmosphere that is more conducive to prayer and holiness of the people gathered at Mass. Sacristans are asked to serve weekly or bi-weekly at one of the weekend liturgies.
Interested in Mass Ministry?
Email our Liturgy Intern, Nathan Simon, for more information and training.
Music Ministry
Musicians play an essential role in the work of God that is the liturgy. The choir leaves an indelible impression on the minds of all who take part in the worship of the faith community. Music in the liturgy is so much a part of the fabric of worship that if it is done well, it gives a glimpse of the Divine and facilitates the prayer of all present. If you are interested in being a part of Music Ministry email one of our Music Ministry coordinators Rosie Hess or Patrick Francis.
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