Outreach Commission
The Outreach Commission’s mission is to promote an awareness of social justice issues within the community. The commission seeks to provide food, clothing, educational materials, and other opportunities for Outreach activities. Suggestions are made to the pastor concerning the disbursement of Charity and Justice Funds.
Contact Information.
Bread of Life
The Bread of Life ministry feeds and clothes the needy in the Wilmington area. Sandwiches and snacks are normally prepared every Saturday in the church kitchen and delivered downtown between 7:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. On Wednesdays, between 8:30 a.m and 9:30 a.m food and clothing are delivered to needy families.
Opportunities to serve:
- Preparing the sandwiches
- Assisting in delivering clothes and food to the needy
Contact Information.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
The English for Speakers of Other Languages ministry teaches individuals to speak and write in English. Emphasis is placed on English for everyday and professional use. ESOL usually meets every Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the De Sales Faith Formation Center. Previous teaching experience and knowledge of a foreign language is not required.
Opportunities to serve:
Contact Information.
Good Samaritan
The Good Samaritan ministry extends a helping hand to members of Immaculate Conception Church and neighbors in the surrounding community who find themselves in serious financial difficulty. This is accomplished through counseling, referrals to appropriate community agencies and by providing emergency financial assistance as funding permits. Confidentiality is required.
Opportunities to serve:
- Availability to respond to assistance requests
- Interviewing those in need to determine the best solution to their problem
Contact Information.
Help Center of Federal Point
The Help Center of Federal Point is a community effort that offers emergency assistance to residents of Pleasure Island and those referred by Immaculate Conception. Area churches, businesses, organizations, and concerned citizens provide the funding and food. Individuals staff the center Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Carolina Beach Recreational Center, 1112B North Lake Park Blvd. (behind Carolina Beach Town Hall). Volunteers work in teams and are scheduled for two hours a month. The ministry combines with the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving dinners. For Christmas, food baskets are delivered to families in need, with each of the children receiving gifts.
Opportunities to serve:
- Staff the Center
- Pick up donated food at Church after the 11:30 a.m. liturgy and deliver to the Help Center
- Computer input of program records at the Help Center normally on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, on a rotating basis, depending on the number of volunteers
Contact Information.
Hispanic Migrant Ministry
The Hispanic Migrant ministry provides assistance to migrant workers in the area. The projects include a back-to-school drive collecting school supplies, the Angel Project at Christmas, and collecting toiletries. The ministry works with the Hispanic coordinator at Catholic Charities and tries to provide other items as needed.
Opportunities to serve:
- Preparing handouts
- Distributing handouts
- Collecting and sorting items
- Delivering items
- Drivers with a pickup truck
Contact Information.
The Community HIV/AIDS Ministry
The Community HIV/AIDS ministry provides educational advocacy, emergency financial assistance, and sponsorship of recreational children’s camp, teen retreats, Chaplain services, spiritual retreats, educational outreach, and social events for adults, teens, and children of families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS office is located at St. Mary Church, downtown Wilmington.
Opportunities to serve:
- Adults and senior youth are needed to assist at the camp
- Adults and senior youth are needed to assist at teen retreats and social events
Contact Information.
The Island Cottage
The Island Cottage is a non-profit thrift store in Carolina Beach on Bridge Barrier Road, next to the Post Office. All profits are donated to the Help Center of Federal Point. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. Donations of clothing and household items also go to the Help Center clients, persons sent by local churches, as well as the homeless in the area. Individuals are asked to donate two hours per month. This can be either scheduled time or drop in time.
Opportunities to serve:
- Taking inventory of items donated
- Pricing donated items
- Stocking the store
- Sorting through clothes and re-donating to other non-profits
- Helping to dust and keep the store in order
- Occasional need for a driver with a pickup truck
Contact Information.
Meals on Wheels — Weekend
The Meals on Wheels — Weekend ministry works with four other area churches in delivering meals when there is a fifth Saturday in the month (approximately four times a year). The Immaculate Conception coordinator plans and shops for the food. Preparation begins at 7:30 a.m. in the church kitchen.
Opportunities to serve:
- Preparing the meals (approximately two hours)
- Delivering the meals to one of three routes from Monkey Junction to Kure Beach
Contact Information.
Prison Ministry
The Prison ministry visits the New Hanover County Correctional Center which is a minimum security prison on Division Drive near the Wilmington International Airport (ILM). Ministers are scheduled (normally with another minister) to participate in the Catholic service either on the first or third Saturday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The service involves conducting scripture readings and discussions that are normally led by the prisoners. The minister then conducts a short Communion service. It is necessary, therefore, that the Eucharist is picked up at the church prior to the service. The prisoners who attend may be Catholic or may be non-Catholics curious about the Catholic faith. All ministers go through a one-time, one- to two-hour orientation/training at the prison, and they then must attend four hours of volunteer activities/services there before getting a prison pass (blue card). Requirements also include being certified as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, have faith communication skills and familiarity with the Bible.
Contact Information.
Right to Life
The Right to Life ministry mobilizes parish energies to work on behalf of life. This includes issues dealing with the sick and terminally ill, abortion, biotechnology, the elderly and the needs of families. The Committee coordinates seasonal events such as a diaper drive, information dispersal, and similar activities.
Opportunities to serve:
- Assisting in the organizational and promotional activities of the ministry
- Distribution of materials
- March for Life in Washington, DC
- The Right to Life march in front of the Federal Courthouse in Wilmington, NC (one hour)
- One-hour prayer vigils at two abortion centers in Wilmington, usually every Tuesday and Friday year round
- Support and attend the Life Line Crisis Pregnancy Annual banquet in May
- Organize donations for pregnancy support
- Attend Life Chain on the first Sunday of October
- Celebrate Life Sunday at liturgy
- Participate in the annual Pro-Life Liturgy
- Take part in the yearly St. Patrick's Day Parade
Contact Information.
