This confidential ministry offers Christ-centered love, a safe haven to express feelings, and tools to deal with divorce-related challenges. Non-Catholics are welcome.

Suggested Strengths: Empathy, Relator, Includer Contacts:Mary Beth Garrity, 937.645.9436 Jennie Porco, 330.460.7317

Helps women experiencing unplanned or complicated pregnancies with resources, mentoring, referrals, and baby items.

Contacts: Marissa Welsh, 440.537.7073 | marissa.welsh@hotmail.com Trish Shaw, 440.590.0083 | ohshaws@gmail.com Staff Liaison: Gabby Moss, GYatson@StAmbrose.us | 330.460.7327

Children Grieve, Too. Supports children who have lost a loved one, helping them process emotions and find peace.

Contact: Lisa Cinadr, LCinadr@StASchool.us

Children Grieve, Too. Supports children who have lost a loved one, helping them process emotions and find peace.

Supports families caring for a child with serious health issues.

Coordinator: Kim Nemet

An outreach of the FEST, this group of civic and religious leaders from Northeast Ohio addresses the heroin epidemic through: Understanding: Care, compassion, support Collaboration: Community engagement and coalition building Awareness: Education and resources

Visit: GreaterThanHeroin.com

Also known as Living Word Healing Prayer Ministry, this team believes in the power of the Holy Spirit to offer healing. Works in conjunction with the Evangelization & Tuesday Evening Prayer Group.

Suggested Strengths: Empathy, Belief, Communication, Connectedness Contact: Cathy Clapper, 330.225.3973

Supports active and retired military members by sending care packages for birthdays and holidays, hosting family events, and keeping prayer lists.

Staff Liaison: Lisa Homady, 330.460.7315 | LHomady@StAmbrose.us

Distributes 3,500+ peanut butter and jelly sandwiches weekly to those in need.

Contact: Gabby Moss, GYatson@StAmbrose.us | 330.460.7327

Volunteers knit or crochet prayer shawls and lap throws for the ill, and afghans for baptisms. Pieces are blessed during Mass.

Meet weekly on Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., or work from home.

Contact: Deb McCready, DMcCready@StAmbrose.us | 330.460.7323

Volunteers knit or crochet prayer shawls and lap throws for the ill, and afghans for baptisms. Pieces are blessed during Mass.

Inspired by Saint Rita, this ministry educates, advocates, and brings hope to those impacted by human trafficking.

Lead: Alan Bartholomew, alanbart613@gmail.com Staff Liaison: Gabby Moss, GYatson@StAmbrose.us

Our ministry gives all students in grades 5 - 12 the opportunity to assist at the Table of the Lord during weekend Masses and liturgical celebrations, such as Weddings, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Holy Week Masses, Easter, Christmas, School Masses, a nd other Prayer Services. Altar servers are called to have an open heart, flexibility when things change, and most importantly, commitment to fulfilling their assignments to serve. Servers are usually scheduled about twice a month for the weekend Masses. A s servers grow and become more experienced, all students have an opportunity to become an MC server, Master of Ceremonies, to demonstrate their responsibility, and maturity and provide guidance to the younger servers. Training sessions are required for stu dents that are interested in becoming an Altar Server. These sessions are held several times throughout the year and consist of two sessions, each about 1 ½ hours in length. Contact Maria or Fr. Andrew for details on upcoming training sessions

Contacts: Maria Grama, MGrama@StAmbrose.us | 330.460.7324 Helen Lanzarotta, HLanzarotta@StAmbrose.us | 330.460.7343

Named after Saint Teresa of Avila, Associates of the Avilas join together in prayer for new and existing vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Our Saint Ambrose Avila Prayer Partners come together the 4th Monday of each month after morning Mass. Avila Prayer books are available for your use during these times as well as a petition basket. We also have a personalized monthly prayer calendar useful for daily prayer. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day on Mondays. The Avilas begin their holy hour by praying out loud for petitions; choose various prayers from the book es pecially for our priests and religious as well as for new vocations; followed by the rosary based on the Joyful mysteries. If you wish to join the Avilas, just show up on the 2nd Monday. No dues, no meetings — the power of prayer together! Our group contin ues to grow much like the mustard tree! The Avilas are a group unique to the Cleveland Diocese, now numbering more than a thousand. For more than 30 years, the Avilas have promoted vocations in our diocese. These are people who pledge to pray for vocations , and for continued and sustained work of ordained ministers and vowed religious

Suggested Strengths: Belief, Communication, Self - Assurance Contact: Ann Behrend tabehrend@aol.com

“God grants these favours, then, not because those who receive them are holier than those who do not, but in order that His greatness may be made known, as we see in the case of Saint Paul and the Magdalen, and in order that we may praise Him in His creatures.” - From Interior Castle by Sa int Teresa of Avila

First and forem ost, a lector must have a fervent love for God’s Word. They must also have strong reading and presentation skills, with the ability to directly touch the hearts of God’s congregation through the proclamation of the Word. Lectors normally meet as part of qu arterly reflection services for liturgical ministers. Meetings last between one and two hours. Ministry leaders are involved 10 to 15 hours per month, while a typical lector is involved 3 to 5 hours per month. Every attempt is made to schedule lectors acco rding to their personal Mass preferences and availability each month. There are quarterly training sessions for new lectors and those who wish to enhance their skills. View Weekly Lector Readings and Sch edule “Lectors are part of a faith - based ministry rooted in the proclamation of God’s Word. Just as a priest is instrumental in nourishing the souls of God’s elect through the Liturgy of the Eucharist, lectors minister to God’s faithful through the Liturgy of the Word, which Scriptures define as “with God from the beginning, and who is Christ made flesh.” (John 1:1 - 14)

Suggested Strengths: Communication, Self - Assurance, Responsibility CONTACT: Mike Mascio | mmascio668@gmail.com

These parishioners prepare the sacred vessels, wine, hosts and other liturgical items before and after weekend Masses, funerals and weddings

CONTACT: Helen Lanzarotta, 330.460.7343 or HLanzarotta@StAmbrose.us Jan Avery , 330.220.0203 o r jma4673@yahoo.com

We have regular meetings every other Wednesday morning at 9 am and plan our work days from there. The committee has a documented Preventative Maintenance Program that it follows in order to maintain the building and grounds of the parish. We are always looking for anyone interested in helping with the committee. Construction experien ce would be helpful, but is not required. Anyone with carpentry, flooring, concrete, masonry, electrical, plumbing or painting experience would be greatly appreciated

Contact Ken Kukarola at kukarolapa@aol.com or the parish office for information.

Saint Ambrose Parish Pastoral Council is made up of parishioners who, guided by a prayerful spirit, meet regularly to assist the pastor in ongoing assessments of parish life and the planning of ways to enhance its mission, ministry and spirituality. We help new and existing mi nistries perform to their fullest, and also develop ideas into real practices for advancing our Saint Ambrose community. The process of developing plans and policies of the identified pastoral priorities includes prayer, study of relevant church documents and teaching, and listening to the needs of the parishioners of Saint Ambrose. We meet once a month on the second Tuesday each month from September – June for about 1.5 hours and as needed to assist with other ministries, boards, parish staff and committees. If you are an active member of Saint Ambrose and have unique thoughts and insights to contribute to the life of the parish, we need you! Please call or email the leadership team

Suggested Strengths: Deliberative, Responsibility, Strategic, Fut uristic For additional information contact Mary Jo Halenar at MHalenar@StAmbrose.us

Help us bake delicious treats for upcoming Parish events, retreats and other service projects. Simply let us know you are interested and we will let you know upcoming events we will need baked goods. All bakery can be prepared in the comfort of your own home and dropped off at the Parish Office

CONTACT: Chrissy Balentine at CBalentine@StAmbrose.us .

Our group brings our parish family and friends together once a month on designated Sundays. It’s a wonderful time for socializing, welcoming our community, sponsoring events and introducing various ministries. We serve refreshments, such as donuts, coffee, hot chocolate and juice. Time commitment is flexible for volunteers. We are looking for friendl y people to join our team to help out monthly at our Donut Sundays!

CONTACT: Tom + Mary Ann Valko , 330.220.1694, mav491@outlook.com

Do you like to help with event planning!? Do you enjoy meeting other great people in our Parish!? If so the Hospitality Committee is for you! Our Hospitality Committee helps prepare for many parish events an d is always in need of a few extra hands! All are welcomed to assist!

Contact Chrissy Balentine at CBalentine@StAmbrose.us

We are a group of volunteer parishioners who love photography! We come to parish and school events to capture the moment and tell the story of the good work our parish and school families do throughout the year. We don’t meet regularly, but we do ask that if you’re attending a parish event, to bring your camera and capture the moment

uggested Strengths: Communication, Focus, Positivity If you’re a photographer and want to help your parish, contact Rebecca to get in volved! Rebecca Kaaikaula, 330.460.7314 or RKaaikaula@StAmbrose.us

We are a group of volunteer parishioners who love photography! We come to parish and school events to capture the moment and tell the story of the good work our parish and school families do throughout the year. We don’t meet regularly, but we do ask that if you’re attending a parish event, to bring your camera and capture the moment

uggested Strengths: Communication, Focus, Positivity If you’re a photographer and want to help your parish, contact Rebecca to get in volved! Rebecca Kaaikaula, 330.460.7314 or RKaaikaula@StAmbrose.us

This committee provides a warm and hospitable welcome into our Parish community for new parishioners. Committee members extend a personal welcome to all new parishioners and answer any questions they might have about the St Ambrose parish community. Welco me Gathering receptions are held several times during the year to welcome our new parishioners and where they can find out more about the vibrant life of the parish! If you love meeting and talking with people, this is the ministry for you and we’d love for you to join us! Join now so you can be a part of the next welcome gathering!

Suggested Strengths: Includer, Positivity, WOO, Individualization CONTACT: Mary Jo Halenar , 330.460.7381 MHalenar@StAmbrose.us