Other Ministries

Bereavement Luncheon Ministry

Collection Stewards

Food Pantry Ministry

Legion of Mary

Media Outreach

Parish Missions, Retreats, and Days of Recollection

Religious Education Catechists

Parish Caring Committee

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Respect Life Committee

Bereavement Luncheon Ministry

This ministry prepares luncheons in the parish social hall following funeral Masses that take place in the church. Assistance is needed in food preparation, as well as helping with meal service. This is a compassionate way to reach out to those families grieving by showing them this tangible support. This ministry also serves the Advent and Lenten Soup & Sermon lunches and provides food for the mobile food pantry.
-- contact: Jan Melhorn

Collection Stewards

Collection stewards are responsible for counting the collection and accurately reporting the various collections as needed.
-- contact: Father Miller

Food Pantry Ministry

A joint ministry among various churches in the Abbottstown-East Berlin area exists to assist those with food-based needs. Parishioners of supporting churches and others are encouraged to help in various ways, including organizing food pantry donations, assisting guests with their shopping, and cleaning up. Other ministries include Ruth’s Harvest (food for school children) and Souper Bowl of Caring (donations for food pantry). Food Pantry is the 1st Wednesday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in East Berlin and the 1st Thursday of every month from 3 to 5 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Abbottstown; Ruth’s Harvest is monthly at the Abbottstown fire hall (date varies); and Souper Bowl of Caring is annual (January/February).

-- contact: Pat Renaut

Legion of Mary

Our parish chapter of this international organization focuses on evangelization and charitable works. Members are committed to doing some works of apostolate for the Legion each week, such as visiting those who are homebound, residing in nursing homes, or are new to our parish. There are also auxiliary members, who commit to praying the Legion prayers daily but do not attend meetings or do Legion work.
-- contact: Diane Schlaline

  • phone: (717) 259-9360

Media Outreach

This ministry aims at providing various forms of media (books, CDs, etc.) to parishioners for ongoing spiritual formation. The current provider of materials is a joint initiative between Lighthouse Catholic Media and Stewardship: A Mission of Faith. The display is located in the main vestibule of the church.
-- contact: Andrew Altobelli

Parish Missions, Retreats, and Days of Recollection

These periodic events are parish-wide initiatives aimed at renewing us individually and collectively as a parish family through music and the reflections of a visiting priest or other presenter.
-- contact: Sister Rosanne Karmazin

Religious Education Catechists

Catechists provide religious instruction weekly (from September to May) for our children (Grades Preschool through Grade 8) in our parish Religious Education Program. This very important ministry is one way that the parish assists parents in their role as primary educators of their children in the ways of faith.

-- contact: Sister Rosanne Karmazin

Parish Caring Committee

This ministry helps parishioners on an as-needed basis and can provide services such as visitation, caregiver relief, meals, light household chores, minor repairs, transportation, and access to a limited supply of medical equipment to borrow.
-- contact: Bob and Kathy Bean

Prayer Shawl Ministry

In this ministry, members knit and crochet prayer shawls, lap blankets, and other items (as needed) for the needs of the elderly, infirmed, homeless, bereaved, Rachel’s Vineyard retreat participants, OCIA candidates, and veterans in Hospice. Members do individual work at home, praying for the intended recipients as they work. They also gather periodically and pray together for the needs of these recipients as they work together.
-- contact: Jan Melhorn

Respect Life Committee

The Respect Life committee is comprised of parish volunteers who organize events within the parish and community to increase awareness and activism surrounding social issues, specifically addressing the value and dignity of the human person.
-- contact: Sabrina Smith