Home > Ministries > Pastoral Outreach

Pastoral Outreach

Bereavement Ministry

The Bereavement Ministry was born out of the need to give comfort and support to parishioners who have lost loved ones. The goal is that no member of the parish will grieve alone, but will find compassion and concern from the pastor, staff, bereavement team and caring parishioners. The volunteers on the bereavement team assist in planning funerals, give spiritual support, lead the vigil or wake service, keep in touch with the bereaved in the months ahead and assist in other varied ways. A support group lead by a trained facilitator meet on a regular basis in response to the gospel message of care and concern for all God’s people. It also serves as a resource for any information regarding the grieving process and any practical matters that need attended to by the family after the death. Parishioners in this ministry plan and organize the annual Mass of Remembrance in November. Please contact the rectory for more information.

Guardian Angels

This volunteer ministry provides a service to parishioners in need of a helping hand or some act of kindness. The needs are as diverse as the individuals who call the rectory to ask for some assistance. Guardian Angels are men and women of compassion who wish to live Jesus’ mandate to love one another and reach beyond their own agendas to help others. Some examples of services rendered are rides to Church, to doctors and for shopping; sitting with a homebound parishioner to give care-giver some respite time; communicating with other parishioners through cards, visits or phone calls; help with yard work, etc. If assistance is needed, please contact the rectory.

Homebound Ministries

Eucharistic Ministers visit homebound and administer the Sacrament of Holy Communion. In addition, the Pastoral Assistant and various parishioners make special visits and the homebound are remembered during the holidays by members of the confirmation class.

Hospitality

Members of the Apostolate/Evangelization Committee welcome new families to the parish. They meet with them personally to familiarize them with the various events and organizations within the parish.

Prayer Support Groups

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20) set the theme for the Lamb of God Prayer Support Group in the parish who meet every Friday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the school. For more information, please call 412.264.7463.

The teachers and children in the parish grade school pray everyday for special requests and display the names of those remembered in the school through an appropriate symbol. Hospitalized parishioners requesting prayers are urged to telephone the rectory so their name can be published in the weekly parish bulletin. A special prayer partnership involving the homebound of the parish is another way St. Joseph Parish reaches out to those in need of spiritual support. The Christian Mothers have a special "prayer circle" to remember their members in need.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization of men and women who join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder Blessed Frederic Ozanam and patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul. To put our faith in action, we practice the corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and to visit the sick, the lonely and the imprisoned, ever mindful of our love for God and love for those in need.

We operate within the parish boundaries of St. Joseph Church helping those in the Coraopolis, Groveton and Neville Island areas. Monetary funds for the Society to operate come from the generosity of the St. Joseph parishioners. Home visitation is an essential part of our work, enabling us to assess the needs of the poor and to offer emergency monetary assistance as well as a listening and caring ear.