Parish Organizations | St. Mary Catholic Church

PRAYER LIFE & COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS

Prayer

Choir (English & Spanish)

Floral Ministry

Liturgical Ministers (English & Spanish)

Liturgy Committee

Prayer Chain

The prayer chain was started at the request of the RENEW Prayer Committee during the first RENEW season in 1991. People were invited to be on a phone prayer chain to pray for the success of RENEW in our parish and also to pray for the special intentions and needs of parishioners.

Prayer is a vital part of our parish community. It is a source of life for us, individually, and for our parish.

While not everyone can contribute to the life of our parish through their active presence, everyone can help through their prayers. This is why, even after RENEW, the prayer chain has continued to be a vital ministry in our parish. Everyone who has a local telephone number or email is welcome to be on the prayer chain.

The prayer chain is made up of smaller chains. Contact the prayer chain either by phone or email as listed above with a request, and the entire chain is activated.

Please make the request simple and clear. Read the request back to assure accuracy. Excessive details are discouraged. Pray immediately for the request and continue to remember it in prayer for at least three days. All requests are kept CONFIDENTIAL unless otherwise noted in your message. Thanksgiving prayers are encouraged.

We ask that we pray for each other that we persevere in patience and charity.

For Prayer Chain requests leave a message at 740-363-4641, ext. 105 or email prayer@delawarestmary.org.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Seven Sister Apostolate

Spanish Prayer Ministry

Formation

Men's Group of St. Mary

Contact: Jim Meyer, mensgroup@delawarestmary.org

St. Mary Men's Group invites all men 18 and over to join then in faith, fellowship and fun. Gatherings are every Saturday on the third floor of the parish office starting at 7:00 am for coffee and social time. At 7:30 we start that week's program ending at 8:30. We invite men to then attend the Saturday 9:00 mass together if they would like. We also gather for an occasional meal, movie, or additional outside program like Exodus 90 during lent. We also encourage men of the parish to attend the annual Catholic Men's Conference. For more details, questions and to get on the meeting invite e-mail list contact us at: mensgroup@delawarestmary.org.

During the school year we run a program called That Man Is You. That Man is You! honestly addresses the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers. The program harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive!

During the summer our program looks at various Catholic material, videos, books, readings.

Religious Education (Age 3 to 8th grade)

Contact: Clare Galuzny, cgaluzny@delawarestmary.org

The religious education program serves children ages 3 through the 8th grade! For children ages 3 through 6th grade, we use Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a hands-on, Montessori inspired approach that helps the children discover a relationship with Christ, the Good Shepherd. Our 7th and 8th graders are engaging in a curriculum that will prepare them for Confirmation, and to defend the faith in the world. They are learning many ways to pray, and learning how they can foster the relationship with Christ that is within them. For questions about the Religious Education program, or to enroll, contact Clare Galuzny.

Walking with Purpose

Contact: Erin Maynard, wwp@delawarestmary.org

We want to help women of every age to deepen their spiritual life and knowledge of scripture. We want to reach more women in the parish by offering bible studies geared for Young Mom’s, middle-school age and young adult (high school and college-age) girls.

Why? Our most recent parish results showed that after completing a WWP Bible study:

100% stated their Catholic faith was stronger
100% stated their relationship with Christ was stronger
89% stated their prayer lives have improved
89% have grown in appreciation for the Sacraments
87.5% would recommend WWP to a friend
78% desired to grow in their spiritual lives

For this outreach to be fruitful, we need to form a leadership team consisting of, Coordinators, Small Group Leaders and Hospitality greeters for each of these new programs.

Do you have a special gift you want to share? Do you wish to make new friends and be on the journey as women enrich their relationship with Christ? Do you desire to feel a sense of belonging with a community? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Please prayerfully consider joining our team.

We Thank you for your time, prayer and discernment on how you can share your time, gifts, and talents with your fellow sisters in Christ. Please contact one of the WWP coordinators for more information or if you are interested in joining the leadership team or participating in one of the programs.

"We are the clay and you are our potter, we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:7

Well Read Moms

Well Read Mom St Mary Chapter is a book club for Catholic women (mom or not!). In Well-Read Mom, women read more and read well. We hope to deepen the awareness of meaning hidden in each woman's daily life, elevate the cultural conversation, and revitalize reading literature from books. Some past literature includes works by John Steinbeck, Jane Austen, Dante, Shakespeare, Willa Cather, Kazuo Ishiguro, Julian of Norwich, Elizabeth Gaskill, and many, many others. Our St Mary Chapter currently has about 8 members but is always looking to add more! Members purchase the yearly curriculum ($40-50 per year) created by the national Well Read Mom group, and all book lists, discussion questions, essays, and audios are provided to members. This group meets monthly from August to June. If you are interested in joining, please contact christineellerbrock87@gmail.com and also visit wellreadmom.com.

Vacation Bible School

Learn more about our summer VBS by visiting our Totus Tuus page.

Youth Ministry (Middle School & High School)

Community

55+ Club

Contact: Harvey Doremus, 55club@delawarestmary.org

American Heritage Girls

Contact: Holly Schiefer, AHG@delawarestmary.org

Athletic Association

Contact: Crystal Bender, athleticdirector@delawarestmary.org.

The Athletic Association (the Board) of St. Mary Delaware serves the students, parents, and parishioners of the St. Mary community (Parish, School, & PSR). For students, the Board endeavors to provide them with an opportunity for a positive athletic experience. Students in this program will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game, develop their skills and experience team play, teamwork, sportsmanship, and Christian values.

Building and Maintenance Committee

Contact: Rita Brumley, beautification@delawarestmary.org

The Building and Maintenance Committee is a service and advisory committee that addresses the campus building maintenance needs. This committee was formed in 2023 and is responsible for overseeing renovations currently taking place in the church building. This committee organizes maintenance projects and uses volunteers on small projects from time to time. The committee is made up of 10 members of the parish community. Anyone interested in serving on the committee is encouraged to let current members know that you have an interest. We usually have 1 or 2 openings each year. Summer time is our busiest action time in this committee and we have around 6 planning meetings spread out from September thru May. If you are interested in volunteering for small projects around the campus, please let current members know. Committee chair is currently Rita Brumley and can be reached at beautification@delawarestmary.org.

Cub Scout Pack 3249

Contact: cubscouts@delawarestmary.org

We encourage boys in grades kindergarten through fifth grade to join us for fun, learning, and bonding activities. Their families are invited to all events. Most meetings are at St. Mary School or at Camp Lazarus. Pack Meetings are once a month while den meetings vary based on the scouts' ages and availability. Annual Activities include multiple campouts, Put-in-Bay Battle of Lake Erie Historic Weekend, Wright Patterson Air Force Base Museum, Pinewood Derby, Tapping Maple Trees, Maple Syrup Festival, Haunted Trail (Monster Mash), Fishing Derby and Cub Scout Day Camp. If you have questions or want more information please email cubscout3249@gmail.com or fill out this inquiry form

CUB SCOUT PACK 3249 and BOY SCOUT TROOP 249 are sponsored by St. Mary Catholic Church here in Delaware. The Pack serves Kindergarten to 5th graders and the Troop consists of 5th to 12th grade youth. WHO CAN JOIN? Any boy can join at any time. Parents are encouraged to join as adult leaders. WHAT EVENTS HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? Cub Scouts have Cub Scout Day camp here in Delaware at Camp Lazarus (four days) Boy Scouts attend Summer Camp at Camp Falling Rock near Newark (7 days, 6 nights) Pinewood Derby, camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, canoeing, archery, bb guns, rifle & shotgun, astronomy and climbing are just some of the great adventures ahead throughout the year. WHERE ELSE DO THEY GO IN OHIO? Scouts visit Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Neil Armstrong Museum and Put-in-Bay on a regular basis…as well as the Pontifical College Josephinum and Our Lady of Consolation. WHO DO THE SCOUTS SERVE? We serve the St Mary Parish Community and perform various service projects within Delaware County and beyond. You will see our scouts and adult leaders this weekend working during the festival…look for our Pack and Troop t-shirts! HOW CAN MY SON JOIN? Go out to beascout.org and locate Pack 3249 or Troop 249. More information about joining, meeting dates/times and other details are posted there.

Boy Scout Troop 249

Contact: boyscouts@delawarestmary.org

Annual events include BSA Summer Camp, Put-in-Bay Battle of Lake Erie Weekend campout, camping at Firelands Scout Reservation, visiting NASA sites in Ohio and adventures at Camp Lazarus, Future high adventure at Simon Bechtel Reserve and Philmont.

The Catholic Committee on Scouting assists those scouts working toward their religious awards in scouting. These awards are the Parvuli Dei for Cub Scouting and the Ad Altare Dei for Boy Scouts. For any further information regarding this area of scouting.

Festival Committee

Contact: Adam Bergstedt, festival@delawarestmary.org

The St. Mary Festival began in 1998 and has grown into an event for the whole Delaware community. Inspired by the mission of family, fellowship, and fun, the spring festival provides an enjoyable environment for all ages. The goal of the spring festival is to provide a rewarding experience for all who attend or participate. The spring festival is the largest single-event fundraiser for St. Mary Parish. Proceeds from the spring festival have benefited both church and school by providing funds for playground equipment and emergency repairs to the church and parish facilities.

To become a sponsor for the 2025 festival, please contact one of these committee members:

Debbie Keller at poorkell@outlook.com or 614-638-9986

Finance Committee

Contact: Phil Kraker, pkraker@delawarestmary.org

Hispanic Ministry

Contact: Ana Garcia, santamaria@delawarestmary.org

The Hispanic Ministry is a group of parishioner volunteers serving our Hispanic community during our Spanish Mass every Sunday at 2 pm. Along with our Pastor, Parish Staff and Diocesan Vicar, we offer the St. Mary's Hispanic families information about Mass and confession dates and times, sacramental preparation and evangelization. We also host a variety of prayer practices throughout the year such as Spanish or bilingual Mass for Holy Week, the Rosary before Mass every Sunday, Stations of the Cross, The Divine Mercy Chaplet, las Posadas and other prayer chains and devotions in the church or offsite (it could be the grotto, processions or at the house of some parishioners who are willing to practice prayer). We also support our parish by sharing with our Spanish speaking parishioners relevant information about parish life (newsletter, announcements, projects, events, fundraisings, charity, volunteer opportunities, etc). The two main events that we host every year are: a Festival Dinner night in the summer for fundraising and Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day in Advent. This event is a devotion to our Spiritual Mother as we prepare to receive Her beloved Son in our hearts asking for Her guidance to accept His incarnation and love to humanity. We start this celebration with a novena in the church and at the end, on December 12th, we have a procession from the Grotto to the church carrying the OLG Statue, to end with Mass and a celebration in the commons in which we share Mexican food and hot beverages.

The Hispanic Ministry is divided in 4 different groups/ministries:

Liturgy: which includes sacristan, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and altar servers.

Choir: cantors and instrumentalists to sing hymns, psalms and antiphons.

Hospitality: ushers and greeters; we assist parishioners during and after Mass.

Prayer: by practicing prayer we strengthen our faith and ministries and those around us.

As a Ministry, we are currently looking forward to getting closer to our fellow parishioners of all nationalities and ethnicities united in Christ both in our parish and community. That is why we are planning some activities that can help connect with people and get to know us so we can better serve our families' needs.

Knights of Columbus, Council 1056

Contact: Doug Galuzny, KofC1056@gmail.com

The Knights of Columbus, Council 1056, represents the best of what it means to be a Catholic man by demonstrating our faith through the values of charity, unity and fraternity. Council 1056 volunteers over 15,250-man hours each year at 30-40 separate events. As a Knight, you show support to the parish, community and nation, promoting service over self. Lastly, the KofC offers some of the most affordable, comprehensive insurance consistent with Catholic values. “In service to One. In service to all”.

Parish Council

Contact: Steve Thieken, parishcouncil@delawarestmary.org

School Parish Organization (SPO)

Contact: Kris Konik and Tara Bergstedt, spo@stmarydelaware.org

The St. Mary School Parish Organization (SPO) is a volunteer parent-run organization that provides social and monetary support to the students, faculty, and staff of St. Mary Delaware Elementary School. Our purpose is to enrich the educational experience and sense of community for all students. The SPO will accomplish its purpose through committee initiatives and fundraising while striving to make SPO rewarding and fostering a sense of inclusion and community.

SPO meets every first Tuesday of the month (during the school year) at 5:30pm in the Teacher's Lounge. School family members and parishioners are welcome to attend!

Young Adult Group

Women of St. Mary (WOSM)

Contact: Diane Matous, wosm@delawarestmary.org

Women of St. Mary organization offers spiritual, emotional, and social support for parish women of ALL ages. Our meetings, volunteering, fundraisers, and events foster a sense of fellowship and community in our parish family.

If you like to connect with other women, have fun, help to organize events, decorate, design flyers, help others and make a difference, you will find a home here. You may choose how often or how much time to invest in any event. New ideas are always welcomed, especially at our first kickoff meeting of the year in September.

Benefits of membership:

Women’s events such as the Spring Fashion Show
Operation Easter Baskets
Assist Bereavement Committee, when necessary
Assist parish and community with needs and events
Provide funding for speakers or new events

Contact Diane Matous, Director of Women of St. Mary at 248-880-9333 or destination3@aol.com.

Mission

Bereavement Committee

Contact: Judy Lewis and Mary Ford, bereavement@delawarestmary.org

Meal Ministry

Contact: Julia Fox and Alyssa Steller, mealministry@delawarestmary.org

The Meal Ministry seeks to build community and support one another by providing meals during times of surgery, death of a loved one, illness, or after the birth of a baby. We provide 6-9 meals for each family at the family’s request. Volunteers sign up at their convenience. All you need to do is double the meal you were already making for your family and drop it off at the family’s home who is receiving meals.

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)

Respect Life Committee

Contact: respectlife@delawarestmary.org

S.P.I.C.E. (Special People in Catholic Education)

Contact: Audrey Fayad, spice@delawarestmary.org

Springs of Love

Contact: Christine Ellerbrock, SOL@delawarestmary.org

Raise up Catholic foster and adoptive families through educational programming, small groups, and parish care teams.

The mission of Springs of Love is to raise up more Catholic foster and adoptive families and to support those touched by fostering and adoption through educational programming, small groups, and parish care teams. Springs of Love hopes to convey both the beauty and the challenges of fostering and adoption with attention to such issues as adoption after infertility, the impact of trauma on children, parenting a child with special needs, the adoption triad, navigating relationships with birth families, the language surrounding fostering and adopting, the role of the Church in caring for children in need of parents, and more. We hope that Springs of Love will be a place for those who wonder if they might be called to foster or adopt, can come to hear inspiring stories, learn about the very real joys and challenges of fostering and adopting, and get connected with others who are on this path for support and encouragement. Our chapter includes about 50 families and individuals, including foster families, adoptive families, and those who support them. We are a newer ministry and are looking for more people to grow our support services and impact. We provide spiritual and material care to foster and adoptive families and those discerning, all in a Catholic environment. If you are interested, please Christine Ellerbrock (Chapter lead) and also visit springsoflove.org (National organization).

St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) - St. Mary Delaware Conference

The Corporal Works of Mercy are the kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their material and physical needs. Members of SVdP are asked to act as stewards and ministers of the Corporal Works of Mercy, set forth in the teachings of Christ. On a local level, our role is to act as the compassionate extended hand of the St. Mary parish family, both within our parish and to our community at large. SVdP Membership is open to both parishioners and other community members willing to uphold the guiding principles of The Society.

Members may be categorized as:

Associate Members, who selectively take part in Conference meetings, projects, and activities.
Active Members fill the same roles as associate members with regard to conference service, additionally filling roles requiring confidentiality (Need Phone / Needs Committees.) Active Members also become eligible to serve as officers in The Society.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of the Society, call the SVdP Needs Line, (740) 417-3410. Just leave a message including your contact information, and we will reach out to you.

PRAYER LIFE & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS