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.
Young Adult Group
The St. Norbert Young Adult Group is a budding parish ministry designed for Catholic singles ages 18-39. Our goal is to provide a place where young adults can enrich their relationship with Jesus Christ while participating in the life, mission and work of the Catholic community here at St. Norbert Parish.
Together, we explore our faith and values in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. We gather to celebrate the Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. Mass on the last Sunday of each month, often enjoying dinner and fellowship afterward at a local coffee shop or restaurant. Throughout the year, we enjoy beach bonfires, outdoor BBQs, Bowling Nights and Movie Nights. Whether you are rejoining the Church after an absence, seeking further knowledge about Catholicism, or just want meet other young Catholics, we encourage you to join us. For more information, please contact Lucy Dominguez at (714) 637-4360, or email lucysnyag@gmail.com.
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!
Soup Suppers
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.
Men's Group of Faith
Join us for support, fellowship, and meaningful discussion about challenges men face today. This is a group of lay men who wish to grow in their faith as Catholic men, husbands and fathers. We meet on the second Friday and fourth Saturday of the month from 7 to 8:30 a.m. in the Mother Teresa/ Dorothy Day Room upstairs in the Ministry Center. For more information, please feel free to contact Ray Weaver or Matt Terrones.
St. Norbert Mothers Group
Our Mothers Group 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 2009-2010 President, Bernadette Enriquez.
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 hungry people daily. At Thanksgiving, parishioners bake and deliver pies for the Kitchen's annual Thanksgiving feast. To learn more about this ministry please contact Marie Baumann at (714) 997-9254.
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 Phil Kitchen at (951) 634-5615 or pkitchen4@gmail.com.
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 by email at kathypauk@ix.netcom.com.
St. Norbertfest
St. Norbert Church holds an annual fiesta 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. St. Norbertfest 2010 will take place on the weekend of September 24, 25 & 26, 2010.
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.
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.
