Community Ministries
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People long for community in their families and in their parishes. Both are basic and essential to living a fully Christian life. Community Ministries at St. John the Baptist seek to build a sense of community and belonging by drawing parishioners together for mutual support, activities, celebration and growth in order to build the Kingdom of God.
A.C.T.S. Catholic Daughters of America Knights of Columbus Prayer Blanket Ministry Prayer Line The Gathering Place
An ACTS retreat is a three-day and three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners. The retreat begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community. Retreats for men and retreats for women are conducted separately. We have retreats for both English and Spanish speakers. An ACTS weekend is designed to help retreatants enter into a new or deeper relationship with our Lord and with fellow parishioners. This is accomplished through Adoration and daily prayer and the call to Community in one's parish as a member of the Body of Christ. Theology is encouraging the study of Scripture and our Catholic Faith while Service to our Lord, our parish, and one another completes the mission of ACTS.
Catholic Daughters of the Americas is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in the Americas with nearly 95,000 members in 1400 courts. The local court has a membership of approximately 70 members who work throughout the year of St. John the Baptist Catholic Daughters to raise money with which to support local, state, and national charitable projects. All Catholic women 18 years and older are invited to join the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
The CDA mission statement is "Catholic Daughters of the Americas strive to embrace the principle of faith, working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of rights and human dignity for all."
Monthly meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. For information contact the Parish Office.
The Knights of Columbus is the largest fraternal Catholic family organization in the world. Membership is available to men over 18 in full communion with the Church. Regularly scheduled faith, family, and community functions are held throughout the year. The majority of activities are charity related. Membership is based upon initiations.
The Knights have been serving two Catholic communities since October 1972, St. John the Baptist in Alvin and Sacred Heart in Manvel. We serve the needs of all groups in both parishes. We are at the service of the pastors for special assignments.
Anyone interested in joining the Knights of Columbus may call the Parish Office.
Prayer Blanket Ministry was started about fourteen years ago, by many talented ladies in St. John the Baptist Parish. Blankets are available for anyone who may need a prayer blanket. If you know someone who would benefit from a prayer blanket or would like to help with this ministry and has sewing skills, contact the Parish Office.God has used this beautiful ministry to touch the lives of countless people who have received a blanket while enduring a difficult time in their lives. These blessed blankets have brought relief to the suffering and peace to the fearful and are available to anyone who wishes to present one to someone in need of prayer.
The Prayer Line is a group of parishioners who pray for individuals and/or families and pass on the prayer requests to other within the Prayer Line. These prayers usually are for sudden needs. (Individuals whose names are seen in the parish bulletin are there for the whole parish to pray for.) If you have an interest to pray for others and would like to help on the Prayer Line, contact Joyce through the Parish Office.
The Gathering Place Ministries provides four hours per week as a “time off” for caregivers of persons with dementia so that they can take a break from their care-giving obligations and return to their duties refreshed and rested. During the Gathering Place "socials," which are held every Wednesday, our trained volunteers provide exceptional care and moments of joy to people who have dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) in a spiritual, loving, and safe environment. At each of the four Gathering Place locations in Alvin, music, arts and crafts, dance, reminiscing activities, games, exercise, and a healthy lunch are included at the "socials" to provide stimulating activities to improve the quality of participants' lives. There are no costs involved for the caregiver families to participate at all locations. However, registration is required.
Alvin locations:
1st Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm Alvin Lutheran Church
2nd Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm First Presbyterian Church
3rd Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm First Christian Church
4th Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm St. John the Baptist
Catholic Church
For more information about the Gathering Place "socials” please contact Maria Ramirez at the Parish Office or contact Brazoria County Gathering Place Interfaith Ministries, Inc. at 979-849-5051. For more information about dementia and participation in the program go to the website at www.gatheringplacebrazoria.org.