The ministries of the Social Responsibility Commission give witness to our parish’s response to our Lord’s call to proclaim the gospel vision by serving the needs of individuals and families, especially the poorest, and working with Church and community for justice, peace, and compassion.
Batahola Mission As a sign of our solidarity with others in our Catholic faith, we offer prayer and financial support to the educational and cultural mission, Centro Cultural of Batahola Norte in Nicaragua. Commitment: Once a year host visitors, arrange opportunities for increasing financial support Contact: Kim Morgan 225.335.4007 kfmorgan@att.net and Vicki Brooks 225.938.5044 vgbrooks@cox.net
Bereavement Ministry Teams of volunteers provide personal outreach to families of deceased parishioners with meals, a memorial cross, and an All Saint's Day Memorial Mass. Commitment: Rotating schedule Contact: Ina Dugas 225.278.3426 lidugas3@cox.net
Bishop Ott Shelter Meals Meals are prepared by volunteers and served at the Men’s Shelter on the 1st Tuesday of each month, and at the Women & Children’s Shelter on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Commitment: Individual service Contact: Missy Woodard 225.317.0587 mwoodard2@att.net
Blood Drive Through Vitalant and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Blood Banks SJV sponsor three blood drives annually, which provide blood replacement credits to all parishioners during their time of need. Contact: Richard Weaver 225.229.2562 arweaver1@cox.net
Community Garden This ministry provides fresh fruits and vegetables to our emergency assistances guests and food pantry. Any surplus is donated to St. Agnes Shelter or other ministries. Volunteers are needed to pick and/or deliver vegetables. Commitment: Seasonal and as available Contact: John Rinaudo 225.359.8139 jjrinaudo@bellsouth.net
Emergency Assistance This ministry provides emergency financial assistance and referrals to those in need within the geographical boundaries of our church parish. Volunteers pray and assist our neighbors with rent, utilities, food, medicines, and most of all, love and hope for the future. Commitment:Rotating schedule Contact: Michelle Reddinger 225.753.7950 mreddinger@stjeanvianney.org
Food Pantry The parish provides a food pantry that serves the needs of parishioners as well as families in the community. Food drives are held monthly to stock our shelves with non-perishable items. Commitment: As needed, rotating schedule Contact: Ellen Feth 225.937.1227 gedfeth@gmail.com
Giving Tree Your generosity brightens the lives of the homeless, elderly, children and families during this holy season through service of the Giving Tree. This ministry identifies needs, makes ornaments, collects, wraps, and distributes gifts.
Services Provided To
Bishop Ott Men’s Shelter
Bishop Ott Women and Children’s Shelter
Sanctuary for Life (Homeless, pregnant women)
The Woodleigh Retirement Home
Volunteers of America: Disabled adults and children
Volunteers of America: Therapeutic foster care
Catholic Charities
Commitment: The majority of the time given to this ministry is in early December. Contact: Ann Wolf 225.978.7579 wolfpack13@cox.net
Habitat for Humanity House SJV participates with the Catholic Coalition in the construction of a Habitat Home each spring. Commitment: Individual preference. SJV commits to 2 days in the spring. Volunteers are needed to bring food and help with build. Contact: Tooley Towns ttowns@cox.net 225.933.2470
Knitting Group This fall SJV will restart The Knitting Group creates physical gifts of prayer to others in need of comfort through knitting and crocheting items such as prayer shawls, prayer lap cover, and all types of skull caps and bands for anyone who is ill, has cancer or just needs a little love. Beginners and experts and everyone in between are welcome. Instruction provided. Commitment: Individual preference Contact: Michelle Reddinger 225.753.7950 mreddinger@stjeanvianney.org
Meals of Love This ministry provides meals to families recovering from surgery or an illness, new child/baby in the home, etc. Responsibilities include organizing and implementing the preparation and delivery of meals to families needing prepared meals for a limited time period. Commitment: As needed, individual commitment Contact: Michelle Reddinger 225.753.7950 mreddinger@stjeanvianney.org
Ochsner Hospital, Nursing Home and Homebound Ministry This ministry serves homebound parishioners, several area nursing homes and Ochsner Hospital. Volunteers are commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers who bring the Eucharist to residents, patients and homebound parishioners. Commitment: Rotating schedule
Homebound Contact: Tim Cummings 225.907.3255 taccum@cox.net Nursing Home Contact: Ina Dugas 225.278.3426 ildugas3@cox.net
Outback Harvest Program Once a week volunteers pick up donated food from Outback Restaurant, 5280 Jones Creek Rd., and deliver to the church food pantry. Click link to sign up: www.signupgenius.com/go/60b044ba5aa2da0f94-outback Commitment: Rotating schedule Contact: Michelle Reddinger 225.753.7950 mreddinger@stjeanvianney.org
Parents’ Night Out The 2nd Friday of each month parents with special need children and their siblings are invited to attend a night off of parents. Parents have a worry-free time out knowing that their special needs children are being cared for by professionals who understand their needs. Volunteer opportunities exist for high school youth and adults. Commitment: Once a month 6-9PM Contact: Allison Veillette 225.993.9745 Allison@bellsouth.net
Respect Life This ministry works to foster a deepening respect for all human life by raising the consciousness of parishioners through various projects and printed material. Commitment: Meets as needed, with emphasis in October and January Contact: Christy Didier 337.344.8845 Christy.didier@yahoo.com Thanksgiving and Easter Baskets This ministry provides meals to families for Thanksgiving and Easter. Volunteers are needed to buy/donate, organize and coordinate picking up the baskets. Commitment: Thanksgiving week and/or Easter week Contact: Ellen Feth 225.937.1227 gedfeth@gmail.com
Together Baton Rouge SJV is a member of a coalition of congregations and community institutions of the Greater Baton Rouge area called Together Baton Rouge. It is a grassroots organization dedicated to a common cause: moving our city forward toward a higher quality of life for everyone through relationship building among members and working towards a common call to justice. Commitment: Meeting once a month Contact: Vicki Brooks 225.938.5044 vgbrooks@cox.net and Vicki Dauterive 225.939.9538 frd@cox.net