Altar serving is an excellent way to be closer to God and engaged with the Mass in a special way.

Servers assist at Mass and other liturgical events through the year such as weddings and funerals.

They prayerfully participate and help the priest. While being an example for all people, young and old.

Those interested must be in fourth grade or older and have made their First Holy Communion.

Please complete the attached application and return it to the parish office, or in the collection box.

Training sessions begin in September and will take place in the church from 3:15–4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Britt at 360.1147, ext. 245, or EMAIL

We look forward to having you in this special ministry.

Congratulations!

We are happy that you chose to have your wedding at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. We are committed to making your wedding day memorable and prayerful for all. Research has shown that the most helpful marriage preparation involves at combination of clergy, parish staff and lay couples.

Please contact Alice Siepak at 727.360.1147, ext. 227 to schedule your wedding and she will provide more details about our marriage preparation process.

The grace of the sacrament of Matrimony 1641
By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God.147 This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple's love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they "help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children.148.

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

St. John Vianney Catholic Church offers quarterly marriage enrichment seminars

The Quarterly Marriage Enrichment Seminars will look at challenges that married couples face in their efforts to maintain healthy, committed, Christian marriages in a culture that provides few supports for such a commitment. (Fr. John Blum, Pastor)

Current Marriage Flier

For more information, please contact Deacon Joe Grote at 727.360.1147, ext. 203 or email joe.grote@gmail.com

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

Every family is faced with difficulties at one time or another. If you would like counseling, please contact any one of the follow ministries for help:

Troubled Marriages, contact Jeanne Botz with the Retrouvaille Program at 727.848.3283 or visit their website

Freedom from Pornography, visit their website

Annulments, visit their website and/or contact Alice Siepak at 360.1147, ext. 227

Divorce, visit their website

Healing from divorce, visit their website

Bereavement, contact Sr. Elizabeth Moran at 360.1147, ext. 223

Join our team and enjoy a quiet and peaceful time with the Lord and create new friendships along the way.  Martha's Helpers focus on the many behind the scenes tasks that need to be done to make our church shinning, organized and welcoming to all.

We do everything from dusting statues, the confessionals and the sacristy area to cleaning votive candle stands, wash kneelers and cry room. Martha's Helpers are responsible for making the church glow by polishing the tabernacle, altar candle holders, baptismal font, water plants and the upkeep fresh flower arrangements. We make sure holy water fonts are clean and sanitized.

Martha's Helpers Ministry is always looking for new volunteers, please feel free to stop by one of our meetings, Mondays at 11:00 - 1:00.

Contact Cristina Brand at EMAIL cristina_brand6@hotmail.comL, or text/call 914.589.5889.

PINELLAS HOPE MEAL MINISTRY

Pinellas Hope started in 2007 as an effort to help the homeless population in Pinellas County.  It began as a tent city and has since added sleeping cottages and one bedroom efficiency apartments.  One of the primary goals of Pinellas Hope is to work with the residents so that they can re-enter the workforce and community.  They do that by providing medical, educational and financial assistance, counseling and workforce development and training. While the property does have a kitchen, it does not have cooking capacity.  Therefore, they are dependent on the community to provide food and meals to the residents.

St. John Vianney has committed, through this ministry, to provide one hot, balanced meal to Pinellas Hope each month.  Our ministry picks up food donations from local restaurants, cooks the food, transports the food to Pinellas Hope and serves it to the residents.

We have a need for volunteers to help with this process each month, so if you love food and you love serving the Lord and these beautiful people of God, then we would love to have you join this wonderful ministry.

For more information or to join our ministry, contact Sharon Rhoads at 727.409.5435 or email scrhoads@aol.com.

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me."

—MT 25:34-36

The objective of the St. Vincent de Paul society is to spiritually and physically help the poor. The mission of St. John’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference is the mission of the Society; to join-together in a bond of friendship and to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those in need.

Volunteer work in our parish Conference consists of primary case work. The members interview those in need to see how to best help them with their needs—clothing, food, furniture and referrals to other organizations. The St. Vincent de Paul office is staffed by volunteers Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, as well as maintaining a 24-hour Hotline.

Our Parish Conference is fully supported by the people of St. John’s—through the Poor Boxes, the third Sunday of the Month Food Drive (given to the homeless and to others who have difficulty obtaining food) and our Car Donation Program.

For assistance, please call 727.360.1147, ext. 102. We check our voicemail throughout the day. If we are not available when you call, please leave a message; we will return it.

If you are interested in joining our ministry, or would like more information, please call Bob Salerno at 727.360.1147, ext. 102 or email bobnsandy43@gmail.com.

We must hurry to the aid of those in spiritual need as we hurry to put out a fire.

—St. Vincent de Paul

FOOD SUNDAY— 3RD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

The people of St. John’s Parish are, and have been, very generous on Food Sunday. The food you donate is given to the homeless and to others who have difficulty obtaining food. Some have cooking facilities, and some do not; therefore, we need food that can be eaten right out of the container and food that requires cooking.

Food suggestions:

• Small jars of peanut butter

• Small jars of jelly

• Spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce (in cans)

• Canned meats, such as: Spam, corned beef, ham, Vienna sausage & chicken

• Canned fruit

• Canned soups, the heartier the better

• Canned ravioli and other similar foods

• Crackers

• Macaroni and cheese

• Tuna fish, canned fish of other kinds

• Boxed milk ready to use

• Juice in cans, large and small

• Coffee and tea

• Cereal & cereal bars

Some toiletry suggestions are:

• Hand soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes and deodorant, toilet paper & shampoo

The ushers of St. John’s welcome and assist parishioners and visitors who come to our parish services. During Mass, they collect the tithe and direct and help the faithful during communion. The ushers also support our parish school by conducting fundraising events each year. Both men and women are invited to join us.

If you would like to become an usher, please contact Lou Abate or Michael Reilly listed below.

DUTIES

• Arrive 45 minutes to an hour prior to scheduled Mass (4-8 ushers per Mass)

• Setting-up prior to Mass

o Organize books

o Place collection baskets in appropriate areas

o Prepare collection bags and log book

• Captain makes assignments

• Greet and assist seating parishioners

• 1-2 collections

• Assist in Communion service

• Distribute bulletins after Mass

• Prepare church for following Masses

• Be aware and assist in any issues or problems that arise during Mass

OFFICERS:

• President, Lou Abate, 727.864.6280, louabate37@aol.com

• Vice President, Michael Reilly 614.917.8744, mar.reilly@hotmail.com

• Treasurer, Albert Calabrese acalab4@msn.com

• Secretary, Gerald Kubick gkubick@aol.com

CAPTAINS:

• Saturday Masses

o 4 p.m.—Bob Salerno bobnsandy43@gmail.com

o 5:30 p.m.—Ed Cooke edwardjcooke@juno.com

• Sunday Masses

o 7 a.m.—George Carucci barbergic@tampabay.rr.com

o 8:30 a.m.—C.J. Johnson cjjohnson01@gmail.com

o 10 a.m. —Ed Tammany jamesamerica77@gmail.com

o 11:30 a.m. —John Trusheim john.trusheim@yahoo.com

MEETINGS:

First Monday of the month, September through May.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Ushers Breakfast, Saturday, February 9, 2019