Ministries that fall under the category of “worship” pertain to the preparation and celebration of liturgical and prayer events—and it takes many hearts and hands to make them happen! Liturgy is the “work of the people”, and that means all of us living out our “full, active conscious participation” through prayer.
Liturgical ministries:
All children 3rd grade and up who have received their First Holy Communion are welcome to serve the altar. It’s a wonderful way to serve God and your community. Training is provided.
Men and women who can, in a friendly way, assist the congregation in finding a seat, taking up the collection, bringing up the gifts, and whatever comes up are encouraged to sign up. We are always in need of ushers—please consider becoming a part of this very important ministry of hospitality.
We have ministries of choir, contemporary group, praise group, youth choir, folk group—diverse groups looking for voices and instruments! Each of the groups is open to new members any time. Some require an audition.
Help our clergy prepare for Mass and keep the Church in order for worship—we need daily and weekend assistance.
In an effort to be green and to make words and music more accessible to the community, we have Power Point presentations at each weekend Mass. Please consider assisting us in keeping the presentation going. This is a great opportunity for middle and high school students to participate in the liturgy.
Proclaim the Word of God at Mass—the Word of God, along with the Eucharist, nourish us so that we have what we need to be Christ to those we meet throughout the week. Share the gift of God’s Word with our community. Training is provided.
The Source and Summit of all that we do, service to the community as an EM brings the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful. Training is provided.
Anyone who can be friendly and say “Hello” can be a Greeter! We invite individuals and families with children of all ages to participate in this ministry.
If you love weddings and would like to assist couples in making their wedding day go smoothly, please consider this ministry. We set up the Church prior to a wedding ceremony and assist during the rehearsal, pre and post-ceremony. The wedding coordinator assists the groom and his party with getting ready and placement prior to the ceremony, and helps the bride and her party prepare and get down the aisle in a timely and efficient manner. The coordinator cleans up the Church (chairs, decorations, etc.) after the ceremony. Training is provided.
Our ministry assist our parishioners with planning of funeral liturgies for their deceased family member. We attend the wake, funeral and follow up with a call or note a month later. We assist the priest as lector, sacristan, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion if needed.
Each year our Youth Group presents the Living Stations on Good Friday night. If you are interested in participating, contact the youth group.
The Rosary Guild calls people to praise and honor Our Lady and her Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, through praying the Rosary, good works and fostering devotional spirituality for the good of all. Women who are devoted to praying the Rosary meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the Parish Center. Our prayer should flow into action—come and see what graces God wants to help you bring to our community.
The Healing Prayer Ministry is called to intercede for individuals seeking the healing touch of Jesus Christ.
Spanish Prayer Group meets on Wednesday nights in the Chapel.
Prayer intentions can be forwarded to this group and they will pray for them. Call the parish office to have your intention included.
Spiritual direction is a relationship in which a director assists a directee in their spiritual journey by accompanying them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The director helps the directee to see where God is present and working in their lives, and how to fine-tune their prayer life. We have three certified Spiritual Directors in the parish who are currently taking on new directees.
During the seasons of Advent and Lent we offer small faith sharing groups both in homes, and on the grounds of the parish to any adults who would like to participate. Using materials to guide the conversations, these six week programs are led by trained volunteers. In a large parish like St. Robert’s, small communities are a gift.
Our mission is to make and provide Rosaries to those who need/want to pray in the tradition of our Blessed Mother’s request to the children of Fatima. Come make Rosaries each 3rd Friday of the month. This is a fun and prayerful activity for people of all ages.
Prayer Groups/Enrichment:
As a parish, we’re responsible not just for all the Catholics in our territory, but all the souls. Here at the Co-Cathedral, we take this charge seriously. We minister to the temporal needs of the members of our parish community and those beyond it through various events and efforts. There are many opportunities for people of all ages to help feed and to be fed by participating in these ministries.
Charitable Outreach:
Social Events:
Open Door is a non-profit, ecumenical food pantry and soup kitchen established by the Freehold Clergy Association, serving the needy of the Freehold Community. Open Door is always in need of volunteers, non-perishable food items, paper products and toiletries. In addition Open Door provides a Christmas gift giving program to children of families in need, and an after school tutoring program.
In compliance with Jesus’ command to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, our Parish Center is open Thursday nights during winter months to provide homeless men overnight shelter. Male parishioners act as chaperones. Assistance needed in areas of providing meals; laundry services and transportation for homeless men to and from St. Roberts on Thursday nights and Friday mornings. Donations of toiletries, pillows, undershirts and socks are always welcome during the winter.
The parish hold dinner basket drives during three major holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter). Volunteers might assist in organization of food basket donations; researching families in need, and managing and volunteering to pack and deliver baskets the Sunday before holiday. Hot meals are also provided Thanksgiving morning through the generosity of the Court Jester in Freehold which our volunteers pick up and deliver to home.
The mission of the Father Benedict Ministry is to provide temporary emergency assistance to those in financial distress by paying utilities, rent, mortgage and other expenses to help avoid a financial crisis. The applicant must reside within the physical boundaries of the Co-Cathedral. The ministry fund is supported through the generosity of the parish family’s Mass collections six times during the year and other donations made by parishioners. The Father Benedict Ministry was established by Father Dentici, our first Pastor, in memory of Father Benedict who was an Assistant Pastor in our Church, who spent much of his time visiting the sick and assisting those in need both materially and spiritually. Hotline call 732-462-7429 ext 150.
The Caregiver Volunteers are a non-Church affiliated group who keep their headquarters at St. Roberts, and who service parishioners and community members of the Freehold area. Their efforts are aimed at assisting elderly and homebound individuals to remain in their homes by providing them with food shopping, rides to doctor’s visits and visiting. Clients are always welcome, and volunteers are always needed. All volunteers are insured through Caregiver Volunteers. Contact them at: 732-876-3900
SRB Help Center will assist those of any faith, in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, who come upon hardships including illness, fires and natural disasters; by soliciting to the wider community to provide services and materials, or by purchasing items that will help them begin to reestablish their lives.
Meals Ministry provides support for families in need (birth of child; death of a loved one; hospitalization; sickness) by preparing meals. Meals Ministry also supports Winter Homeless Care Ministry by providing meals in Months of December through March.
Bring the Word of Jesus, the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to all our brothers and sisters in faith who are hospitalized and homebound due to age or illness. Training is provided.
Annual Parish Social is held last weekend in February. Event is focused on St. Patrick’s Day and Irish dance & music. Committee members are needed to help organize, sell tickets, set up and clean up the event. Planning usually starts 4 months prior and progresses from monthly meetings to weekly meetings leading up to the event.
This Annual Golf Outing is held in August. It is in honor of St. Robert’s late Pastor Fr. Thomas J. O’Connor who served the Parish 1988-2008. Committee members are needed to plan, market, solicit, prepare & run this event.
The Annual Parish Picnic is held in September close to our Feast Day of September 17. The event is focused on building parishioner fellowship. Committee members are needed to plan, market, solicit, prepare & run this event. Planning usually starts 6 months prior and progresses from monthly meetings to weekly meetings leading up to the event. Adult and teen volunteers are most welcome to assist, and all are welcome to attend.
On the 3rd Sunday of the month, our ministries provide donuts and fellowship in the Parish Hall after the 8:30 am, 10:00 am and 11:30 am Masses. All are welcome!
We bless and distribute bread on the Feast of St. Joseph at morning Masses. On the Saturday closest to the Feast of St. Joseph, our parish gathers for traditional Italian food and fellowship to honor this great Saint and adoptive father of Jesus. Whether you come and help, or come to enjoy, it’s a great celebration for all ages.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to promoting and conducting educational, charitable religious and social welfare works, rendering mutual aid and assistance to sick and needy members and their families and the community. Founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney, in New Haven, Conn. Membership is open to all practicing Catholic men 18 years or older. The Knights of Columbus has over 2 million members and over 15,000 council throughout the world. The Freehold Council 1672 is located at 70 East Main Street, Freehold NJ 07728.
Work with our Diocesan Office promoting the mission of the Catholic Church's teachings and promulgations on the transmission of human life.
All are welcome to join this very important ministry which takes care of and maintains our prayer garden, located between the main Church and the Parish Center. This serene place provides parishioners with a tranquil place to meditate and pray.
The Christmas Carol Festival is a means of reaching out to those within our community who have, for whatever reason been inactive, left the faith entirely or who have issues with the church. The Christmas Carol Festival is an evening of singing favorite Christmas Carols and sharing precious memories; something we can all relate to wherever we are in our faith journey.
Our Youth Group, "Flash"" stands for "Following the Lord and Sharing Hope."" We seek to bring young people (grades 8-12) closer to their faith through fellowship, community service and discussion. The group currently meets every other week (see bulletin for dates). We do service for our parish and community, get together for meetings, and gather with kids from around the Diocese for events. Contact: youthgroup@strobert.cc
Have you been away from the Catholic Church? Have you felt prompted to rediscover your Catholic faith? Let's talk. You won't find preaching or pressure here. Just friendly answers to some questions you may have so you can make an informed choice. Let's sit down and have a cup of coffee together, and perhaps you will find you have come home. We'd love to have you back! See our insert for more info.
St. Robert’s Welcome Ministry has as its primary purpose hospitality and invitation. Through the acts of hospitality and invitation it is the Ministry’s goal to have all who enter St. Robert’s feel as if they are a valued member of the faith family contributing to the overall good of the parish and the greater community. The Ministry seeks to foster a warm environment for all parishioners. Our goals are accomplished through awareness, leadership, service at parish events and information.
Committee is formulated to provide fun day trips for parishioners in a social setting. Day trips may consist of bus trips to local/tri state attractions, plays, concerts and/ or spiritual sanctuaries. Excellent way to enhance fellowship outside parish grounds. Committee members needed to create & plan outings as well as recruit participants.
Parish Organizations/Evangelization:
Our faith journey is life-long. We can never learn everything about God, even in our whole lifetime, but we try to deepen our understanding in different ways. From the cradle to the grave, our Church provides opportunities for all to come to know Jesus more fully. We provide traditional a religious education program for children, adult faith formation and enrichment programs, and preparation for the Sacraments; for Catholics and anyone seeking information about that Catholic faith. Anyone who is working with minors or vulnerable adults must be fingerprinted and Virtus trained.
Religious Education for Children:
Sacramental Preparation:
This class is held during the 10 o'clock Mass. It is designed for pre-school students age 3 and above. During the class time, the students have time to play and socialize, pray, sing, and enjoy a snack together. The lesson each week corresponds to the gospel for that Sunday. The children discuss the gospel message and complete an activity related to it. This is a great volunteer opportunity for middle and high school students.
Religious education program is a ministry devoted to faith development and grounded in the traditional teachings and practices of the Catholic faith. It is a gradual and continuous program from grade 1 through grade 8. This ministry supports parents as the primary educators of the faith for their children and fosters a partnership between families and the whole parish.
Pre-baptism class instruction on the Sacrament of Baptism and the rite itself. Class takes place every other month and is required for first time parents. Godparents are welcome and encouraged to attend these classes.
The Pre-Cana is a program for couples preparing to receive and commit to the sacrament of matrimony. The Pre-Cana Team at St. Robert's is diocesan trained to present this program of marriage preparation, with seven team couples participating in the program. Pre-Cana conferences are held twice a year in the Parish Center, with team members presenting on topics ranging from finances to sexuality. New members will be required as current members leave this ministry.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) is a process that invites unbaptized persons and baptized Christians of other faiths to learn more about becoming Roman Catholic. The process also calls/invites baptized Catholics to complete full communion with the Catholic Church through the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. The people in the process consist of a team that plans and leads the process; candidates who are considering joining the Church or receiving the Sacraments; and sponsors who provide one-on-one assistance to the candidates.
Ministers provide information and assist Catholic individuals who have been divorced through the annulment process with the Diocese. We also provide assistance with marriage convalidations (having your civil marriage recognized as a Sacrament in the Church).
This advisory committee plans educational programs and events for adults to deepen the understanding of their faith and promote the moral and spiritual growth of adult parishioners.
This is a ministry in which we present monthly talks on various aspects of the Catholic faith. Our speakers teach the faith in creative and engaging ways, explaining the doctrines of our faith and also how knowing and living the faith can make a difference in our lives and in the world. Presentations are engaging, and those who attend will leave knowing on a much deeper level how their faith can change their lives and the lives of everyone they encounter. Faith Formation is a life-long process, come and be nourished.
Bible Study is an effort to open the Scriptures to all who participate and allow those present to share insights they derive from the readings with one another. The group meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm during the school year. Call Parish Office for more info.
Young Adults in Faith Bible Study is a non-parish affiliated young adult group who meets at St. Robert’s on the first Thursday of the month. Join us in prayer as we study the Sunday readings for the coming Sunday using the practice of lectio divina. The evening will begin at 6:30pm in the small kitchen with dinner. Then we will move to Trinity Hall for the Bible Study. Our discussion is guided by the book "The Bread of Life (Cycle A)". If you can grab a copy for yourself, you can read the reflection questions in advance. We will have some copies on hand during the Bible study, but it helps to read them ahead of time. If you have any questions, please reach us at YoungAdultsInFaith@gmail.com.
Want to learn more about your faith at home? Formed is an online video self-study that’s free for our parishioners. Get started today.
Adult Faith Formation:
For all of the ministries to run smoothly, we need folks to help monitor and manage the material assets of the Church. These are all skill and age-specific (not for children) ministries that require some background.
As a welcoming parish community, our goal at St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral is to welcome people into a well-managed facility, providing adequate space, accommodations, and a safe environment to accomplish the liturgical and spiritual needs of the people of God. This will be accomplished by a) Properly maintaining all buildings and grounds; b) Planning for change, repair and replacement of worn or obsolete assets as warranted; and c) Constructing new spaces or facilities.
This committee advises the pastor on all financial matters pertaining to general operations of the church to include but not limited to all income and expenses of the church, budgeting and financial reporting.