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Adopt-A-Spot
If you would like
to be part of a hands-on, groundbreaking ministry, Adopt-A-Spot could be
the Stewardship opportunity for you!
In their efforts to enhance
and maintain the beauty of our parish landscape the Adopt-A-Spot
ministers dig, plant, water, trim and prune. The results have been
spectacular, a variety of growth and color that catches the eye of
everyone who passes, letting them know that Saint Ann’s is a living,
vibrant community.
Why not
share your green thumb, your love of gardening as part of this “ministry
of growth”? Select a spot and make a plan. Annuals? Perennials?
Early sun? Mostly shade? Be the steward of your little corner of the
parish grounds. Plot it, plant it and watch it grow, a living tribute
to your willingness to share the gifts God has given you.
Money Counters
Think money counters, think generosity. These dedicated parish
stewards give generously of their time and talent to separate and
bundle the weekly offering, the treasure given so generously by
members of our parish family.
Six teams of counters
work on a rotating basis on Sunday mornings. Based on new guidelines
from the Archdiocese of Hartford the teams have implemented new polices
and made a smooth transition into a new, more secure system. They do a
great job!
If your talents run to stacking bills and having fun, you might like to be one of our marvelous money counters.

The M &
M Team
(Mailings & Miscellany)
Parish information arrives, as if by magic: inserts in the
bulletin, newsletters in your mailbox. How does it happen? Elves, you
say? No, it’s the M&M team on the job!
Voted “best named ministry in the parish,” the M&M’s are a group of
dedicated volunteers who help us get the word out. On Friday mornings
the word is “bulletins” and our crack team inserts flyers (if necessary)
and mails bulletins to parish shut-ins. Once a month the word might be
“newsletters” and the team jumps into action, labeling and sorting
The Parish Press before it goes to the post office. That’s the
first M – Mailings.
The Miscellany department is, well, miscellaneous. The team
would like to recruit someone to make phone calls to gift bearers for
each weekend’s Masses, not a time-consuming task but an important one.
We’d also like to explore the notion of sending welcome and
congratulation cards to new parishioners or to those marking special
occasions. We have other ideas brewing, as well (along with the great
coffee that team members enjoy).
Consider sharing your time and talent as part of this valuable
ministry. You’ll be helping the parish, engaging in stewardship and
having fun, all at the same time.
Bereavement
Ministry
Through our Bereavement Ministry the parish offers consolation and
support to grieving parishioners. We do this in two ways: by assisting
families in planning funeral liturgies for their loved ones and by
offering comfort to the recently bereaved through our Bereavement
Support group.
Funeral Planning
Prior to a funeral
here at Saint Ann’s a member of the Bereavement Ministry meets with the
family of the deceased to assist in planning the funeral Mass, helping
them choose readings and select music. We encourage family members to
participate in the Mass as readers and as gift bearers. We make every
effort to plan a funeral Mass that is personal, prayerful and consoling,
a true celebration of the life of their loved one.
Bereavement Support
Through our Bereavement Support group we offer comfort to those who
mourn, helping them on their journey from grief to healing.
Co-facilitators plan the meetings. They encourage the recently bereaved
to work through the natural process of grieving by sharing their
thoughts, feelings and experiences with others who are struggling with
grief. The group meets on the second Sunday of every month at 2:00 PM
in the Children’s Chapel. As Catholic Christians we are called to comfort those who mourn.
Saint Joseph’s Guild
If you are skilled in the building trades, we invite you to share your
time, talent and treasured knowledge as a member of Saint Joseph’s
Guild.
Guild members assess the parish’s plant and property for upkeep and
routine repairs. They coordinate carpentry, plumbing and electrical
work to upgrade and maintain parish buildings.
Members of Saint Joseph’s Guild recently transformed the Children’s
Chapel and installed the meditation benches near Mary’s shrine.
Behind the scenes, they change valves and fuses, install canopies and do
countless “ounce of prevention” jobs that help maintain the parish
plant. The Guild’s goal is to develop a long-term maintenance plan
for Saint Ann Parish.
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