Social Ministry
"Help one another with the generosity of the Lord, and despise no one. When you have the opportunity to do good, do not let it go by." Saint Polycarp
The Social Ministry Outreach Committee provides coordination and administration for parish social ministry activities, including participation on social service community organizations. For more information please contact the Rectory, Outreach Committee Chairperson, Barbara Goodwin, or any of the people listed on this page.
Blood Donor Program | Bereavement Committee | Christ's Hands Ministry | Carpenter's Shelter | Ecumenism | Nursery - Play and Pray | Pro-Life Committee | Transportation | United Community Ministries | Ventures in Community
The St. Louis Blood Assurance Program insures that members of the parish and their immediate families will have access to blood if the need for a transfusion arises. Blood drives for parishioners are held three times per year on Sundays at the church. INOVA Blood Donor Services works with the parish to plan and staff the blood drives. For more information or to join the committee, call Nancy Jeanne Rosenberg.
The Caring Team ministers to the seriously ill and bereaved, assisting as appropriate. For additional information please call Ginny Cavender.
The Hospitality Team hosts funeral receptions for parishioners. Donations of food and help with setting up and serving food are always needed. For further information call Ginny Williams.
Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria is the largest homeless shelter in Northern Virginia, providing for families and individuals while they get their feet back on the ground. Volunteer and church groups provide meals for them. The St. Louis volunteers provide lunches for 80-100 people the last Saturday of the month, four times a year. For more information call Jane O'Hara.
Christ’s Hands Ministry is comprised of volunteers intent on providing food and assistance to diocesan Catholic Charities endeavors and to local projects within our parish as shown below. Contact: Melinda Kramer.
Route One Community Kitchen: Volunteers prepare and serve a full noontime meal, the first Wednesday of each month, to 20-40 people at the Route One Community Kitchen (ROCK). Hosted by the Elks Lodge located at 7120 Richmond Highway, this undertaking is supported by several area churches and targeted at feeding the hungry. We also assist on other days, as needed.
Christ House: Volunteers prepare, deliver and serve a full meal, one night per month, to the hungry at Catholic Charities’ Christ House, 131 South West Street, Old Town Alexandria. Assigned the fourth Friday each month, we feed between 50-60 people. St. Louis also provides volunteers for other short-term Christ House and Catholic Charities’ projects.
New Hope Housing, Inc.: Many volunteer opportunities exist in St. Louis’ partnership with the Fairfax County shelters located within the parish boundaries. The non-profit New Hope Housing, Inc manages the shelters. Presently, we’re seeking volunteers to help plan, prepare, and serve an evening meal once per month at Mondloch House, located on Lockheed Boulevard. Also, volunteers are needed to assist with a wide range of other tasks, from mentoring to assisting with children’s activities.
Bread for Brothers – a Knights of Columbus Ministry: Volunteers distribute bread to area shelters, churches, and needy groups. Bread is received weekly from a commercial bakery in large, 50-pound bags, re-bagged into smaller quantities, and delivered throughout our parish and neighboring areas.
Our Catholic dream is that all Christian Churches might again be one! Frequent Inter-Christian (ecumenical) gatherings take place to work for this objective. Contact Al Tarabochia for more information.
The Pro-Life Committee is a group of volunteers who seek to end abortion through prayer and action. We gather to pray on the first Saturday of each month at a local abortion clinic and once a month for a holy hour for life. We support our local crisis pregnancy center and promote legislative advocacy. Please join us. Contact Cathy Chau for more information or with your ideas.
The Transportation Committee assists parishioners who are unable to get to Mass or doctors’ appointments on their own. This includes refugees in their initial period of adjustment. Additional members are needed on this committee so that the rotation can be extended. Contact: Peter Asman
United Community Ministries (UCM)
St. Louis volunteers are active in UCM which provides assistance to those in needs. Parishioners donate food for the UCM food locker at Masses on the third Sunday of each month. Some 94% of the emergency services provided by UCM have involved the distribution of food. Contact: Cheri Zeman
Ventures in Community is a volunteer, interfaith, congregation-based organization that seeks to demonstrate its faith by working on pressing human needs to improve life for the quality of life for all. We are composed of representatives from approximately 25 congregations and social service agencies along the Route 1 corridor of Fairfax County. Contact: Sholet Hampton.
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