Human Concerns MinistriesThe goal of the committee is to identify and respond to the needs of the poor, deprived, neglected and oppressed, both within the parish and the larger community. This committee shall help parishioners to become aware of the social justice dimensions of the Gospel and shall help them to give witness by effective programs of service.
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MissionActs 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Matthew 25:31-46, reminds us whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers…that you do unto me. The mission of this ministry is to help those in need - need meaning spiritually, physically, financially. We are called to be a community of faith, to spread the good news, locally, and globally. Through these actions, we will act more responsibly, in our actions of Christian charity, peace and justice. |
Ministries
Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry that welcomes persons with disabilities at the level they desire.
Aids/HIV Ministry
Updated information is available concerning AIDS and services which are available in the area.
Bereavement Ministry
Members of the Bereavement Ministry are present at Wake Services and visitation. They also provide referrals to support groups and, on the 2nd of November (All Souls Day), celebrate a Memorial Service to which people in the surrounding area are invited.
C.A.R.I.T.A.S. (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter)
This family Focus program is sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for one week during the summer. The Parish provides somewhere for families to sleep, dinner each night and other services.
Clothing Room (Laura’s Closet)
Open to the public on Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and by special appointment. This service is available to the greater Richmond area. Laura’s Closet is closed in December and on Tuesdays following a Monday holiday.
Food Pantry
By appointment, this service is available to residents of local zip codes.
Funeral Reception Ministry
As a way to minister to those who are grieving, Lourdes offers funeral receptions, free of cost, to anyone who has a loved one being buried from Lourdes. We are always in need of volunteers to help with the reception. We have three teams of volunteers. Their duties including preparing desserts, some main dishes, fruit and vegetable trays.
Global Outreach
We support the Comboni Missionary Sisters with their work in Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and the Sudan. Each year we raise funds for projects such as providing clean water and food for hungry children as well as books to schools.
Health Ministry (formerly Parish Nurses)
Health Ministry nurses are available before and after Mass once a month to take blood pressure and pulse readings and to answer questions. They collaborate with the Lakeside Churches in finding ways to improve the health of people in the Lakeside area.
Legislative Advocacy
Participation of the parish by way of communication of documents from the Virginia Catholic Conference and the USCCB are shared on the website and weekly bulletin. Parishioners are invited to attend Catholic Advocacy Day at the General Assembly in January.
Operation Rice Bowl
Operation Rice Bowl is he Lenten solidarity program of the Catholic Relief Services. Small boxes called “Rice Bowls” are distributed and used during Lent for collections which are sent to Catholic Relief Services for local and global missions. This is a time of prayer, understanding and solidarity with those around the world and it promoted by a Rice Bowl calendar and other resources.
Respect Life
Materials are available on all issues of human life from conception to death. We provide speakers and information pertaining to Foster Care, Human Trafficking and bringing attention to the dignity of humans. We support Commonwealth Catholic Charities as well as the Pregnancy Resource Center with items such as diapers and formula for newborns up to two years of age.
Ministry that welcomes persons with disabilities at the level they desire.
Aids/HIV Ministry
Updated information is available concerning AIDS and services which are available in the area.
Bereavement Ministry
Members of the Bereavement Ministry are present at Wake Services and visitation. They also provide referrals to support groups and, on the 2nd of November (All Souls Day), celebrate a Memorial Service to which people in the surrounding area are invited.
C.A.R.I.T.A.S. (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter)
This family Focus program is sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for one week during the summer. The Parish provides somewhere for families to sleep, dinner each night and other services.
Clothing Room (Laura’s Closet)
Open to the public on Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. and by special appointment. This service is available to the greater Richmond area. Laura’s Closet is closed in December and on Tuesdays following a Monday holiday.
Food Pantry
By appointment, this service is available to residents of local zip codes.
Funeral Reception Ministry
As a way to minister to those who are grieving, Lourdes offers funeral receptions, free of cost, to anyone who has a loved one being buried from Lourdes. We are always in need of volunteers to help with the reception. We have three teams of volunteers. Their duties including preparing desserts, some main dishes, fruit and vegetable trays.
Global Outreach
We support the Comboni Missionary Sisters with their work in Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and the Sudan. Each year we raise funds for projects such as providing clean water and food for hungry children as well as books to schools.
Health Ministry (formerly Parish Nurses)
Health Ministry nurses are available before and after Mass once a month to take blood pressure and pulse readings and to answer questions. They collaborate with the Lakeside Churches in finding ways to improve the health of people in the Lakeside area.
Legislative Advocacy
Participation of the parish by way of communication of documents from the Virginia Catholic Conference and the USCCB are shared on the website and weekly bulletin. Parishioners are invited to attend Catholic Advocacy Day at the General Assembly in January.
Operation Rice Bowl
Operation Rice Bowl is he Lenten solidarity program of the Catholic Relief Services. Small boxes called “Rice Bowls” are distributed and used during Lent for collections which are sent to Catholic Relief Services for local and global missions. This is a time of prayer, understanding and solidarity with those around the world and it promoted by a Rice Bowl calendar and other resources.
Respect Life
Materials are available on all issues of human life from conception to death. We provide speakers and information pertaining to Foster Care, Human Trafficking and bringing attention to the dignity of humans. We support Commonwealth Catholic Charities as well as the Pregnancy Resource Center with items such as diapers and formula for newborns up to two years of age.
Catholic Bishops’ Pro-Life Chairman Says Supreme Court Decision Continues Cruel Precedent of Prioritizing
Abortion Business Interests Over Women’s Health and Safety
WASHINGTON– Today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision in an abortion case out of Louisiana, June Medical Services v. Russo. The Court ruled 5 to 4 to strike down the Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement:
“Abortion violently ends the life of a child, and often severely harms women. Abortion becomes even more destructive when basic health and safety standards are ignored, and profit margins are prioritized over women’s lives. As Catholics, we condemn abortion as a grave injustice that denies the fundamental human right to life. Yet even as we seek to end the brutality of legalized abortion, we still believe that the women who seek it should not be further harmed and abused by a callous, profit-driven industry.
“The Court’s failure to recognize the legitimacy of laws prioritizing women’s health and safety over abortion business interests continues a cruel precedent. As we grieve this decision and the pregnant women who will be harmed by it, we continue to pray and fight for justice for mothers and children.
“We will not rest until the day when the Supreme Court corrects the grave injustice of Roe and Casey and recognizes the Constitutional right to life for unborn human beings. And we continue to ask all people of faith to pray for women seeking abortion, often under enormous pressure, that they will find alternatives that truly value them and the lives of their children.”
The USCCB filed an amicus curae brief in the case along with the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals urging the Court to uphold the law.
The brief can be viewed here: http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/18-1323-USCCB-amicus-June-Med-v-Gee-12-30-2019.pdf
Please click here to view this on the web.
Abortion Business Interests Over Women’s Health and Safety
WASHINGTON– Today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision in an abortion case out of Louisiana, June Medical Services v. Russo. The Court ruled 5 to 4 to strike down the Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement:
“Abortion violently ends the life of a child, and often severely harms women. Abortion becomes even more destructive when basic health and safety standards are ignored, and profit margins are prioritized over women’s lives. As Catholics, we condemn abortion as a grave injustice that denies the fundamental human right to life. Yet even as we seek to end the brutality of legalized abortion, we still believe that the women who seek it should not be further harmed and abused by a callous, profit-driven industry.
“The Court’s failure to recognize the legitimacy of laws prioritizing women’s health and safety over abortion business interests continues a cruel precedent. As we grieve this decision and the pregnant women who will be harmed by it, we continue to pray and fight for justice for mothers and children.
“We will not rest until the day when the Supreme Court corrects the grave injustice of Roe and Casey and recognizes the Constitutional right to life for unborn human beings. And we continue to ask all people of faith to pray for women seeking abortion, often under enormous pressure, that they will find alternatives that truly value them and the lives of their children.”
The USCCB filed an amicus curae brief in the case along with the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals urging the Court to uphold the law.
The brief can be viewed here: http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/18-1323-USCCB-amicus-June-Med-v-Gee-12-30-2019.pdf
Please click here to view this on the web.
