A Listening Ear
Our pastoral staff of priests, deacons, and lay ministers are available to listen to your concerns, answer questions, and provide practical help. Please contact Rebecca McKelvey to set an appointment time with Fr. J.J. To make appointments with Fr. Mark, Deacon Ron or any of the staff, please contact them directly. If you are not sure who to talk to, please call Rebecca or Holly in the parish office for assistance. Our Stephen Ministers are well-trained and eager to provide a compassionate, Christian sounding board for you; if you would like to know more about the Stephen Ministry service, please contact Kim Houseman.
Employment Concerns
Our St. Joe’s Workshop website provides information about job listings, seminars, health care, faith, and more for those who are seeking a new career. Also, the extensive document below lists the many, many local resources available to help the unemployed, seniors, and others in our community.
Marthas Ministry
A team of emergency caregivers is standing by for local parishioners whose regular caregivers or relatives are temporarily unavailable. Arrangements for no cost, short-term light housekeeping, errands, meal preparation, babysitting, or rides can be made by contacting Kim Houseman on extension 112.
Pregnancy Assistance
As the Lord says so often, “Fear not!” If you need help with a pregnancy, or have questions about adoption or post-abortion counseling, we are here for you. You may contact Kim Houseman at the parish office on extension 108, or call 1-800-57WOMAN, a toll-free hotline, 24/7 to be connected to kind people at a confidential agency. Or, you can find a local agency online – including addresses, phone numbers, and websites for over 150 Michigan agencies and 2 in Northern Indiana.
Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound
Homebound parishioners within the boundaries of Coolidge, M-59, Mound Rd, and 14 Mile may receive a Eucharistic visit. To be included on the schedule, please contact Kim Houseman on extension 112.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique.
The boundaries for St. Anastasia’s chapter of St. Vincent de Paul are Rochester Road, Dequindre, South Boulevard and 14 Mile Road. You must live within this area to receive assistance from our chapter. If you do live within those boundaries, please contact Rebecca McKelvey in the parish office (248-689-8380) during daytime office hours. After an initial interview you will be contacted by a Vincentian.
For information on joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please call or email Rebecca. Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (or “Vincentians” ) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We come from all walks of life, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our gifts (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need. We are energized by the awareness that service to our brother or sister in need is in fact an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to relieve need and address its causes. Meetings are twice a month on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Everyone is invited. There are many roles you can assist with as a member of this group.
In 2009, the Society assisted families in the following ways:
Housing $2000
Utilities $5500
Transportation $3500
Medical $500
Your contributions do make a difference!
United Way – is here for You
The United Way has an online registration for any in need of the following services:
Financial and Public assistance, Community and Consumer services, Health Care, Employment and Food /Meals.
In Need of Food? Have Food to Give?
St. Anastasia houses the Troy People Concerned (TPC) Food Pantry. If you are in need of food please call TPC at 248-528-9199. After a brief screening, they will refer you back to us to pick up your food. To be eligible for this service you must live within the Troy city boundaries.
If you would like to be a part of fulfilling Christ’s call to feed the hungry, you are welcome to drop off food at any time the parish office is open. Things to remember when purchasing items for the food pantry are:
- Remember that those coming to us for food do not have full pantries to supplement what we give them. So think in terms of a complete meal. For example, a can of tuna needs a small bottle of mayo/salad dressing or a box of tuna helper or a box of noodles and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Pancake and biscuit mixes should be the kind that only requires water; and, syrup is always nice to give with the pancake mix.
- Hearty soups, such as Progresso and Campbell’s Chunky make a full meal for someone. Staples such as peanut butter and jelly are great to give with each order.
- We have limited refrigerator and freezer space so the majority of our items need to be non-perishables. Canned meats such as chicken, ham, spam are welcome donations.
- We are always in need of “paper products.” This includes toilet paper, kleenex, paper towel, and napkins.
- Personal care items are another item in constant demand. These do not have to be brand name products; look for sales. This area includes: toothpaste, shampoo (the 2 in 1 is nice), deodorant, hand soap. With the flu season upon us the antibacterial products would be nice to give out with each order.
- Cleaning supplies are another item in demand. This includes laundry detergent and softener, all-purpose cleaners for bathrooms and kitchens, and dish soap.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to call the parish office.