Social Concerns Ministry
Welcome to the community of
St. Stephen Martyr
2931 Pindell Avenue Louisville, KY 40217 (502) 635-5813
The mission of the Social Concerns Committee is to facilitate communications and guidance between the Social Concerns committees and the members Parish and Parish Council.
Bereveament Committee—FOOD PREPARATION, RECEPTION SET-UP, CLEAN UP
This group prepares a buffet luncheon for the families of our deceased parishioners following the funeral
service. The ministry includes coordinating and receiving the food prepared by parish members, setting
out the food at the appropriate time, and cleaning up the area afterwards. (Set-up and removal of
tables and chairs is not included as part of this ministry and is the responsibility of parish staff.)
HOSS (HEALTH OF ST. STEPHEN)
HOSS is the Parish Health Ministry group whose members work to improve the overall health and safety
of our community. Members only need to have an interest in the health and safety of mind, body and
spirit—(do not have to be in the medical field). Ways to be involved in HOSS include, but not limited to:
Blood Drives, Health and Safety Fairs, Screenings, Homebound visitation and letter writing, Prayer
Services, Weight Loss Programs, Exercise Programs, Educational Programs or any of the many sub-
committees to name a few.
Parich Nursing (Sub-Group of HOSS)
The Parish Nurse Committee (FCN Faith Community Nurses) is a group of Registered Nurses (RN) who
have received additional training in faith-centered nursing. They come together on a volunteer basis to
use their time, talent, and treasures to aid the spiritual, physical, and mental health of SSM. The
primary focus of this ministry is on the promotion of wellness of mind, body, and spirit through prayer,
education, referrals, and screenings.
Community Health and Safety Fair
Volunteers help HOSS provide this free event to all in the community. Usually held in early fall, people can help by working the event, setup and cleanup, promoting, planning or praying for those involved. This event has activities for all ages.
COSS (Companions of St. Stephen) (sub group of the Parish Health Ministry)
This Ministry is a Caring for the Caregiver Ministry. It gives a few hours of non-medical relief and peace of mind for the caregivers who provide 24-7 care for a loved one. You will be giving the caregiver a
much needed break knowing that their loved-one is safe while they have a brief time to themselves.
Volunteers must be a responsible adult or young adult who will be screened by the current chair of
COSS and each volunteer will receive an orientation to the Ministry.
(COSS) Visitiation Ministry (sub group of the Parish Health Ministry)
This ministry is to provide some visitation or connection to our parishioners who are homebound, in
assisted living/nursing homes or who are ill. Members will make calls or visits to let these parishioners
know that they are part of our church family even though they are not able to be active. This is an
additional contact from the parish in addition to Communion Ministers, Clergy, Parish Nurses, etc.
Health Professional Pool
This group works with the Parish Nurse Committee to use their specialty health training in events that
minister to the SSM Community on an “as needed basis”. Ways to be involved include but are not
limited to: HOSS activities, blood pressure screenings, school screenings, educational offerings, health
and safety fair, etc. This group includes but is not limited to anyone in the health field (doctors,
nurses, EMT, CMT, psychology, social workers, audiology, nutritionist, pharmacy, dentist,
pharmaceutical sales, physical therapists, etc.).
New Life Ministry (sub-group of the Parish Health Ministry)
This ministry welcomes parents and caregivers that are anticipating a new member to their family,
(whether it is through a pregnancy or adoption) to the SSM Community. If you are a parent expecting a
new child, parent of a child under 4 years old, a grandparent of an expecting family or of a child under
4 years old, an adult 18 years of age or older that cares for a child 4 years old or less, or interested in
the ministry for new parents and children 4 years old or less. Visitation, various educational offerings,
prayer and support are all part of this ministry.
SSM Grief Ministry (sub-group of the Parish Health Ministry)
This ministry is for bereavement care of those parishioners who have experienced a loss of some kind.
Activities of this ministry may include but are not limited to prayer, funeral home visitation, follow-up
contact, educational offerings on grief and parish presence for those who have suffered grief.
Holy Communion Ministers: To Audubon Hospital and/or SSM Homebound
Individuals involved in this ministry take Communion to patients at Audubon Hospital and also to the
sick and homebound members of the Parish Community.
Martha's Cooks
Dedicated to the patroness of cooks, St. Martha, this ministry provides an evening meal to those
parishioners unable to prepare their own. By offering food and companionship we are reminded of the
connection we all share with one another. We are all “active” vital members of the SSM Parish
Community.
Respect Life Team
The mission of this organization is to educate, inform and bring awareness to the importance of the
sanctity of life with the utmost respect and dignity from conception to grave. At the same time, it gives
parishioners the opportunity to respond to the various needs of the people to whom we minister.
St. Vincent DePaul Society
This organization leads men and women to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person
service to the needy and suffering, making no distinction to those served, because in them, members
see the face of Christ.
Dare to Care Volunteers
The Dare to Care Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30 P.M. to distribute free food items
provided by the Dare to Care Food Bank.
Other parish groups and parishioners can help to broaden the food pantry selection with donations of paper products (toilet tissue, paper towels, Kleenex, etc). Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays to help with set-up, clean up and distribution of food pantry items and to assist pantry guests in loading items into their cars.
PARISH COUNCIL
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Open
HOSS (Health of St. Stephen)
Parish Health Ministry Office
635-4415
Coordinator-Open
PARISH NURSING
Open
COSS (Companions of St. Stephen)
Open
GRIEF MINISTRY
Open
NEW LIFE MINISTRY
Open
BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE
Food, Preparation, Reception, Setup and Cleanup
Terry Steinmetz
636-5730
HOLY COMMUNION MINISTERS
To Audubon Hospital
Joan Nitzkin 637-6976
To the Homebound/Sick
Jeanne Lechleiter 636-2037
MARTHA'S COOKS
Mary Jo Thompson
634-3943
RESPECT LIFE TEAM
Mary Ann Schubert
636-4000
ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY MEMBERS
Vernon Weikel
637-8405
DARE TO CARE VOLUNTEERS
Steve DaPonte
637-8527