“Ministry is, first of all, receiving God’s blessing from those to whom we minister. What is this blessing? It is a glimpse of the face of God”. ~ Henri Nouwen
Here at St. James, we have many opportunities to experience exactly what Henri Nouwen is talking about:
The Bridge – visit the poor and homeless on John Street in Bridgeport and hand out personal care items, food and clothing.
The Lord’s Kitchen – As part of The Stratford Clergy Association, St. James prepares and serves a hot supper to the poor and homeless in our community once a month.
The Food Pantry – Provides basic food to those in need. Our food pantry located in the Parish Center is stocked by the generous contributions of our faith community.
Thanksgiving Food and Turkey Drive - Supports many groups, individuals, and other churches with food donated by our faith community.
Christmas Giving Tree - Done at Christmas time, this is the St. James way of providing the poor and needy with donations of gift cards to help brighten what might otherwise be a bleak time of year for many families
Prayer Shawl Ministry –Shawls are given from a place of compassion and caring. A handmade shawl embodies love, hope, and healing. We meet monthly and completed shawls are prayed over and blessed.
Gratitude Ministry—Focuses on personal calls to our parishioners to thank them for their time, energy, and resources.
St James Prison Ministry- Weekly visits are made to the Bridgeport Connecticut Correctional Facility to minister to inmates.
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound – Parishioners bring Eucharist to those who are unable to attend mass as a way for us to bring the love and compassion of Christ to others.
Covenant to Care – provide for the needs of abused, neglected and improverished children.
Mercy Learning Center - The Mercy Learning Center educates and empowers women who strive to break the cycles of illiteracy and poverty.
Merton Center Sandwich Ministry – help make bag lunches for The Merton House.
Merton House – Done four times a year, St. James volunteers meet to make lunches for the poor who come to The Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport.
Disciples’ Way – This is a parish program inviting us to move our faith to the next level through Contemplation and Action.
CONECT – Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut. This is an organization that helps to discover, research, analyze, and articulate a powerful moral voice to negotiate with business and government leaders regarding social, economic, and political issues that affect our members.
PATH - As ministry for PARENTS of young and adult children with physical, developmental, emotional, or mental illness, our mission is to help one another open our hearts to the power of God’s endless love and support, as our children and their challenges invite us to be transformed.
Religious Education
Catechist - Grades 1 through 6. Classes meet on Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons from October through April. Training provided.
Catechist - Grades 7 and 8. Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from October through May. Training provided.
Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and Communion. Classes meet for six weeks on Saturday mornings between January and March. Training provided.
Confirmation Preparation for high school students. Classes meet for 8 weeks between January and April. Youth leaders (under 18) as well as adults are needed to conduct sessions. Training provided.
Confirmation candidates are invited to assist catechists in all programs to fulfill requirement for service hours.
Adult Formation
Scripture Study Facilitators - programs are held in fall, winter and summer. Classes are scheduled according to availability of facilitator and registered participants. Training is provided. No previous in-depth knowledge of scripture is required.
Rite of Christian Initiation - former candidates are invited to assist catechists in various ways in conducting this program.
Parish Center Library - volunteers needed to work in our St. James Library. Responsibilities include cataloguing and sorting books, putting books away, arranging for "book giveaways", follow up phone calls for book returns and general maintenance of library area.