Service Ministry and Pastoral Care
Annual Events

BLOOD DRIVE
Parish blood drives are held twice a year (July and December) in conjunction with the Heartland Blood Center in Aurora. Volunteers may choose to give blood, help with registering donors or donate baked goods for donors

CHRISTMAS SHARING
St. Raphael's annual Christmas Sharing Program provides an opportunity for parishioners to help needy families and individuals in our community. There are many ways to participate:

Adopt-A-Family: A family or group sponsors a needy family by purchasing gifts for each family member. Parishioners may also help by purchasing a gift for a single member of a family by selecting their tag from the "angel tree" in the St. Raphael narthex.

Senior Citizen, ChildServ, and Meld Young Mothers gifts: Tags with gift ideas for residents at Manor Care or ChildServ may be selected from our "angel tree." Gift tags are also available for MYM's single moms and their children.

Menominee Craft Sale and Toy Drive: Parishioners help with the Menominee Craft Sale in December, donate, sort, and pack toys collected through the parish toy drive, and help load the truck that transports the toys to the reservation.

SERVICE DAY
Persons of all ages come together, share Eucharist, and are sent out into the community to perform acts of service.

SPECIAL APPEAL
Proposals from non-profit organizations seeking seed money for new programs are solicited through the summer. Volunteers hen meet 3 - 4 times from the summer to early fall to discern the recipient of the Special Appeal. The recipient speaks to parishioners at Masses one weekend in November. During Advent, parishioners make donations to this organization. Approximately $12,000 - $15,000 is raised.