Purpose of Position
Coordinate volunteers to purchase and deliver Christmas gifts for children of prisoners in support of the Prison Fellowship program.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Giving hope to incarcerated parents by providing a pathway for strengthening and restoring relationships with their children.

Responsibilities:
Contact caregivers to confirm information regarding gift requests, addresses etc. Promote program to congregation through the bulletins and flyers.  Prepare Angel Tree tags, code and track gifts for delivery, and submit “After Action Report” to Prison Fellowship.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements
Interest in Prison Ministry
Passion for giving and sharing
Phone communication skills
Organizational skills

Amount of Time Required:
1-4 hours monthly October –December. Majority of time can be done from home.

Length of Commitment:
1 year renewable annually

Support Provided:
Faith in Action Council

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed: 3/8/2023

Purpose of Position:
To help gather and distribute basic necessities for the working poor and people with disabilities in Dakota and Ramsey Counties.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Offering hope and love to those in need.

Responsibilities:
Gather list of needs from local organizations.
Create instructions and paper “ornaments” to hang in the Commons.  Parishioners take the ornaments and shop for gifts, then return them to church with the ornament attached.
Recruit and supervise volunteers to deliver the gifts to the organizations.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
Organization skills
Concern for people in need

Amount of Time Required:
Planners have approximately two three-hour meetings prior to event and spend about three hours on the day of the event (sorting and packing).

Length of Commitment:
Usually November through mid-December

Support Provided:
Faith In Action staff and Council members are happy to help

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed: 3/8/2023

Purpose of Position:
To coordinate the collection and distribution of the Easter Basket projects to the selected locations/agencies.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Showing love, service and hope to those in need via Easter Baskets from our welcoming parish.

Responsibilities:
To coordinate with the parish office for a date, communications, and signage support; to select and coordinate with all the agencies; to post information at Mass for the community to participate; and to organize the donations and distribute them with members of the community.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
Organization skills, communication skills.

Amount of Time Required:
Approximately six weeks before Ash Wednesday, schedule collection and delivery dates and get the lists from the agencies.  Make paper “Easter eggs” that are posted on the walls at church on Ash Wednesday or the following weekend. Several weeks are allowed for people to take one; and a couple weeks for people to return them. Baskets are usually distributed two weeks before Easter. The day of distribution is about a six hour commitment. The day before is about a 4 hour commitment to organize ( depending on help). Creating the tags can be done over days, approximately 4 hours.  Communication and coordination, approximately 3-4 hours.

Length of Commitment:
1 season, renewable annually

Support Provided:
The church provides signage, the donation box, communications at Mass, and storage space in the basement for two weeks prior to delivery.

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last reviewed 3/8/2023

Faith in Action Definition:
Catholic Christians are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as we care for those who are in need, who are vulnerable, who are oppressed and advocate for their rights and well-being. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of Catholic Social Teaching which needs to be taught as inherent to our Catholicism and lived out as our Baptismal job description.

Purpose of Position:
The Faith in Action Council in plans, supports and executes activities in the parish and community that serve those in need.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
By teaching and offering opportunities to follow Catholic Social teaching we empower our faith community to carry out our mission of loving, serving, and being hope to others.

Responsibilities:

• Attend monthly meetings: first Thursday evening of each month. (First Thursday includes supper starting at 5:45 p. m. and meeting starting at 6:45 p.m.)
• Most members are also active with at least one other service or justice focused group/ministry in the parish.
• As possible, attend conferences, archdiocesan workshops, and other trainings to gather information and ideas to share with the council.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements
Positive attitude toward parish and its ministries
An interest in service and social justice.

Amount of Time Required
Monthly meetings, typically 2.5 hours each
Other tasks as chosen throughout the year

Length of Commitment
3 Terms

Support Provided
Council chair and Faith In Action Staff

Responsible To:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed 3/8/2023

Faith in Action Definition:
Catholic Christians are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as we care for those who are in need, who are vulnerable, who are oppressed and advocate for their rights and well-being. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of Catholic Social Teaching which needs to be taught as inherent to our Catholicism and lived out as our Baptismal job description.

Purpose of Position:
To lead the Faith in Action Council in planning, supporting and executing activities in the parish and community that serve those who are in need.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
By teaching and offering opportunities to follow Catholic Social teaching we empower our faith community to carry out our mission of loving, serving, and being hope to others.

Responsibilities:

• Chair monthly meetings: first Thursday evening of each month. (First Thursday includes supper starting at 5:45 p. m. and meeting starting at 6:45 p.m.)
• Create meeting agendas and send out to members in a timely fashion.
• Review meeting minutes with the minutes taker and edit as necessary. Provide minutes with or prior to sending out the agenda.
• Encourage members to contribute their knowledge, ideas, gifts and passions to projects.
• Moderate discussions to stick to topics, include input from everyone, create plans to set goals, determine priorities, and evaluate results.
• Facilitate completion of action steps as required to meet goals.
• Act as spokesperson for Faith in Action Council to pastor, other councils, Parish Leadership Council, and others as needed.
• As possible, attend conferences, archdiocesan workshops, and other trainings to gather information and ideas to share with the council.
• Maintain good relationships with staff and other leaders in the parish.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements
Passion for empowering and assisting groups to reach their goalsGood communication and listening skills Positive attitude toward parish and its ministriesAble to envision the big picture and attend to detailsSkill in leading groups and supporting the gifts of othersConnection to or knowledge of various justice groups and efforts, metro, regional or other in housing, hunger, climate action, or other areas.

Amount of Time Required
Twice monthly meetings, typically 2.5 hours each
Meeting preparation and communication, varies

Length of Commitment
3 Terms as Council Member; Chair position is renewable annually

Support Provided
Leadership Council and Faith In Action Staff

Responsible To:
Kevin Magyar at [email protected]

Last Reviewed 3/8/2023

* Feed My Starving Children is a larger national organization not originated by St Thomas Becket.

Purpose of Position:
To mobilze STB volunteers to pack food for the Feed My Starving Children organization at the annual South of the River Megapack Event. The event is sponsored by South of the River Christian faith communities.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Volunteers serve people in need out of love and a desire to give them hope for the future.

Responsibilities:
Sign up during December and January to pack food usually in January. There is also an opportunity to give monetarily. At the event there are production lines to pack the food and also opportunities to assemble boxes and other tasks as needed.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
No special skills necessary

Amount of Time Required:
2½ hours per event

Length of Commitment:
One or two nights a year

Support Provided:
Clear instructions and guidance by other FMSC employees and volunteers.

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed: 3/8/2023

Purpose of Position:
Deliver food from the Food Shelf Collection at Mass to oneof two area food shelves.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Volunteers serve people in need out of love and a desire to give them hope for the future Responsibilities: Pick up food early in the week and deliver it to Food Shelf.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
Driver’s license, insurance, vehicle; no experience necessary

Amount of Time Required:
1 hour two or three times a year

Length of Commitment:
as desired

Support Provided:
as needed

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed: 3/8/2023

Hearts & Hammers* (formerly Paint-a-Thon)* is a larger organization not originated by St Thomas Becket.

This ministry is currently on hold as we do not have a coordinator.

Purpose of Position:
Coordinator and liaison between St. Thomas Becket volunteers and the Hearts & Hammers organization to facilitate painting of a residential home for homeowners who are unable to afford to or cannot do the work themselves.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Very direct connection to our mission as in this ministry we show love to our neighbors in need, serve them with our painting and repairs, providing hope for them moving forward.

Responsibilities:

• Register St. Thomas Becket with Hearts & Hammers each year for the house painting event. Home is usually located in St. Paul or the South Metro area for easy commuting for volunteers.
• Solicit and register volunteers for preparation and painting days.
• Organize volunteers and inform them of house location, preparation and painting times/dates, etc
• Pick up and return painting supplies and equipment from Hearts & Hammers warehouse in Roseville, MN (paint, brushes, buckets, scrappers, drop clothes, ladders, etc.) St Thomas Becket also stores supplies in the basement to be used as needed.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements

• Organizational skills
• DIY and exterior painting experience helpful but not required.
• Pickup or SUV to pick up painting supplies and equipment.

Amount of Time Required:

• Painting project is done in late August/early September, depending on the homeselected by Hearts & Hammers for us to paint.
• Meet with homeowner: (2-3 hrs)
• Pickup painting supplies from Minneapolis Warehouse on supply pickup day. (2-3 hrs)
• Home Preparation day (washing/scraping): (2-4 hrs.), ie, Usually 1-2 days before Painting Day.
• Painting Day: Varies from (4-8 hrs)
• Volunteer signup after weekend masses. 3 masses/weekend: 2-3 weekends immediately prior to painting day weekend (volunteers can help cover the massesdays).Length of Commitment: one year, renewable

Support Provided:
Coordinator gets support from Melanie McCormick, Hearts & Hammers (H&H), Operations Manager. (2599 Fairview Ave. North, St. Paul, MN 55113 or 651-636-0797). However, H&H prefers participants contact the STB chairperson person. Training is provided by H&H for the STB chairperson with orientation meetings at the Hearts & Hammers office prior to the painting event. They also have conferences calls as a substitute if the chairperson can’t attend the scheduled meetings. All the painting supplies and equipment are provided by H&H. STB has painting equipment stored in the basement furnace room that can be used as well. If other yard/home repair work is needed by the homeowner, H&H they provide hand tools, shovels, etc for that need as well. H&H requests a $750 donation from the participating volunteerorganization (ie, STB). This needs to allocated by the Faith in Action Council.

Responsible to:Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Matrix is a larger regional organization not originated by St Thomas Becket.

Purpose of Position:
Help feed and care for people experiencing homelessness in churches in Dakota County.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
To serve and be hope for the homeless in our county.

Responsibilities:
Many opportunities depending on your time and interest.

• In Kind Donations: Items such as gloves, long underwear, towels, blankets, sheets, paper cups, bowls, plates etc.
• Meal Providers: Families and Groups provide nightly meals for 50-60 people
• Laundry: Pick up 1 or 2 bags of laundry and return within 1-2 days
• Shelter Aid Volunteer: Morning Shift 5:30-8:15 a.m. Set out breakfast items, make coffee, clean up. Evening Shift: 5:30-9:00 Check in clients, distribute items they need, ie towels, pillows, blanket etc. Do laundry if church has a washing machine.
• Shelter Moving Crew: Help move mats and supplies from church to church. Done on Saturday morning. Matrix rents a U haul truck so personal vehicle is not used. Approximately a 2 hour commitment.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications:
Compassion for the growing issue of homelessness everywhere but particularly in our county.

Amount of Time Required:
Your choice. As much or as little as you desire. No set schedule.

Length of Commitment:
Shelter operates annually from November to April

Support Provided:
Matrix offers training each fall for those working directly with the clients. Sign up Genius is created by Matrix and lists all volunteer duties and times. Volunteers can sign up for whatever works for their interest and schedule.
Learn more at http://www.matrixhousingservices.org

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last reviewed 3/8/2023

*Prison Ministry is a larger regional organization not originated by St Thomas Becket.

Purpose of Position:
Plan and implement birthday card writing events at STB.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Giving hope to the incarcerated through a simple card.

Responsibilities:

• Schedule Birthday Card writing sessions at STB.
• Solicit volunteers with the current email list to write birthday card messages to 50-60 prisoners at each session.
• Read all birthday messages in cards and addresses on envelopes written by volunteers for content appropriateness, accuracy and compliance with prison mail and written communication standards and regulations.
• Return address, stamp and seal mailing envelopes and mail them in appropriate timing in order for the prisoner to receive them on their birthday.
• Maintain and update Prison Ministry display in church foyer.
• Coordination with: Affirming You organization to receive prisoner list.
• Keep track of all supplies...cards/envelopes, postage,etc.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements

• Letter writing
• Computer skills (beginner excel spreadsheet)
• Communicator
• Organized
• Be a Prayer Warrior
• Keep a budget

Amount of Time Required:
Letter writing day. (2-3 hrs)/session
Reading cards/preparing envelopes for mailing. (2-3 hrs)/session
Maintain Display. as needed

Length of Commitment:
one year, renewable

Support Provided:
Donations from parishioners

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last reviewed: 3/8/2023

I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”Matthew 25:36

St. Thomas Becket Prison Ministries
“Set Us Free within Me”

Following the Gospel call, ”you shall know them by the way they Love one another," the people of St. Thomas Becket are active in various ways with Twin Cities Prison Ministry.  

Twin Cities PrisonMinistry
Ministry Conducted Outside Prison Walls

Twin Cities Prison Ministry Steering Committees -
30 - 60 hours per 1 year.
Meetings - As determined by the Committee
Committees include Communications, Parish Liaison and Operations
Contact: Greg Eaton from STB - [email protected]

Legislative Action -
Inform steering committee of suggested actions
Contact: Greg Eaton from STB - [email protected]

Prayer Warriors -
Pray during Residents Encounter Christ (REC) retreat weekends or for special intentions whatever time available per request. Prayer Warriors are notified by e-mail about fourtimes a year to request prayers during the REC Weekend Retreats held in prison. A follow up e-mail is sent at the conclusion of retreats to provide an insight about the weekend. Currently over 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of St Paul & Mpls are involved.
Contact: Kevin Connors - [email protected]

Purpose of Position:
Promote and support the work of the San Lucas Mission in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, including coffee sales at STB.

Connection to STB mission:
We love, serve, and provide hope to the San Lucas community.

Responsibilities:
Varied activities, including coffee sales, mission trip planning (when applicable), and parish fundraising event.
Track coffee inventory, schedule coffee sale weekends, and coordinate sale volunteers.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
Empathy for the needs of the Guatemalan people.

Amount of Time Required:
Coffee sales – approximately 1 hour per month; Mission trip planning – 2-4 meetings for 2 hours every other year; Fundraising (e.g. waffle breakfasts) – 1 hour after Mass 2-3 time per year

Length of Commitment:
one year

Support Provided:
Friends of San Lucas

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed 3/8/2023

Purpose of Position:
To educate parishioners about current and ongoing social justice issues in our community and in the world.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Putting our voices, hands and feet in service to the gospel message of Matt 25, Micah 6:8 and others in following Jesus’ example of service to all those in need.

Responsibilities:

• Brainstorming how members of the parish can become more involved in affecting the quality of life for those in need, in the county, state, nationally and internationally.
• Promoting effective education, advocacy and communication to parishioners on critical issues of our times.
• Supporting the work of other justice-oriented groups at STB and beyond.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/ Special Requirements

• Familiarity with or interest in learning more about issues relating to social justice
• Letter writing - helpful
• Researching skills - helpful
• Commitment to respectful dialogue

Amount of Time Required:
One meeting per month, plus additional hours to support sponsored events (typically 3-4 per year).

Length of Commitment:
one year, renewable

Support Provided:
Faith in Action Council, Annual budget for projects

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed 3/8/2023

Purpose of Position:
The mission of the Sustainability Committee for St. Thomas Becket is to:

• educate our parish community to be stewards of God’s creation
• enable our community to adopt responsible environmental practices
• support the healing of our planet and facilitate a more environmentally-sustainable future.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
Stewardship of the Earth and its resources is a basic principle of our faith. As detailed in Pope Francis’s Laudato Si' , we humans are responsible for ameliorating the wrongs done to our environment and for preserving it for future generations. We seek to educate people as to why a love of earth is important, to provide opportunities to act responsibility in service of environmental stewardship, and to be hopeful examples of the positive impact that we can have within our church building, our homes and our greater community.

Responsibilities:
Work to improve the sustainability of our church building footprint itself.
Provide opportunities for our community to increase their sustainability efforts at home and within the greater community.
Chairperson: To facilitate committee meetings, prepare agendas, and communicate with parish leadership and the Faith In Action Council.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
An interest in questions of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Willingness to provide outreach in the form of public education.
Experience with grant writing a plus.

Amount of Time Required:
Monthly meeting of one to two hours plus some special projects.

Length of Commitment:
One to two years.

Support Provided:
Annual budget for minor expenses
Faith In Action Council & staff

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Updated: 3/8/2023

The Open Door* Food Shelf Ministry * This is a larger regional organization not originated by St Thomas Becket.

Purpose of Position:
Main purpose is to provide fresh and nutritious food to individuals and families in Dakota County that are dealing with hunger.

Connection to Parish Mission Statement:
In this ministry we show love to ourfood insecureneighbors, providing them with life sustaining nutritious food.

Responsibilities:
The Open Door has volunteer opportunities for everyone. Volunteers can choose to greet visitors and check them in at the pantry, stock shelves, shop with clients, stock and drive the Mobile Pantry, and keep the Pantry in tip-top shape. Garden-to-Table volunteers weed community garden plots, shovel mulch and share their garden know-how. Additional opportunities exist by helping with the Pop-Up-Produce stands, or by providing lunches to children during the summertime with the Mobile Lunchbox Program.

Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements:
Multiple volunteer positions create a fit for any/all physical abilities or limitations. Several options exist to fit any volunteer’s preference of working directly with clients, or behind-the –scenes. The most important qualification is a compassionate heart and a desire to reduce hunger and make a difference in our community by helping families in need.

Amount of Time Required:
Completely flexible. Volunteers sign up for shifts according to their availability. Most shifts are 2-3 hours in length.

Length of Commitment:
No commitment required. Support Provided: The Open Door provides full training for all volunteers. Training sessions explain the positions and help a volunteer to determine which role they might want to try.
View options and sign up at this link.

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last reviewed 3/8/2023

*Wakota Life Care Center Ministry Coordinator-Liaison*Larger regional organization not originated by ST Thomas Becket

Purpose of Position:
Assist STB parishioners to provide support to expecting and new mothers who need help at Wakota Life Care Center, by organizing a quarterly drive to provide baby clothes and other necessities for pregnant mothers.

Connection to the Parish Mission Statement:
Providing love and hope to expectant and new mothers in need.

Responsibilities:
Sign up approximately quarterly for a month to ensure announcements will be made in email and paper bulletin prior to the donation weekend (usually the fourth weekend of each month), and bring donated items after the weekend from the crib at STB to Wakota Life Care Center in West St. Paul. Helpful Gifts/Qualifications/Special Requirements: Empathy for those needing help.Planning and responsibility skills

Amount of Time Required:
Approximately one hour quarterly.

Length of Commitment:
One year, renewable

Support Provided:
Faith in Action Council

Responsible to:
Kevin Magyar at  [email protected].

Last Reviewed: 3/8/2023