Every year, our parish helps over 1,100 children and adults have a special Christmas morning. This year we are collecting gifts for RAIN, OASIS, Ventura County Youth Correctional Facility, St. Francis Parish in Fillmore, San Salvador Mission in Piru, and Immaculate Conception Parish in New Cuyama. The pandemic has made the need even greater but you can make a difference.

Restrictive COVID conditions found our team envisioning a new way to continue our parish family tradition safely. Instead of the giving trees, we will be using SignUpGenius, where you will reserve your virtual "tag," find new instructions for wrapping (gift bags only), and new delivery dates.

Questions:
Geralyn Moody
​angeltags@padreserra.org

Also visit: Outreach, Advent

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mk 12:31

We offer tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. Aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. ​Those in need should call (805) 504 · 4753.  A member is on call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

St. Vincent De Paul is our parish’s outreach ministry to the poor, hungry, homeless, struggling and needy in our midst. Our parish conference is one of many in Ventura County, joining with nearly 400 volunteers who all combined have helped 14,000 people this past year.

Every day our on-call ministers talk and meet with individuals and families who need financial assistance and resources to have a meal or safe shelter, to pay a utility bill, rent, medical bill, or for gas. ​This wonderful work would not have been possible without God’s help, your generous contributions and the volunteer efforts of our Vincentians.

If you would like to learn more about making a difference in someone’s life, consider giving your time, talent or treasure to SVdP please contact Terri Korell korellhome@verizon.net

​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.

Donate new items related to any of the themed baskets and bring them to the parish office.

Themes:

• Irish Basket
  Irish themed décor, books, Irish whiskey, Irish food item, religious items, or anything with an Irish feel
• New Baby Basket
  Diapers, bath products, blankets, newborn clothing, newborn toys, etc.
• Italian Basket
  Italian dishes, food items, cookbooks, décor, wine, etc.
• Mexican Basket
  Hispanic Décor, Tortilla Maker, margarita set, spice set, higher-end Tequila, recipes with dry ingredients attached, etc.
• Chocolate Lovers Basket
  Gourmet Chocolates, fondue set, cookbook, Chocolate apparel, etc.

Other Ideas:

• Gift Cards
• A bottle of wine (valued at $25 or more)

Please contact deserie@padreserra.org

On Sunday, February 16, Padre Serra joined with other parishes in Ventura County to honor and thank parishioners for their dedication to ministry and life as Jesus' disciple. Padre Serra proudly honored Laurie Nichols and Terri Korell.

Laurie Nichols and her husband Jim joined Padre Serra when it was established in July 1988. Over the past 32 years, Laurie has been an engaged parishioner and disciple of Jesus. In the early years, she was a faith formation catechist, children's liturgy facilitator, alter server leader, and confirmation retreat volunteer. In the past 15 years, Laurie has served on the baptism team, as a Eucharistic Minister and, with her husband Jim, on the married couples retreat team. She has led our parish Welcome Team from its inception five years ago and currently leads the 44-member lector team. Through it all, she has sung in the alto section of the adult choir, which brings her tremendous joy.

Terri Korell's life of ministry began in high school, where she was president of the Young Catholics in Action at San Gabriel Mission High School in San Gabriel, CA. She received her degree in nursing and had dedicated her working life to caring for the health needs of her patients for 46 years. Since 2002, she has served as a Eucharistic Minister. For the last twelve years, she has been a member of our parish's St. Vincent De Paul conference, where she has served as the Vincentian conference and district recording secretaries. Most recently, she has served as our conference's president.

Also visit: Adults, Giving, SVdP, Volunteer 

There is no more effective evangelization tool than regular, everyday people choosing to live their faith in their homes, councils, community, and parish. Through our programs and resources, we provide opportunities to live and spread the Catholic faith. To learn more visit our parish’s Council 5272 representatives in the courtyard.

Take Communion to the sick, hospitalized and homebound, thereby taking Christ through faith and charity, on behalf of the whole community.

​Celebrating the Eucharist is central to our faith. However, due to illness or injury, many Catholics in our parish and community cannot join in the celebration.

Our desire is to stay connected with them so we have a team of volunteers, Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick, who bring Communion to convalescent, nursing, and individual homes as well as local hospitals.
​
If you or a loved one are sick, hospitalized and/or homebound and would like Communion brought to you, please contact the parish office or Deacon Luc Papillon.
​
Coordinator:
Deacon Luc Papillon
(805) 482 · 6417 x412
deaconlucp@gmail.com

Linda Lowe and Deacon Luc Papillon.
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

​Contact:
Gwen Ripplinger (805) 797·6864
Denise Ginty (805) 444·6871
goodsamaritan@padreserra.org

​Contact: Teresa Runyon

Ushers welcome us as we arrive to worship, helping us find our way around the worship space and into comfortable seats, facilitating our processions (especially at Communion), and handing out worship aids and bulletins. They also help all of us be responsible stewards by taking up the collection at the liturgy. Contact: Paul Collier

Eucharistic Ministers serve the Body and Blood of Jesus to the community at liturgy. ​Coordinated by Wendy Grasso, this ministry is open to additional volunteers.

Through volunteer efforts and generous donations, Many Meals provides free home-cooked meals twice a week to the under served and homeless in Camarillo.

Questions or to volunteer:
manymealsvolunteers@verizon.net

​Also visit:  Care, Outreach 

“O God, to those who have hunger, give bread, And to us who have bread, give the hunger for justice.”       
-Latin American prayer

​Every March our parish joins with other Camarillo churches and neighbors from different faiths, cultures and ages, to stand against hunger in our local community and the world.
​
The reason we walk is because “they walk”.  Hungry people in developing countries typically walk as much as six miles a day to get food, water, and fuel and to take their goods to market. We walk to be in solidarity with their struggle for existence. Together we raise awareness and funds. 

The funds raised will fight hunger around the world and our local food pantries: St. Mary Magdalen/Padre Serra Christian Service Program, Christians Acting Together, Food Share, St. Columba’s Episcopal Food Pantry, Seventh Day Adventist Church Food Pantry, Many Meals and RAIN.

​Contact:
Carrie Perry

A Message from CROP Walk
"Every year, Church World Service tallies a list of the Top 100 fundraising teams for CROP Hunger Walks, a group that we call the CREAM of the CROP. With over 900 walks and thousands of teams, we’re very happy to tell you that Padre Serra is a CREAM of the CROP team for your participation in the Camarillo CROP Hunger Walk!"
Way to go team!

Friends offer smiles, greetings and help in the gazebo every Sunday morning at the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses. 
​
Everyone can welcome! Sign up for one mass per month: Laurie laurieannnichols@gmail.com 
​
Also visit: Weekend Experience

Laurie Nichols, Jackie Perrin and Sheila Montgomery
​Photo by Julius Acero

The Marthas and Matthews ministry lovingly cares for our church and chapel. The group meets every Wednesday morning to clean these sacred spaces. If you are interested in lending a hand, please contact Karen at barranca5@hotmail.com

Also visit: Volunteer, Giving

Every Sunday morning, rain or shine, we serve coffee, donuts and fresh fruit after each Mass.

Ministers of coffee and donuts are always needed. This is a great opportunity for adults, teens and children to share in friendship, fellowship, and conversation. Working side-by-side pouring joe and serving dough!
​
To get involved, contact: ​
Richard king407@aol.com

Also visit: Weekend Experience

This is a fairly new ministry at Padre Serra, but one that will inevitably grow and deepen.

We are looking for people to help “mix” sound at Mass and at some Serra Center events, but this will likely expand to other responsibilities sooner rather than later. Training will be provided.

If you’re interested, please contact Bill Giles at audiovisual@padreserra.org who is coordinating this exciting ministry.

Also visit: Giving, Music

We are indebted to Griffin Mortuary for their long-standing gift of yearly calendars to our parish. They are no longer able to continue, so we are looking for a parishioner or business who would like to sponsor our 2020 parish calendars.

For details, contact Pam Kingsley pam@padreserra.org 

​​Thank you!