Social Ministries  Ministries

The Mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe Social Ministry Department is to help us as Catholics live out the Call of Jesus to all of us in Matthew 25:35-38 “For I was hungry and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, in prison and you visited me.”  We strive to do this by creating programs that feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, welcome the newcomer and bring about a more just world.

If you have any questions regarding assistance or social services, please call the office at (512) 478-7955.

Gabriel Project (Coordinator Deanna Avalos)

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Gabriel Project is a ministry that provides help to pregnant women in need.  It can be described as a good Samaritan approach towards helping women who are in a crisis pregnancy.  Our church community responds to women in a crisis pregnancy in a loving unconditional and nonjudgmental manner to the woman.  This love is a witness to the community of the infinite and healing love of God.

The trained volunteer is called an Angel, is assigned to the mother when she calls in for help and is responsible for ongoing contact with her.  The angel gives emotional and material support to the expectant mom.  Angels meet with their moms throughout her pregnancy.  At Our Lady of Guadalupe we have a very active Gabriel project with 17 active angels and 14 active supporting volunteers. We have helped over 60 women!!!

Our Gabriel Project kicked off in February 2007.  We have a Project Gabriel closet with baby clothes and furniture, but are always looking for more donations!  We really need diapers of all sizes, wipes, baby shampoo, baby lotion, diaper rash cream, new bottles, baby clothes up to 24 months.  If you are interested in donating new or used baby items or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Claire Irwin at the parish office.

Food Pantry

History: past to present: The pantry opened its doors more then 10 years ago.  It was started by a group of parishioners and has been running in the basement of the church ever since.  Today the pantry is still in the basement, but with some improvements that have helped us have a smoother operation.  We have an intake window where the client and volunteer can talk to fill out the intake.  We also have a pick up window where the client can go to pick up their bags of food when they are ready.  We are blessed to be supported by our church community.  We have been a partner agency with the Capital Area Food Bank for more than six years.  We serve approximately 60+ households a week Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the pantry.  They talk to clients when they come in to receive food.  They bag up the food and give it out to the clients.  They stock food as it comes in and they go and pick up food at the food bank.  They assist the food pantry coordinator and social minister in asking for donations.

Who we Serve: We serve the 78702 zip code and parishioners in need.  We ask that first-time clients bring an id and a proof of address.

When we are open: OUR HOURS HAVE CHANGED!  Starting in March 2008 our hours changed to Tuesdays 1-4, and Saturdays 10:30-12.  We will now be closed on Thursdays.

Where we are located: We are located at 1206 East 9th Street behind the parish offices.

Did you know? That the Our Lady of Guadalupe food pantry has been named an “exceptional pantry” by the Capital Area Food Bank!!

Social Justice Ministry

The core team is made up of twelve parishioners.  This group works with other organizations in the area to educate and mobilize parishioners about local, state, and nationwide issues.  Over the last year the team has had two retreats and received training from Austin Interfaith We, the team and Friar, met with groups of parishioners to find out what pressures were facing their families.  From there we discerned what social justice issues the parish would most like to work on.

Based on conversations with parishioners, the Social Justice Ministry has identified four social
issue priorities:

A. Help alleviate the FINANCIAL PRESSURES that members of the OLG community are experiencing.
B. Provide opportunities for access to affordable HEALTH CARE & education on healthy living.
C. Support our youth in completing a high school EDUCATION, pursuing COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES,
    and having a SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
D. Encourage our members to share their gifts for fuller participation in the LIFE OF THE PARISH

We had a successful presentation of our agenda to the parish on December 7th.  There was a grand total of 336 sign ons to the agenda of priorities.  We have now been having monthly meetings on the forth Monday of every month in the parish hall.

Senior Ministry

We have a group of approximately 30 seniors that meets once a month for fellowship, faith and education.  Every session has a theme and an educational component.  We have had presenters on different health issues and also educational issues.  At the luncheon meetings we give updates on what is going on in the parish.  We are always looking for new ideas for the luncheons.  If you are interested in teaching everyone how to make a craft or presenting on a topic you think the seniors would be interested in, call Claire at the parish office.

Health Ministry

The Health Ministry Team promotes health education on health issues common to our parish community via a variety of avenues, such as health screenings and information sharing.  The team collaborates with health organizations at a local, state and national level to offer services and new ideas and information to promote a healthier lifestyle.  We plan an annual health fair, and have health promoting events scheduled through out the year.  We have now started a walking group that meets twice a week by the parish hall on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30.  Please join us!!  If you are interested in joining the Health Ministry Team, please contact Claire Irwin at the parish office or join us at one of our monthly meetings.  We meet on the third Wednesday of every month.

Visitation Team

This is a new ministry that we are starting here at Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The goal is to provide a more comprehensive financial services program using the home visitation model that helps with: budgeting, finding jobs, navigating through government social service programs, emergency financial assistance, other assistance as needed and get parishioners involved in financial assistance process- become less of a band aid program and become more of a comprehensive assistance program.  The time commitment is a once a month evening meeting with the whole team and a twice a month home visits with another team member to the house of a client.  The benefit is that you are a part of giving back to the community, and you are an active participant in “faith in action"

Life Passages

Life Passages is a ministry that recognizes times of great sorrow and great joy in the lives of Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioners.  We send cards to honor our parishioners that are coping with a death of a loved one or who have celebrated the sacrament of marriage.  We would like to expand to sending cards for births and special birthdays.  If you interested in volunteering or for more information regarding this ministry please contact Claire Irwin at the parish office.

Welcoming Ministry

The goal of the welcoming ministry to make visitors and new comers to the parish feel welcomed.  We are have a small team right now that in march will start introducing themselves to all visitors and new comers after the masses.  They will give them information about the parish, along with a prayer card and a rosary.

Sunday Breakfast

The mission of the Sunday Breakfast to cook and serve breakfast after the Sunday morning masses in order to raise money for financial social services.  Why do we have the Sunday breakfast?  It is a way to have community fellowship while at the same time helping to fund our Social Ministry programs.  All of the funds from the Sunday kitchen go to fund the food pantry, emergency financial assistance, and the many other important Social Ministry programs.  The time commitment is one or two weekends a year.  We know that it is hard work, but remember that your ministry and call to stewardship allows Social Ministries to serve individuals and families in our parish community.  To help them is to help Christ himself.

AIDS/Cancer Care Team

We are starting a care team here at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish through an organization called The Care Communities.  The care teams are a group of volunteers who provide practical and compassionate support for people with serious illnesses.

The Care Communities connects the care team with a person in need who is facing a serious illness.  The care team supports the person by listening to them talk about their situation, doing laundry, preparing meals, doing yard work, grocery shopping or other household chores.  This ministry takes a special kind of person that is willing to help someone cope emotionally with a serious illness.  Training is available, if you are interested in helping to start this at our parish, please contact Claire at the parish office.

Annual Projects

Thanksgiving Baskets:

Every year during thanksgiving our parish puts together the thanksgiving basket program.  Needy families sign up to receive a thanksgiving basket, and parishioners who want to help adopt the family and bring them a thanksgiving meal.  In 2008 we were able to help 78 families!!

Angel Tree:

Every year during advent we put up an angel tree.  On the tree are ornaments that have either types of toys or food on them. Parishioners pick up an ornament and bring the item to church right before Christmas.  The food is donated to the OLG food pantry and the toys to a local charity.  Last year we donated the toys to the Austin Children’s Shelter.

Lenten eggs:

Every year during lent we give out plastic eggs that have a snack item to donate to the kids that come to the food pantry.