Ministries
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Emergency Assistance
Saint Therese provides emergency assistance to neighborhood residents by helping with natural gas and electric bills through a grant from the Mid-America Assistance Coalition (MAAC). MAAC is the administrator for funds received as donations from Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Missouri Gas Energy) and Dollar-Aide (Kansas City Power & Light) programs.
Saint Therese maintains a food pantry that serves well over 100 families each month. Food for the pantry comes mainly from Harvesters, Kansas City's only food bank. Harvesters receives their food from several sources: government commodities, donations, and their own purchases. While Saint Therese receives food for free from Harvesters' government commodities, we must pay for additional needed food with parish funds or from donations. We also receive donated bakery products from our friends at Cosentino's Brookside Market.
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Christmas Basket Program
The St Therese Christmas Basket Program has been providing a more joyous holiday for needy neighborhood families and individuals for over 20 years. Using cash donations and parish funds, the program provides food, paper goods, laundry, and personal hygiene items purchased at a discounted rate through the generosity of our friends at Hy-Vee. Gifts are purchased from various other retailers or received as donations, some of which are the result of fundraisers from other churches. Parish volunteers work throughout the year to prepare the gifts for this event. Volunteers from different parish ministries: youth group, the Knights of Columbus, the Gospel choir, praise dancers and members of the finance committee and pastoral council participate in the set-up. They unload the truck by hand using a skid loader, then sort and stack all the goods readying the hall for the Christmas Basket distribution. In recent years, an average of 250 families and individuals have been served during the annual program.
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Donations
If you would like to help provide for any of these very worthwhile ministries through the donation of goods, services, or financial assistance, please contact the Director of Emergency Assistance, BJ Atkinson, at the parish office or go to the "Give" page for on-line giving
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The Youth Group brings young people together for social, educational and service activities. Every child, through high school senior, who has made their First Communion can participate. Every 2nd Sunday is Youth Sunday where the young people are ushers/greeters and lectors in Mass. Youth Group leaders challenge the young people to step out of their comfort zones and solidify their place in the community.
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Christian formation for those on the journey to join the Catholic Church is available to adults and families on an ongoing basis. Classes are made available in preparation for acceptance into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
Confirmation Preparation is a series of workshops, discussion groups and service projects for High School age youth as they prepare for full reception into the Catholic Church.
First Sacrament Preparation is scheduled for children to prepare them for their First Confession and First Holy Communion.
Sunday School classes are held during the 9:15 Mass for children ages 3 to 7 in the church hall. These classes help children learn about the faith and life values and virtues at an early age.
Circle of Grace / Called to Protect lessons are offered to all children as participants in any/all of the above programs. These refer to the Safe Environment initiative mandated by our diocese for the protection and well-being of children and youth. (Catechists are in compliance with the safety standards as well.)
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The H.O.P.E Committee was established in the Fall of 2011 in response to needs of the Blue Hills Neighborhood and the St. Therese Little Flower Strategic Plan.
Our Mission: To bring forth greater hope, peace, harmony, and happiness in our neighborhood and the world through the education and inspiration of our youth and seniors. The committee works during the school year with the youth of the Blue Hills Community and St. Therese Little Flower, and students at Hogan Elementary and Hogan Middle schools. This committee also works with the St. Therese Senior Center to coordinate activities between the youth and the seniors.
During the school year, the committee sponsors monthly recognition luncheons for Hogan students. The lunch is a reward for student achievers and also seeks to offer a healthy, fine dining experience.
Both schools also benefit from donations from St. Therese Parishioners in the form of new/gently used uniforms, toiletries, and snacks as requested by the schools. Fundraising events provide resources to be donated to St. Therese Senior Center and St. Therese Youth Group.
(Contact Martha Graham 816-806-8586)
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Other Ministries
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Parish Nurse
The parish nurse wears her heart on her sleeve -- literally. She visits the homebound, sick, those in care facilities and in the hospital. Sr Helen takes communion on each visit. Most people she visits weekly. She also checks blood pressures, does advocacy about medications, rehab facilities, insurance problems and what ever else comes up. Sr Helen accompanies people to doctors' appointments and does shopping for individuals as needed. (Call 816.444.5406)
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Book Club
The St Therese Book Club meets Sept. through May on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. As a group we chose the books we will read.We have studied Scripture, types of prayer, and many theological books. (For more information call Sr. Helen Alder at the parish office 816.444.5406).
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Bereavement
The death of our loved ones is always hard. But caring volunteers of the parish help people through this difficult time by providing a home-cooked meal after the funeral for family and guests. Parishoners are notified by email/phone so that all can provide comfort and prayers for the family and their loved one. (Call 816.444.5406)
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Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal order of Catholic gentlemen who express their Catholicity by service to our parish, our pastor, our Bishop and to the Holy See. We provide actions to improve our surrounding community, especially in regards to Right to Life and people with Developmental Disabilities.
St. Therese Little Flower Council 14750 supports our parish by providing leadership and followership as needed to parish activities, sponsoring and assisting in various fundraisers, as well as being visible in various Catholic traditions observed throughout the holy year. (Call the office for more information 816.444.5406).
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Community Garden
Thanks to a grant given us by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 2009, we were able to build a community garden with the help of many heads and many hands. We were also able to have a water line extended over to the garden, acquire a hose and a reel, some tools and most importantly a couple of benches so gardeners can rest their tired backs from bending over tilling the earth. Some gardeners donate some of their produce to the Emergency Food Pantry.
The gardeners host a pot-luck supper annually with dishes made from their produce. (Call Sr. Ann at 816.363.7759)
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