Outreach
Several Outreach Initiatives are done regularly at St. Joseph Parish through the generosity of our parish and parishioners. If you would like more information on opportunities through our parish or efforts lead by parishioners of the parish for St. Vincent dePaul or the West Side Catholic Center, please email Stewardship@stjosephavonlake.org.
Valor Home - Lorain—Help us prepare and serve a luncheon for the residents!
221 West 21st St., Lorain
The Valor Home is dedicated to helping local veterans achieve autonomy and live their lives to their highest
potential. Valor Home is grateful to the generous support they receive from many individuals, families,
companies and organizations in our community.
St. Elizabeth Center—Get your group together to help with spring cleaning!
2726 Caroline Ave, Lorain
The work of St. Elizabeth Center is a direct reflection of Catholic Charities' mission and values. Catholic
Charities has been a steadfast provider of food and shelter to Lorain residents for more than 20 years, providing assistance for persons who are homeless, hungry or otherwise vulnerable. In spring 2017, Lorain Family Center (aka 8th Street) and the St. Joseph Overnight Shelter established ministry in the aptly named St. Elizabeth
Center. Many faith groups, businesses, civic organizations and individual volunteers support what has truly
become a multi-purpose center serving the Greater Lorain community.
Blessing House— Install fencing (posts are already in) & hang bike rack
6115 Olive Avenue, Elyria
As a faith-based, non-denominational organization, Blessing House’s mission is to help families who are in crisis by providing shelter for children and support for their families. Through a commitment to service and
empathetic care, children, parents and caregivers are nurtured, supported and loved. This commitment to
building healthy relationships with families improves the self respect and confidence that children and parents need. Last year, 159 children whose families needed help because of issues that created emergencies received care at Blessing House. We remain committed to our mission of providing safe care for children and support for families, connecting those who need help with those who can help.
Senior Community Flower Delivery
Help us prepare, assemble, and deliver flowers to Towne Center, Beachpark Tower, and Independence Village to bring an Easter smile to the residents faces. This is a great activity for families with young children, even if they can only help for a short time.
Thank you for your support in the past! We look forward to serving with you on April 1st. Please
contact Steve Krajny for Parish support of the community at 440-308-7048 or by emails at
stevekrajny@gmail.com.
Social Justice Ministry
The Social Justice Ministry is made up of parishioners representing the parishes of St. Joseph and Holy Spirit. The purpose of this ministry is to provide experiences that enable our parishioners to learn about issues of injustice and to engage their faith. Inspired by Scripture and Tradition, all members of the Catholic Church are called to be a people of faith and action, people who strive to be the light of Christ in the world as advocates for peace and justice. Catholic Social Teaching, including Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, emphasizing care and respect for our common home, is a central element of our faith. It is Jesus who calls us to this mission, not any political or ideological agenda.
The Social Justice Ministry has undertaken and is currently pursuing the following activities:
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Sending letters to and visiting government officials concerning important issues such as climate change and common- sense gun legislation
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Providing education for parishioners by hosting speakers on safe gardening practices, immigration and human trafficking
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Sponsoring electronics recycling drives and fair-trade shows
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Being further educated on human trafficking and currently delivering posters of missing children to local hotels
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Sponsoring church collections for local refugees, the incarcerated and those less fortunate
We meet on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM at St. Joseph Parish in the office conference room.
If you have questions, contact Donna Dugan at 440-785-8051 or ddcorita@aol.com.
The Diocesan Social Action Office seeks to shape a more caring and peaceful world through justice education, advocacy, community development and organizing. CLICK HERE to be taken to their website for up-to-date news and actions that can be taken.
For more information, go to: www.ohiocathconf.org/
Always Our Children
Gay & Lesbian Family Ministry
The LGBT Family Ministry aims to support all persons and their families in their quest for wholeness and holiness. The Body of Christ in the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is called to reverence each person as a unique reflection of God's presence in our midst. We commit ourselves to become a community of care, support, formation, reconciliation and witness to justice with and among gay and lesbian persons, their parents, family members, and all who minister in and with this community.
Resources
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Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Spanish Version)
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People of God Who are Gay or Lesbian: A Catholic Pastoral Response, Fr. Joe Fortuna
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A note on the teaching of the Catholic Church concerning homosexuality, Cardinal Basil Hume, April 1997
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Parents of homosexuals speak in Catholic High Schools in Cleveland Diocese, an article by Ann Hoenigman (reprinted with permission)
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For more information, please contact the Secretariat for Parish Life and Development at
(216) 696-6525 or (800) 869-6525 ext. 3500, and/or visit our website: Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry
If you would like to be part of our group here at St. Joseph Parish, please contact the Parish Office for more information, or just attend a meeting!
Outreach Groups
Parish outreach groups exist to provide a place of support, affirmation and spiritual guidance to gay and lesbian Catholics.
Gesu Parish, University Heights
Contact: Fr. Michael Vincent, SJ, (216) 932-0617
Blessed Trinity Parish, Cleveland
Contact: Fr. Doug Koesel, (216) 671-5890
Support Groups for Parents
St. John Vianney Parish, Mentor
Contact: Fr. Tom Johns, (440) 943-3445
St. Joseph Parish, Avon Lake
Contact the parish office, (440) 933-3152
If a sufficient number of people express interest, the ministry is willing to support the formation of additional groups in other areas of the diocese. Please contact Sister Rita Mary Harwood (216-696-6525 x2200) for more information.
Determined to Develop - Malawi Mission
Takupokelerani (or Welcome) to Determined to Develop (D2D). We are an NGO registered in the United States as a 501(c) 3, tax deductible, organization working in Malawi. D2D is based in the rural community of Chilumba, in the Karonga district of northern Malawi, Africa, and works side-by-side with members of the community to address their needs and provide assistance in the overall development of the wider community. We focus on programs supporting education, women’s empowerment, health and nutrition, and the environment. Yet the majority of our efforts and funding is used to run a large education program, sponsoring over three hundred youth from the local area, who would not otherwise be given the opportunity to attend school.
All of our work is vetted by traditional leaders from the community, including Village Headmen (Chiefs) and local village development committees before they pass planning stages. Such collaboration with the community ensures that we are meeting real, rather than perceived needs.
We see our job as providing assistance to some of the more vulnerable members of society, to allow them to reach their full potential to benefit themselves and ultimately Malawi as a whole.
Note from the Executive Director:
On behalf of the Determined to Develop team I would like to thank you for your generous commitment in sponsoring Mphatso Chakuchanya and in supporting our wider program. It is donations such as yours, which allow us to continue our work and ensure that as many children as possible in our local area can attend school and receive the education and support they deserve.
The sponsorship program means we are able to safeguard Mphatso’s secondary school education; something which unfortunately for many youth in Malawi is not guaranteed. Yet our work in securing young people’s education in Malawi would not be possible without the on-going support from our overseas donors. So thank you again for your assistance to Mphatso. Your donation will provide a life changing experience for him and open up his opportunities for the future.
You will receive personal updates from Mphatso three times a year at Easter, August and Christmas, during his school holidays.
Thank you and warm regards,
Matt
Matthew Maroon
Executive Director, Determined to Develop
2022 Ministry Impact Report
