Archives Committee
Ministry Contact: Martha Felten (812-366-3428)
In 2014 the vision of two parishioners created St. Mary’s Archives Committee. Its focus was to prepare for the 175th Anniversary of St. Mary Catholic Church, approaching in 2018. We also saw the opportunity to update cemetery data and to place markers in the cemetery. We envisioned parishioner videos, establishing a parish museum of historical artifacts, and compiling a 25-year history leading up to the parish’s 175th Anniversary. In 2017, upon approval from Pastoral Council, cemetery markers were placed on every fifth row, and the database was completed. Every known burial was accounted for, and our members considered it a very rewarding achievement. Parishioner videos did not attract much attention, as just one parishioner came forward. The 25-year history was finished and saved to a DVD. The mini-museum of our history/artifacts stands at the end of the hall in the Parish Life Center, along with the Sesquicentennial (1993) quilt. The Committee was pleased with the final display, finished on Aug. 7, 2019. Having accomplished our goals of the last five years as best we can, the Committee has decided to disband and cease its activities.
2017 2018 2019 Volunteers: 10 9 10
Funeral Meals
Ministry Contact: Lennie Reinhardt (812-952-2800) St. Mary Church is pleased to offer the Funeral Meal ministry for those who experience the death of a loved one. Following each funeral Mass in our parish, family and friends of the deceased are invited to the Parish Life Center cafeteria for a meal and fellowship, provided at no charge to the family. Volunteers are needed to help prepare the meal or to donate desserts. The ministry is a gift to the bereaved, allowing them time to relax and enjoy the company of loved ones and friends.
2017 2018 2019 Meal Preparation volunteers: 16 14 15 Dessert donation volunteers 110 109 127 Marriage Sponsor Couples
Ministry Contact: Fr. Bob (812-952-2853)
In order to support and prepare couples for the sacrament of marriage, sponsor couples help engaged couples explore their relationship strengths and areas requiring further work. The goal of the relationship is to encourage the engaged couple to communicate about and, if necessary, make changes on important relationship issues. Sponsor couples utilize their own experience and life lessons as mentors to the engaged couple.2017 2018 2019 Sponsor Couples 4 3 3 Men’s Lenten Breakfast
Ministry Contact: Jerry Reinhardt (812-952-2800)
Men from churches in Franklin Township gather each week during Lent to spiritually focus on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This breakfast series is for men and their sons, so that they may fellowship with other men seeking a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Each week includes breakfast and a guest witness speaker. Please consult the bulletin for the schedule of dates, times and locations.2017 2018 2019 Breakfast preparation/hosts 15 16 15 Participants 56 50 45
Parish Picnic
Ministry Contact: Rick Geswein (812-952-2558)
Each year, the parish picnic serves as the premier fellowship and fundraising event in our parish community. The picnic takes place on the second Sunday of August, and all parish families are expected to participate. Details and specific volunteer roles are announced in the summer months leading up to the picnic. Our parish has continued to serve our local community for 176 years. This year we used four self-serve lanes in the dining room and detention center. This set-up allowed for an orderly flow to and from the dining room. Our goal next year is to increase our marketing to expand our visibility to the greater market area. We are grateful to have been blessed with beautiful weather the last three years. Your continued support and participation made the 95th anniversary of our first picnic an excellent learning year! Thanks for being “in your spot” and making St. Mary’s 85th picnic, the “Pirates of Little Indian Creek,” a swash-buckling good time for our guests.
2017 2018 2019 Volunteers (all parish familes) 449 442 443 Meals served 3,616 3,614 2,929 Quilts offered 30 30 27 Funds raised $50,412 $54,286 $49,247 Quilters
Ministry Contact: Anna Geswein (812-952-2371)
The quilting group meets every Monday in the school at 8:00 am in Room 101. The quilts produced are raffled at our annual parish picnic.The quilters bring their lunch, but participants come and go as their schedules permit. Some men and women work from home. (Cross stitch quilt tops, embroidered or cross stitch blocks are available to be worked at home.) Non-quilters are encouraged to come and learn. Someone is always glad to teach.2017 2018 2019 Participants 17 17 17 St. Anne’s Altar Society
Ministry Contact: Lori Ott (812-736-0600)
St. Anne’s welcomes all women, 18 years and older, to join the Altar Society. Our purpose is to support the parish, parish families, and the community. We support the needs of the church building (such as decorating, vestments, linens, and furniture). This past year we had the statues in the church refinished and were very involved in St. Mary’s 175thAnniversary banquet. A few of our yearly donations go to Mass of the Air, Relay for Life, Crusade for Children, and St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities.
2017 2018 2019 Members 40 50 50 $2,147 $2,374 $1,068 Purchases for St. Mary Church $1,148 $1,520 $4,756 Visits to shut-ins 2 2 2
Welcoming Committee
Ministry Contact: Virginia Hublar (812-989-2072)
Dawn Hublar (812-989-2074)
A subcommittee of St. Anne’s Altar Society, the Welcoming Committee reaches out to newly registered members of our parish community. The Committee assembles welcome baskets for new members, containing inspirational materials and parish ministry information. Inspirational cards are mailed out to new members each month for their first year at St. Mary.
2017 2018 2019 Participants 13 13 13 Welcome baskets distributed 11 8 6 Widows, Widowers, and Seniors Singles
Ministry Contact: Clara Foushee (812-952-2332)
Susan Wohlfarth H (812-366-8122)
C (502-645-8018)
We are a social group that meets almost every month to share food and fun with those who have experienced loss in their lives or are single. We all benefit by supporting and encouraging each other. We are always open to new members and to bringing a guest at any time. The core gatherings enjoy pitch-in lunch (every meeting!), guest speakers, and planning for special outings or interest groups. We learn something NEW from one another every time we meet and have great food to share! The gifts that each member brings have enhanced our lives!2017 2018 2019 Regular meeting participants 11 20 17 Special event participants 6 20 11