Ministries
Altar Society
St. Catharine’s Altar Society provides volunteers a perfect opportunity for quiet reflection and meditation in the Church while performing a valuable service. The Altar Society members, working in pairs, are responsible for the maintenance and beautification of the Altar. They prepare the Sanctuary for the celebration of the Mass, taking care to adorn the Sanctuary to reflect the various Liturgical seasons throughout the year such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, special feasts honoring our Blessed Mother, Thanksgiving, etc. They also prepare the Sanctuary for celebrations of the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. The members launder the altar linens, which are used at all masses. The Altar Society’s work is quiet and behind the scenes, overseeing the reverent care of the Altar. No earthly beauty can compare with the loveliness of God’s presence, but it is for us to ensure that His dwelling place is maintained with the greatest dignity, honor, and respect that we can possibly offer. The Altar Society is a very important Ministry to our Parish throughout the entire year. Although the time spent is rewarding, the Altar Society is always in need of assistance and support. We extend an invitation to all women of St. Catharine’s Parish to become active participants in the Altar Society. If you are willing to serve, please call Anna Stellwag at 359-0769.
St. Catharine's Adult Choir
"To sing is to pray twice." - St. Augustine. We are very pleased to announce that St. Catharine's wonderful Choir is back!! If you are interested in joining, please stop by and speak with one of our musicians at mass, or call Mary Anne Pagnani at (845) 358-0739. Each Sunday, when we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we sing sacred songs and hymns because music helps the words get into our hearts and our minds even better than listening or speaking does. The role of our Parish Choir is to invite the larger assembly into song, and to embellish the voice of the Congregation. The Choir uses their great gift of song to spread faith into our hearts and minds. We invite you to consider taking an active role by becoming involved in our Parish Choir. Our Adult Choir sings at the 11:00 AM liturgy, and at special events such as Christmas, Easter, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.
Bereavement Support Group
St. Catharine's Bereavement Support Group is on hold indefintely. In the meantime, you may wish to contact any of these other groups in our area. St. Margaret's Church in Pearl River has a Bereavement Support Group. It's a safe place for the bereaved to share, to learn about grief, and to receive support, empathy and acceptance. Advance registration is required. For dates and further information, please call Tracey DeRosa at (845) 735-4746, x112. There is also a Bereavement Support Group, once a month on First Friday mornings, 10-11:30 AM at St. Ann's Church in Nyack. Please call Arlene Melillo at (845) 634-3882 for more information. H.A.N.D.S. (Healing and Nurturing Distraught Survivors) sponsors a Bereavement Support Group for parents who have lost a child. All groups meet from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at H.A.N.D.S. International Headquarters, 9 Scott Drive, in New City. H.A.N.D.S. also has a Widows and Widowers group. These meetings are held every Monday evening also at the H.A.N.D.S. International Headquarters in New City. For more information, please call (845) 634-6706. There is a Bereavement Support Group at St. Pius X Church, 268 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, New Jersey. Grieving can be difficult and is meant to be a shared experience. Please contact Lorraine L. Delling at (201) 722-0982 or lldelling@gmail.com.
Family Mass
The Liturgical Committee of St. Catharine's was formed several years ago with the mission of creating a Children's Liturgy and Family Mass. Our 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is a wonderful weekly celebration using the Children's Lectionary that families can not only attend, but participate in. If your family has children younger than 2nd grade, they can participate by acting as greeters before mass and handing out the flyers, as well as, offertory gift bearers. If you have children older than 2nd grade, they can do the readings and responsorial psalms, in addition to helping out with greeting and offertory. And, if parents can also participate by reading the weekly petitions when we pray for others at mass. The readings are sent via email a week prior to your assigned mass date, and there will be someone at mass to give you the cues. Won't you please consider becoming part of something that has grown into such a beautiful celebration?
Knights of Columbus
Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference – whether through community service, raising money, or prayer. St. Dominic Council #5343, Knights of Columbus has been active in our area since 1963. Over the last years, they have donated to many different charities including Catholic Charities, The Penguin Plunge, United Hospice of Rockland County, American Cancer Society, and St. Catharine’s Parish. St. Dominic Council is looking for men over the age of 18 to join and become active members in Christian charity, unity, and fraternity. Their meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of each month at their Council Headquarters, 150 Erie Street in Blauvelt. If you are interested in joining, please email to Grand Knight Bob Vyskocil at grandknight@stdominic5343.com. Vivat Jesu!!
God's Little Giants
St. Catharine's Little Giants Program is a wonderful ministry that responds to the religious and spiritual needs of students grades 1-8 who have physical, mental, or emotional challenges which may impair their participation in a regular classroom, and necessitate their receiving instruction in a small group, or one-on-one setting, or mainstreamed into the regular class, with special assistance. Instruction is provided in small groups and parents are encouraged to join our catechists at each meeting. Children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that include preparing for sacraments, participating in Mass, singing, reading, and sharing. Our primary goal is for children to know that God loves them. Please call the PREP office at (845) 359-4014 for more information.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
St. Catharine's Prayer Shawl Ministry will begin its 15th year on Thursday, September 14th. They meet every other Thursday, from 2-4 PM in the Lower Parish House. If you knit or crochet, or would like to learn, please join this blessed Ministry. Kindness, compassion, and the love of knitting or crocheting have been combined into a prayerful Ministry which reaches out to those in need of comfort. Their mission has been to create Prayer Shawls for those in our Parish Family and Community as a gift for healing, protection, strength, courage, and to bring hope, comfort, peace, love, and prayers through the work of their hands. In their 14 years of existence, these wonderful women have made over 675 beautiful handmade shawls. They also knit beautiful baby blankets as special gifts for those children baptized at St. Catharine’s. I know from my own experience that having one of these beautiful shawls wrapped around you is like receiving a hug from God. God bless these Lovely Ladies of St. Catharine’s Prayer Shawl Ministry – Tita Cerbolles, Pat Connolly, Maureen Fogarty, Betty Henry, Louise Langan, Kathy Mahoney, Virginia McDonald, Judy McElligott, Mary Moynihan, Helen Schwarzler, Pat Vanderbeek, and Margaret Vicinus. If you are interested in joining, or are in need of a Prayer Shawl for yourself or someone you know, please call Louise Langan at (845) 359-5648.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Each year on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil, thousands of men and women are received into the Catholic Church in the United States. Parishes welcome these new members through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). RCIA is a series of steps conducted in the context of learning about the faith and spiritual formation, through which a person is fully incorporated in the Body of Christ, the Church. Our annual RCIA program begins in the Fall and concludes at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. The Program is available to anyone from the non-baptized to those who just need the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please contact Deacon Jurasek at (845) 365-3618.
St. Catharine's Rosary Group
To provide for the fruit and grace of prayer, while ensuring the safety of all those involved, please join us in the Church every morning following the 8:30 AM Mass, some Mondays at 4:15 by our lovely Grotto, and on Sundays at 12 PM in the Grotto or School Library (depending on the weather). When you meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and establish the Rosary as a spiritual habit in your life, an amazing thing happens – Jesus’ peace becomes your peace, His hope becomes your hope, His healing becomes your healing as His life transforms your life.
Saint Ambrose Society
Inspired by the words of St. Ambrose, “We have loved them during life, let us not abandon them until by our prayers we have conducted them to the House of the Lord,” we have started a new ministry here at St. Catharine’s, the St. Ambrose Society. Volunteers helping with this ministry assist by serving as an Adult Altar Server at funerals during the week when our younger Altar Servers are in school. We are looking for a few caring, compassionate men or women who understand that serving on the altar during funerals is a quiet yet meaningful way to assist our priests and help comfort those who mourn. Volunteers will be shown how to perform the simple but important duties of an Altar Server and assist on a rotating basis as their schedule allows. The hour or so of your time that you give will provide a wealth of comfort to a fellow parishioner when they most need it. If you can assist, please contact Patti in the Parish Office at (845) 359-0542.
TASC - Teen Association of St. Catharine's
All Confirmed Teens are invited to join TASC, the Teen Association of St. Catharine's. Meetings take place in the Lower Church, every other Sunday from 5:30-7:00 PM. TASC encourages and promotes all Teens to grow in their faith by providing opportunities for spiritual growth according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. In TASC, Teens will begin to discover their spiritual gifts which will help them to develop a heart that selflessly serves others for the rest of their lives. The message of Jesus will continue to grow in them and through them. They’ll begin to understand their religion in a powerful and personal way. We know Teens are busy, but they deserve every opportunity to know, live, share and grow in their faith. TASC is a program “For the Teens, Run by the Teens.” Teens will participate in community service projects, have leadership roles to add to college applications, and they will spend time socializing with their peers – peers who share their values, beliefs, and faith in God. Activities for the year may include, but are not limited to, Bowling, Ice Skating, Mini Golf, Billiards, Valentines for Veterans, Midnight Run, Movie Night, Parish Food Drives, Holiday Parties, Christmas Caroling, and so much more. Come join us!! For more information, please contact Rita Sarubbi at (845) 641-3172.
Vacation Bible Camp
In 2024, St. Catharine's Vacation Bible Camp will be held Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19 from 9-12 PM in the School's Cafeteria. This year's theme is "Jesus is my Lighthouse." Cost for the week is $60. Please check back here and in upcoming bulletins for more information on how to register. We are very grateful to Rita Sarubbi for her faith, hard work, imagination, and dedication. This will be Rita’s 3rd year as our Vacation Bible School Coordinator – she’s also been a 2nd Grade Teacher in St. Catharine’s PREP for 22 years! Thank you, Rita!!
St. Catharine’s Altar Society provides volunteers a perfect opportunity for quiet reflection and meditation in the Church while performing a valuable service. The Altar Society members, working in pairs, are responsible for the maintenance and beautification of the Altar. They prepare the Sanctuary for the celebration of the Mass, taking care to adorn the Sanctuary to reflect the various Liturgical seasons throughout the year such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, special feasts honoring our Blessed Mother, Thanksgiving, etc. They also prepare the Sanctuary for celebrations of the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. The members launder the altar linens, which are used at all masses. The Altar Society’s work is quiet and behind the scenes, overseeing the reverent care of the Altar. No earthly beauty can compare with the loveliness of God’s presence, but it is for us to ensure that His dwelling place is maintained with the greatest dignity, honor, and respect that we can possibly offer. The Altar Society is a very important Ministry to our Parish throughout the entire year. Although the time spent is rewarding, the Altar Society is always in need of assistance and support. We extend an invitation to all women of St. Catharine’s Parish to become active participants in the Altar Society. If you are willing to serve, please call Anna Stellwag at 359-0769.
St. Catharine's Adult Choir
"To sing is to pray twice." - St. Augustine. We are very pleased to announce that St. Catharine's wonderful Choir is back!! If you are interested in joining, please stop by and speak with one of our musicians at mass, or call Mary Anne Pagnani at (845) 358-0739. Each Sunday, when we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we sing sacred songs and hymns because music helps the words get into our hearts and our minds even better than listening or speaking does. The role of our Parish Choir is to invite the larger assembly into song, and to embellish the voice of the Congregation. The Choir uses their great gift of song to spread faith into our hearts and minds. We invite you to consider taking an active role by becoming involved in our Parish Choir. Our Adult Choir sings at the 11:00 AM liturgy, and at special events such as Christmas, Easter, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.
Bereavement Support Group
St. Catharine's Bereavement Support Group is on hold indefintely. In the meantime, you may wish to contact any of these other groups in our area. St. Margaret's Church in Pearl River has a Bereavement Support Group. It's a safe place for the bereaved to share, to learn about grief, and to receive support, empathy and acceptance. Advance registration is required. For dates and further information, please call Tracey DeRosa at (845) 735-4746, x112. There is also a Bereavement Support Group, once a month on First Friday mornings, 10-11:30 AM at St. Ann's Church in Nyack. Please call Arlene Melillo at (845) 634-3882 for more information. H.A.N.D.S. (Healing and Nurturing Distraught Survivors) sponsors a Bereavement Support Group for parents who have lost a child. All groups meet from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at H.A.N.D.S. International Headquarters, 9 Scott Drive, in New City. H.A.N.D.S. also has a Widows and Widowers group. These meetings are held every Monday evening also at the H.A.N.D.S. International Headquarters in New City. For more information, please call (845) 634-6706. There is a Bereavement Support Group at St. Pius X Church, 268 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, New Jersey. Grieving can be difficult and is meant to be a shared experience. Please contact Lorraine L. Delling at (201) 722-0982 or lldelling@gmail.com.
Family Mass
The Liturgical Committee of St. Catharine's was formed several years ago with the mission of creating a Children's Liturgy and Family Mass. Our 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is a wonderful weekly celebration using the Children's Lectionary that families can not only attend, but participate in. If your family has children younger than 2nd grade, they can participate by acting as greeters before mass and handing out the flyers, as well as, offertory gift bearers. If you have children older than 2nd grade, they can do the readings and responsorial psalms, in addition to helping out with greeting and offertory. And, if parents can also participate by reading the weekly petitions when we pray for others at mass. The readings are sent via email a week prior to your assigned mass date, and there will be someone at mass to give you the cues. Won't you please consider becoming part of something that has grown into such a beautiful celebration?
Knights of Columbus
Every day, Knights all over the world are given opportunities to make a difference – whether through community service, raising money, or prayer. St. Dominic Council #5343, Knights of Columbus has been active in our area since 1963. Over the last years, they have donated to many different charities including Catholic Charities, The Penguin Plunge, United Hospice of Rockland County, American Cancer Society, and St. Catharine’s Parish. St. Dominic Council is looking for men over the age of 18 to join and become active members in Christian charity, unity, and fraternity. Their meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of each month at their Council Headquarters, 150 Erie Street in Blauvelt. If you are interested in joining, please email to Grand Knight Bob Vyskocil at grandknight@stdominic5343.com. Vivat Jesu!!
God's Little Giants
St. Catharine's Little Giants Program is a wonderful ministry that responds to the religious and spiritual needs of students grades 1-8 who have physical, mental, or emotional challenges which may impair their participation in a regular classroom, and necessitate their receiving instruction in a small group, or one-on-one setting, or mainstreamed into the regular class, with special assistance. Instruction is provided in small groups and parents are encouraged to join our catechists at each meeting. Children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that include preparing for sacraments, participating in Mass, singing, reading, and sharing. Our primary goal is for children to know that God loves them. Please call the PREP office at (845) 359-4014 for more information.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
St. Catharine's Prayer Shawl Ministry will begin its 15th year on Thursday, September 14th. They meet every other Thursday, from 2-4 PM in the Lower Parish House. If you knit or crochet, or would like to learn, please join this blessed Ministry. Kindness, compassion, and the love of knitting or crocheting have been combined into a prayerful Ministry which reaches out to those in need of comfort. Their mission has been to create Prayer Shawls for those in our Parish Family and Community as a gift for healing, protection, strength, courage, and to bring hope, comfort, peace, love, and prayers through the work of their hands. In their 14 years of existence, these wonderful women have made over 675 beautiful handmade shawls. They also knit beautiful baby blankets as special gifts for those children baptized at St. Catharine’s. I know from my own experience that having one of these beautiful shawls wrapped around you is like receiving a hug from God. God bless these Lovely Ladies of St. Catharine’s Prayer Shawl Ministry – Tita Cerbolles, Pat Connolly, Maureen Fogarty, Betty Henry, Louise Langan, Kathy Mahoney, Virginia McDonald, Judy McElligott, Mary Moynihan, Helen Schwarzler, Pat Vanderbeek, and Margaret Vicinus. If you are interested in joining, or are in need of a Prayer Shawl for yourself or someone you know, please call Louise Langan at (845) 359-5648.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Each year on Holy Saturday during the Easter Vigil, thousands of men and women are received into the Catholic Church in the United States. Parishes welcome these new members through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). RCIA is a series of steps conducted in the context of learning about the faith and spiritual formation, through which a person is fully incorporated in the Body of Christ, the Church. Our annual RCIA program begins in the Fall and concludes at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. The Program is available to anyone from the non-baptized to those who just need the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please contact Deacon Jurasek at (845) 365-3618.
St. Catharine's Rosary Group
To provide for the fruit and grace of prayer, while ensuring the safety of all those involved, please join us in the Church every morning following the 8:30 AM Mass, some Mondays at 4:15 by our lovely Grotto, and on Sundays at 12 PM in the Grotto or School Library (depending on the weather). When you meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and establish the Rosary as a spiritual habit in your life, an amazing thing happens – Jesus’ peace becomes your peace, His hope becomes your hope, His healing becomes your healing as His life transforms your life.
Saint Ambrose Society
Inspired by the words of St. Ambrose, “We have loved them during life, let us not abandon them until by our prayers we have conducted them to the House of the Lord,” we have started a new ministry here at St. Catharine’s, the St. Ambrose Society. Volunteers helping with this ministry assist by serving as an Adult Altar Server at funerals during the week when our younger Altar Servers are in school. We are looking for a few caring, compassionate men or women who understand that serving on the altar during funerals is a quiet yet meaningful way to assist our priests and help comfort those who mourn. Volunteers will be shown how to perform the simple but important duties of an Altar Server and assist on a rotating basis as their schedule allows. The hour or so of your time that you give will provide a wealth of comfort to a fellow parishioner when they most need it. If you can assist, please contact Patti in the Parish Office at (845) 359-0542.
TASC - Teen Association of St. Catharine's
All Confirmed Teens are invited to join TASC, the Teen Association of St. Catharine's. Meetings take place in the Lower Church, every other Sunday from 5:30-7:00 PM. TASC encourages and promotes all Teens to grow in their faith by providing opportunities for spiritual growth according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. In TASC, Teens will begin to discover their spiritual gifts which will help them to develop a heart that selflessly serves others for the rest of their lives. The message of Jesus will continue to grow in them and through them. They’ll begin to understand their religion in a powerful and personal way. We know Teens are busy, but they deserve every opportunity to know, live, share and grow in their faith. TASC is a program “For the Teens, Run by the Teens.” Teens will participate in community service projects, have leadership roles to add to college applications, and they will spend time socializing with their peers – peers who share their values, beliefs, and faith in God. Activities for the year may include, but are not limited to, Bowling, Ice Skating, Mini Golf, Billiards, Valentines for Veterans, Midnight Run, Movie Night, Parish Food Drives, Holiday Parties, Christmas Caroling, and so much more. Come join us!! For more information, please contact Rita Sarubbi at (845) 641-3172.
Vacation Bible Camp
In 2024, St. Catharine's Vacation Bible Camp will be held Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19 from 9-12 PM in the School's Cafeteria. This year's theme is "Jesus is my Lighthouse." Cost for the week is $60. Please check back here and in upcoming bulletins for more information on how to register. We are very grateful to Rita Sarubbi for her faith, hard work, imagination, and dedication. This will be Rita’s 3rd year as our Vacation Bible School Coordinator – she’s also been a 2nd Grade Teacher in St. Catharine’s PREP for 22 years! Thank you, Rita!!