Persons with mental illness often suffer in silence, hidden and unrecognized by others. Consider this stark contrast: a person with a medical disease, such as cancer, will usually receive an outpouring of sympathy and support from their parish and community; a person diagnosed with a mental illness, such as depression, crippling anxiety, or bipolar disorder, frequently experiences isolation and inadequate support, often because of the unjust social stigma of mental illness. This should not be so in our civic communities and cannot be so in our Catholic communities. Those living with a mental illness should never bear these burdens alone, nor should their families who struggle heroically to assist their loved ones. We Christians must encounter them accompany them, comfort them, and help bear their burdens in solidarity with them—offering our understanding, prayers, and tangible and ongoing assistance. – from Hope and Healing
Padre Serra is committed to accompanying you and your loved one and offers these resources:
Questions: Teresa Runyon teresa@padreserra.org or (805) 482·6417 x322.
Volunteer SVDP is open to both men and women who wish to grow in their faith by serving God and their neighbor. Members are united in their efforts to conduct their ministry with compassion and confidentiality, while promoting human dignity and respect. To learn more about volunteering, contact: Terri Korell korellhome@verizon.net From a current member of the ministry: "Being a volunteer is a blessing. It makes me aware of the blessings in my own life. Viewing the world through the eyes of the less fortunate keeps me grounded and more aware of the people around me. Our parish conference very special. The love and support we receive from our fellow Vincentians is wonderful and the service itself keeps faith in front of everything you do. Come and join us and count your blessings." Ways to help in the good work of St. Vincent de Paul: DonationsSVDP relies on donations to support their efforts. Ongoing simple fundraising opportunities include:
Bundle SundayThe donation truck is onsite twice a year to accept your donations of gently used clothing, books, games, DVD/CDs, sports gear, toys, and small household items such as lamps, small appliances, frames, etc. One Can Makes a DifferenceEvery Monday food is bagged and distributed to families in need. Remember our friends and neighbors in Camarillo served by our food pantry. All the items you place in the boxes in church are taken over to our centralized storage at St. Mary’s Chapel on Sunday afternoon. Adopt-a-Family
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Offers support to those who are caring for an aging parent, relative, or spouse. Contact: Patricia Sentianin sentclan@gmail.com Resources:
Also visit: Care A Caregiver's Prayer Lord Jesus, who from the cross gave the care of your Mother to St. John, help us to realize that you have blessed us too with the care of someone in our family. Help us to be your gentle hands and loving compassion on earth. Father in heaven, you know my heart, calm my anxieties. Pour out your grace and mercy in my life like a healing balm. Lighten my burden, answer my prayer, and give me the strength to do what so often seems impossible. Spirit of life, remind me to breath - give me a quiet place to rest when I need it and breathe in me your loving peace. Remain my constant companion through this journey. And, when it is time for me to let go, help me remember that my dear one is leaving my loving embrace for yours. Amen |  Left to right: Lisa Barra (Cherubs), Patricia Sentianin (Caritas Caregivers). Photo by Julius Acero |
| A ministry for those healing from divorce First & Third Tuesday of the month |  Grace Martinez, Cynthia Jones Campbell, Jett Clyne. Photo by Julius Acero |
| A Caring Ministry for Returning Catholics If you are an inactive Catholic you may want to consider Landings. We are a group of Catholics who, for any number of reasons, were away from the church and came back to regular attendance and active participation. We share our faith journeys and want to hear your stories. We also discuss contemporary Catholic themes and have resources available for questions about the Catholic Faith and the Church. Landings is a 10-week series that offers a safe place to tell one’s story, discern a place in the Church, and find a way home. Join us; we welcome you. Information: Dave landings@padreserra.org or call Teresa Runyon (805) 482 · 6417 x322 Also visit: Adults Faith Formation |  Gwen Ripplinger, Denise Ginty. Photo by Julius Acero  |
| Invites active and reserve military members and families to connect for fellowship, support, and engagement in our parish family for as short or as long as you're here. We'd love to hear from you. We accompany active duty members, reserve military members and your families for as long as you’re here. Our ministers will welcome you, help you connect with the parish and ministries, discern any particular needs, support your family while you’re here or deployed, and be of assistance in any way possible. If you’re an active or reserve member of any branch of the military, we’d love to meet you and your family. Contact: Dave Gutierrez mfm@padreserra.org Also visit: Adults | |
The IRS will soon be issuing Economic Impact Payments to every eligible American. More information is available IRS.gov/coronavirus.
St. Vincent de Paul is also available for questions (805) 504 · 4753,
a member is on call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
St. Vincent de Paul is also available for questions (805) 504 · 4753,
a member is on call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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Also visit: COVID-19
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Food pantry is now closed. Thank you for your support. The St. Mary Magdalen Food Pantry remains open and in need of support. At this time, they are asking for donations of toiletries (soaps, shampoos, etc.), peanut butter, and socks, though they will gratefully receive anything.
Contact St. Mary Magdalen Christian Service: (805) 987·1155. |
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St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Westlake offers SHINE (Singles Having Inspirational New Experiences), a social ministry for women and men age 40+ who are divorced, widowed, and never married, and who are Catholic or interested in the Catholic faith. Learn more: stmaxchurch.org/shine or contact st.maxsinglesrise@gmail.com
For care and support during your separation or divorce, learn more about the Padre Serra Divorce Support Group.
Also visit: Care, Groups
For care and support during your separation or divorce, learn more about the Padre Serra Divorce Support Group.
Also visit: Care, Groups
Second Tuesday of the month |  Photo by Julius Acero |
| Our parish Lazarus Ministry is essential and needed. More importantly, it’s a ministry of loving people into God’s hands after death, escorting them with our prayers and supporting their family and friends. Many non-Catholics and non-practicing Catholics who don’t know the liturgy, nor the responses, attend our funerals. As a member of the Lazarus Ministry, you simply attend the funerals, as your schedule allows, to pray and sing the responses. Your presence and participating alone support the grieving family and friends as they celebrate the life of the deceased, whether you know them personally or not. No special skills are required. No time commitment beyond the one-hour funeral liturgy. Just your loving presence and participation. When a funeral is scheduled, you will receive an email with details from Jane Riggio. Questions and to sign up: Teresa Runyon teresa@padreserra.org Also visit: Care, Bereavement Ministry, Funeral Planning, Lent |  Photography by Julius Acero |
Contact:
Aubrey Alexander or Teresa Runyon
We have partnered with VC Foster Kids' Faith in Motion program, our parish invites you to consider the following ways to support and care for children in the foster care system from birth to transitioning young adults and their families.
There are many ways to get involved. Become a:
To learn about the many ways to be involved from prayer companion to becoming a foster family and everything in between and/or to help with our first project, email Teresa Runyon or Aubrey Alexnader
Also visit: Care
Aubrey Alexander or Teresa Runyon
We have partnered with VC Foster Kids' Faith in Motion program, our parish invites you to consider the following ways to support and care for children in the foster care system from birth to transitioning young adults and their families.
There are many ways to get involved. Become a:
- Prayer companion
- Business partner
- Donor
- Volunteer
- Respite caregiver
- Mentor
- Foster family
To learn about the many ways to be involved from prayer companion to becoming a foster family and everything in between and/or to help with our first project, email Teresa Runyon or Aubrey Alexnader
Also visit: Care
Offers assistance with meals to those who are recovering from illness, accidents, injuries, and surgeries.
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“When I was recovering from surgery, I thought my husband could just take care of our meals. But once I got home little did we realize how much time and energy he would need to care for me and attend to my needs. We made a call to Denise and Gwen and are so grateful to Good Samaritans for providing delicious meals which allowed me to focus on recovery and freed my husband to focus on caregiving.” – Diane R
Available in the parish office with our Faith Life Minister, Teresa Runyon, who will listen, help to discern your needs, and provide referrals to our many support ministries, clergy or other resources.
(805) 482·6417, teresa@padreserra.org
Find more information and the list of support ministries that are open and offered right here at the parish at Care & Support Ministries.
(805) 482·6417, teresa@padreserra.org
Find more information and the list of support ministries that are open and offered right here at the parish at Care & Support Ministries.
 | Helps the unemployed and underemployed focus their job search, improve resume and interview skills, network. Contact: Steve Loeffler careertransitions@padreserra.org |
| When a member of Christ’s body dies, the faithful are called to a ministry of bereavement for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Christian consolation is rooted in the hope that comes from our faith in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus. The ministry’s goal is that the bereaved feel and understand our parish’s authentic concern and receive our genuine support. Our role is not to “heal” or to help someone “get over” their loss but rather to accompany them on their journey of grief, to help them mourn, and most importantly, to listen. We do this through several contact points by phone call or cards from a Bereavement Minister: at the time of the funeral, 1-2 months after the death, and other times in the first year of grief. A Bereavement Minister is a good listener, confidential, non-judgmental, compassionate, patient, and has a genuine concern for others. To learn more about this ministry, contact: Marlyee Hrabovsky, mlhrabovsky@verizon.net Betty Bright Martinez, bbright41@verizon.net We have a God who knows how to weep, who weeps with us; he is also a Father who waits to console us, because he knows our suffering and has prepared for us a different future. – Pope Francis Also visit: |  Photography by Julius Acero |
Fourth Tuesday of the month
6:30 pm
Santa Barbara Room
Provides hope, empowerment, love and prayer in a comforting atmosphere of encouragement. It is a safe environment for people touched by cancer to connect with others in a productive and spiritual way.
Contact:
Lou Ann Paolella
(805) 551 · 8014
Also visit: Care
Contact:
Lou Ann Paolella
(805) 551 · 8014
Also visit: Care
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