Christian Service
We invite you to get involved in our comprehensive and diverse Christian Service Ministry, under the direction of Mary Anne Wilson. The Christian Service Program seeks to provide practical assistance to needy families, as well as the elderly and homebound within our parish. Please contact Mary Ann Wilson at the Ministry Center at (714) 637-4360 or email mwilson@stnorbertchurch.org for more information.
Saturday Food Distribution
Each week, we distribute rice, beans and bread between 1 and 2 p.m. to families in need living within the parish boundaries. Used clothing is also distributed when available. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to set up, distribute, and clean up. Drivers are also needed to collect perishable food donations. Donations of food and grocery bags are greatly appreciated and can be left at the Ministry Center.
Emergency Food Distributions
We provide sack lunches for the homeless and bagged groceries for needy families. Volunteers are needed to help assemble the non-perishable lunches.
ESL (English as a Second Language) Classes
These classes are conducted on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., except during the months of July through September. Knowledge of Spanish is preferred but not required for teachers.
Christian Service Fundraisers
Taco Sunday is the third Sunday of each month.
Rummage Sale is an annual event, held in June.
Boutiques are held before Christmas and Easter.
Adopt-A-Family, Christmas Party and more
Throughout the year volunteers are needed for special events which are announced in the Bulletin and on our Web site. These include the Adopt-A-Family program and Christmas Party in December. The Adopt-A-Family program is an annual effort in which parishioners adopt a needy family and provide Christmas gifts of clothing for the children and donate grocery certificates. For the Christmas Party, we rely on donations of small toys, candy, and other gift items that are placed in decorated bags for the more than 1,000 children who attend.
Hospitality Ministry
Our Hospitality Committee works hard to make all who attend St. Norbert Church feel welcome and at home. Among their ministries are:
Coffee & Doughnuts
We are comprised of volunteers from various parish groups and ministries who set up and oversee coffee and doughnuts after the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses.
Welcome Committee
We are group of parishioners who make welcome calls and provides welcome baskets to families and individuals who have recently registered in the parish. If you enjoy meeting new people, our ministry welcomes you!
Lenten Meatless Meals
Served on Friday evenings during Lent, these suppers include a vegetarian soup, meatless entrée, green salad, roll and beverage for a nominal charge. Proceeds from the meatless meals are donated to a designated charity.
Summer Socials
Once a week during the month of July, the Hospitality Committee sponsors a potluck under the Ramada. The parish provides hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks, and parishioners bring salads and desserts. Each week there is also special entertainment. Summer Socials are not only famously fun and well attended, but the perfect opportunity to meet other parishioners and build lasting relationships.
Men's Prayer Breakfast
Join with men from St. Norbert Parish once a month for prayer, a light breakfast and a spiritually motivating speaker. The St. Norbert Men's Prayer Breakfast group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month (unless otherwise announced) at Rockwell's Cafe in the Villa Park Shopping Center at 6:30 a.m. Meetings conclude promptly at 7:30 a.m. Please check the weekly parish bulletin for information on upcoming speakers.
Mothers and Others
Our Mothers and Others ministry is a parish-based support group for moms and their children. In addition to our monthly moms' brunch where we have speakers discuss a variety of topics (childcare is provided), we also meet regularly for fun activities with our children. Some of these activities include service projects within our community and Church, holiday parties, beach days, park days, baby play-dates, after school events to include our older children, moms’ night out, moms’ night in, and couples’ date night.
We have three committees to represent the major areas our ministry focuses on: Social, Hospitality, and Spirituality/ Charitable Efforts. In general, the social committee plans the various outings; the hospitality committee reaches out to potential moms, welcomes new members, and handles overall correspondence; and the spiritual/ charitable efforts committee works on helping the group grow in our faith and plans projects to serve our community.
All women are invited to attend any of our events. For more information please contact our 2007-2008 Co-Presidents, Paty Jimenez at (714) 279-0737, paty.jimenez@sbcglobal.net or Rosa Gutierrez at (714) 923-9125, gutierrez432@hotmail.com.
Prison Ministry
Members of our Prison Ministry visit, pray for, and provide spiritual support to inmates at the Orange County Jail, Orange County Juvenile Hall, and the State of California Youth Prison. Ministers work under the guidance of the St. Vincent de Paul Detention Ministry. Volunteers are always welcome and needed. Please contact Carol Safarik at (714) 637-8044.
Card Ministry
Our Card Ministry sends greetings, congratulations and condolences to members of our parish on a regular basis. The goals of Card Ministry are two-fold: to communicate the care and concern of our community, and to involve those who find it difficult to participate in the life of the parish. Card Ministry is particularly suited to those who are homebound by health or other circumstances. Cards and postage are provided by ministry funds. Please contact the Ministry Center at (714) 637-4360.
Southwest Hospitality Kitchen
On the third Wednesday of every month, ministers from St. Norbert prepare, deliver and serve a hearty meal at the Southwest Hospitality Kitchen in Santa Ana. This is an ecumenical project with area churches of different faiths working together to feed 100 needy people daily. At Thanksgiving, parishioners bake and deliver pies for the Kitchen's annual Thanksgiving feast. To learn more about this ministry please contact Josie Vasquez at (714) 637-0539.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization that provides services to the parish community. K of C members sponsor vocations, assist developmentally disabled children and support in pro-life efforts. Member meetings are the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Ministry Center. For information on membership, please contact John Chapman at (714) 633-7277.
Lady Knights
The Lady Knights is the female extension of the Knights of Columbus Council 4922. As wives, daughters, sisters, mothers, nieces, or aunts of a Knight, we assist in K of C fundraising activities, support various community service projects, and promote Knights’ family involvement through social functions. We encourage all women who are related to a Knight to come and join us. Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information please contact Kathy Paukstis at (714) 998-3441or email at kathypauk@ix.netcom.com.
Octoberfest
St. Norbert Church holds an annual Octoberfest that is the parish's largest fundraising activity. In addition to raising money for the parish, it is also a great community builder. Food booths, games, rides and on-stage entertainment provide a weekend of fun for families in the parish, as well as the surrounding community. Click here for the latest information on Octoberfest 2007.
Respect Life
Respect Life is an ecumenical group that promotes the sanctity of life as presented in Holy Scripture and traditional Catholic teaching through prayer, education and activism within the parish community and beyond. We are in the process of rebuilding this very important ministry so if you are interested in getting involved, please contact Shana Martin at (714) 998-4332 or sgmartin@socal.rr.com.
Young at Heart Club
Men and women age 55 and over are welcome to join our "Young at Heart" group. We provide social contacts and friendship while supporting charitable causes, such as school scholarships and the Christian Service Adopt-A-Family program at Christmas time. Young at Heart meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Ministry Center Hall. For more information please contact Jane Nieblas at (714) 538-3950.
Italian Catholic Federation
The Italian Catholic Federation recognizes and celebrates its Italian heritage and Catholic faith via apostolic works and fellowship. The group sponsors the annual St. Joseph's Table and holds bi-monthly dinner meetings. For information contact Joe or Rose Digrado (714) 974-1978 or email jdigrado@danielian.com.
Martha & Mary Women's Ministry (M&M's)
Martha and Mary is a faith enrichment group that encourages women of all ages to become aware of how their own unique spiritual gifts can enhance their relationship with God and others. Monthly Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. For more information on meetings and activities, contact Joann Glasman at (714) 637-2617 or joglasman@socal.rr.com.
Elizabeth Ministry
Elizabeth Ministry is an outreach ministry for women in their childbearing years. Our goal is to affirm, support, encourage, and assist women who are pregnant, have suffered a loss due to miscarriage or infant death, couples who are struggling with infertility, and those trying to adopt. For more information, please contact Any Glenane at (714) 974-8781 or aglenane@socal.rr.com.
