List of Organizations and Ministries at St. Anthony of Padua

Altar Rosary Society
Women join together to emulate the Blessed Mother through prayer and service activities.  They contribute turkeys and hams for Social Concerns, sponsor a dinner for Holly House and make donations to our church.  They also host a Communion breakfast, a May crowning, a living Rosary and a baby shower for Birthright every year.
Contact: Barbara McGeachen (609) 448-8399

Altar Servers
Girls and boys ten years of age or older, who received their First Holy Communion, lead the procession at each Mass by carrying the Cross, bringing the bread and wine to the altar and wash/dry the priest’s hands.
Contact: Joe Sbarra (609) 448-0141

Anthonian Seniors
An organization of parish members who are 50 years of age or older, whose goal is to provide spiritual and educational enrichment and the opportunity for service and fellowship.  Socials are scheduled throughout the year.
Meetings:  First Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hall
Contact:  Eileen Mead (609) 371-8316

Bereavement Ministry
St. Anthony offers programs and services to those who are experiencing grief due to the loss of a spouse, parent or child.  The goal is to acknowledge and respond to the variety of emotions experienced in grief and to strengthen the coping skills needed by individuals as they move through the grieving process.
Meetings:  Monday at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Spiritual Center
Contact: not active at this time.

Cantoring Ministry
Welcomes individuals of high school age or older who feel called to serve as the psalmist and leader of sung prayer at Sunday Masses and major feasts.  Musicianship and leadership skills are important
Contact:  Quentin Marty (609) 448-3944

Catholic Committee on Scouting (Diocese of Trenton Catholic Committees on Scouting)
The committee offers religious award programs and activities to scouts of all packs and troops and strives to help scouts to serve God every day.
Contact: Joanne and John Tyne (609) 443-1069

Children’s Choir
The choir is seasonal.  It is formed in the fall in preparation for Christmas and in late winter in preparation for Easter.  The Christmas choir includes children ages eight and above and the Easter choir includes children grades four and above.
Rehearsals: Thursday evenings at 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Church
Contact:  Quentin Marty (609) 448-3944

Columbian Squires
An organization of young Catholic men, ages 10 to 18, dedicated to serving church and community. They assist the Knights of Columbus with the disabled citizen’s drive and food basket deliveries.  Squires’ activities include basketball, volleyball, adopt-a-spot cleanup and attendance at professional sporting events.  Other community related activities.
Meetings: Sunday at 11:30 a.m. following the first Thursday of the month.
Contact: Pete Donchak (609) 444-7238

   Contemporary Choir
   It explores the richness of sacred contemporary choral music with varied instrumentation.  It leads the                  congregation in sung prayer at the Sunday 9 a.m. Mass.  The group welcomes anyone of high school age or      older.Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings at 7 to 9 p.m. in the church
  Contact:  Cathy Doyle (609) 448-6120

Crop Walk
New Jersey Crop Walk, sponsored by Church World Service, is an interfaith community-based effort to feed the hungry.  The East Windsor/Hightstown area walk is an annual event, held each October at Mercer County Park.  At least fifteen local churches and synagogues participate in the walk and raise money for the needy.
Contact:  Lenore Isleib (609) 448-6470

The Green House
Staffed by the Social Concerns Committee.   Clothing is distributed on the first Wed. of the month 9am-12pm, and each Saturday from 9am-11am. Parish volunteers sort clothes and stock shelves.
Contact:  Barbara McGeachen (609) 448-8399

Habitat for Humanity
The ministry strives to provide decent, affordable homes for families who are living in substandard housing.  To date, our affiliate has completed seven or more homes in cooperation with partner families.  While construction volunteers are always welcome, other skills are needed, such as fund raising, publicity, clerical and administrative work and family nurturing.
Contact:  Dee Garvey (609) 443-5699

Handbell Choirs
Both young people and adults participate in this extraordinary musical activity that adds special beauty to our major feasts and other occasions.  Junior choir members are from grades six through high school.  Adult members are high school age or older.  Having music reading skills and good coordination are helpful.
Rehearsals:  Sunday at 5 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room
Contact:  Quentin Marty (609) 443-3944

Helping Hands Ministry
They provide support for individuals with special needs.  A special need could be a ride to services, helping with light chores, picking up prescriptions, an occasional ride to a doctor or enjoying the company of a weekly visit.
Contact:  Debbie Welling (609) 448-7388

Hispanic Choir
They sing in Spanish and lead the sung prayer at the 12 noon Mass on Sunday.
Contact: Nelson Rivera (609) 443-9683

Instrumental Music
Individuals who are skilled at playing a musical instrument are invited to offer their talents as soloists, accompanists to the choirs and members of various ensembles.
Contact:  Quentin Marty (609) 443-3944

King’s Kids
This is a children’s liturgy of the Word.  All young children are invited to participate to hear the gospel and a special children’s homily.  Dates for the liturgy are published in the bulletin.
Contact:  Joanne and John Tyne (609) 443-1069

   Knights of Columbus
   A fraternal organization of Catholic men, running service programs in the following areas:  Church seminarian        assistance, altar server awards), youth (children’s Christmas and Easter events, school service awards),  community (disabled citizens’ drive, police, fire and rescue awards, deliver food to the needy) and family (Princeton tailgate).  We also hold social events for our members.
Meetings: Second Thursday of each month in the Parish Hall at 8 to10 p.m.
Contact: John Nieradka (609) 799-0125

Ministry to the Homebound and Nursing Home/Health Care Residents
Ministers provide the Eucharist on a weekly basis to those parishioners confined (long or short-term) to their homes and also to our extended family in local nursing homes and health care facilities.
Contact:  Barbara Bocchino (609)799-0850 and Vera Wojtowicz (609) 490-7501

Proclaimers of the Word
Parishioners, along with the priest and deacon, are entrusted with the mission of making the Good News of Salvation come alive by proclaiming it to the Christian assembly.  They strengthen the faith of believers and enable them to spread the word of God more effectively.  Candidates should be comfortable addressing public groups.  Young people with public speaking skills are welcome.
Contact:  Cheryl O’Brien (609 448-7415

Religious Education Program
Educates the children of the parish from pre-school through eighth grade. The program strives to combine the formal teaching of the Church with real-life opportunities to live the Gospels, and by encouraging children to incorporate Christian values in their daily lives. All parishioners are invited to support the program in a variety of ways. Classes: Weekly, September to May on Sunday mornings, Monday afternoon and evenings, Tuesday afternoon and evenings or Thursday mornings. A Summer program is also offered.
Contact:  Deacon David Shapiro (609) 448-0141, ext. 28

Why Catholic
A faith sharing and fellowship consisting of small communities of parishioners. Participants meet in their homes one night a week for six to eight weeks in the fall and then again in the Lenten Season.
Contact:  Deacon David Shapiro (609) 448-0141, ext. 28

Special Ministers of Holy Communion
The participants in this special ministry must be at least 18 years old and confirmed.  They assist in the distribution of the bread and wine at all masses.  Ministers also bring Communion to those who are homebound or in nursing homes/health care facilities.
Contact:

Social Concerns
To provide an opportunity for Catholic witness and proclamation of solidarity
with the poor and suffering through fund raising; support of programs and
activities responding to need in the community - such as Thanksgiving and Easter
baskets, food distribution; education of the St. Anthony's community to
those needs, and invitation to service; cooperation with other ministries in
the Parish and Diocese; and collaboration with groups of good will.
Contact:  Dennis O’Brien (609) 638-6963

St. Anthony’s Choir
They lead the assembly in sung prayer.  They also sing anthems from traditional and contemporary choral repertoire, which adds beauty and solemnity to our worship.  The group welcomes anyone of high school age or older who enjoys choral singing.  The four-part mixed choir sings at 10:30 a.m. Mass each Sunday and at all major feasts of the church year.
Rehearsals:  Thursday evenings from 8 to 10 p.m. in the church
Contact: Quentin Marty (609) 443-3944

Ushers / Ministers of Hospitality
They endeavor to make everyone feel welcome in our parish.  They greet and guide parishioners to seating areas, distribute literature, receive weekly and monthly contributions, and help maintain church decorum.  They are also available for medical emergencies.
Contact:  Leo Meisberger (609) 443-1192

Welcoming Ministry (Greeters)
They provide a welcoming atmosphere by greeting attendees at weekend and holy day Masses and other parish events.  Young people, especially, are invited to participate.
Contact:  Rae Rasi (609) 443-6339

Additional Ministries, Groups and Contacts

CYO Basketball – Ray Taylor 443-9106, Bob Sobkovrak 520-2588
Eat Smart – Sheila Conway 448-0141 ext. 25
Eucharistic Adoration Committee – Pete Haas 448-3082
ESL – Victor Fernandez  490-0182
Filipino Community – Angie & Bart Cruz 448-2511
Hispanic Youth – Josue Arriola
Latino Community – Dr. David Abalos 371-2436
Lectors  - Cheryl O’Brien 448-7415
Liturgy Facilitator – Janice Mastriano 448-9120
Social Justice – Dennis O’Brien 638-6963
Spiritual Direction – Gloria Lynch 658-4035, Mary Naylor 448-5212

Parish Liason to the Ministry for Maturing Adults - Eileen Mead 371-8316