For the protection of all God’s children, every minister 16 or older must have a background check. All ministers 18 and older must have VIRTUS training.
Bereavement Ministry
If you were struggling and have made progress in any form of a grief journey, please consider becoming a member of our bereavement facilitator team. Under the direction of Luciano Sabatini PhD., we offer six weekly training meetings for support group facilitators. Our program focuses on helping you understand the grief process and your own individual reaction to loss. By learning coping strategies, you will be able to help others to manage their grief better and begin the critical process of adjusting to living in a world without the deceased. The group is not therapy but simply a discussion group where you will facilitate a meeting of people who have also suffered a loss.
Contact: Michele Nappi michele@stjoronk.org (631) 588-8456
Parish Garden Ministry
Our Mission is to: Respect and honor the sacredness of God’s creation as we care for the earth. We actively live out the Gospel message found in Matthew, Chapter 25 as we donate fresh organic produce to those experiencing food shortage, St Joseph Shepherds Table Soup Kitchen, and any member of the community that enjoys fresh organic vegetables. Gardening builds community by attracting families, seniors & youth to work together. This could also be a great family project. Our season is from May through October. Gardeners will be assisted by experienced gardeners. No experience is necessary – we learn as we grow! We always welcome new members!
Contact Maryanne Trezza 631-981-1805 mtrezza@stjoronk.org
Sandwich Crew
We recently began a ministry of making sandwiches for the guests at Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen. Sandwiches are made on Monday afternoon and Thursday afternoon during the school year. This work is usually done with Confirmation Candidates as part of their community service requirement.
Please contact the rectory if you are interested.
Shepherds Table Soup Kitchen
St. Joseph Shepherds Table Soup Kitchen serves those in need in the Ronkonkoma area Monday and Friday from 5-5:30 PM with meals to go. We have a no questions asked policy so everyone that shows up gets a hot meal to go along with a cold meal for another day. Our motto is to treat everyone with dignity and respect. We gather at 3:00 to prepare and pack up meals, we serve at 5:00 and then clean up. We are finished by 6:00. We also could use help with shopping.
Please text if interested in helping: Laura Brown at 631-871-4145
Table Fellowship Ministry
This ministry focuses on fostering a spirit of community and connection through shared meals and gatherings. Members’ service often brings the church community and the extended community together. We bridge ethnic, racial, class, and cultural divides to foster community. Team members plan, serve, and host for various social events. Members coordinate and arrange for food and supplies to be used at the hospitality event and decorate the area. These simple social gatherings give the members the chance to get to know one another better, support each other and increase our love for one another and the Lord.
Contact: Maryanne Trezza 631-981-1805 mtrezza@stjoronk.org