Outreach and Service
Alzheimer's Respite Ministry - The Alzheimer’s Respite Ministry is for individuals with early to moderate Alzheimer’s. Our dedicated volunteers will fill the need for prayer, friendship and socialization, realizing that meaningful relationships remain possible through all stages of Alzheimer’s. The ministry also provides the all-important need for respite to caregivers while providing their loved ones the opportunity to socialize through prayer, crafts, music and shared memories. For a short video highlighting our sessions, click here.
For a registration form, click here.
Angels and Sparrows - Angels and Sparrows is a soup kitchen in Huntersville. They are open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 1:30. They believe ALL people deserve access to a nutritious meal and that it should be served in an environment that respects the dignity of the individual. The atmosphere is vibrant and filled with laughter, conversation and smiles. Our volunteers cook in the kitchen and work in the dining room serving lunch and beverages. If you like to cook and/or make someone’s day with a warm meal and a smile, please consider volunteering at Angels and Sparrows. There are also opportunities to volunteer by picking up food during the day from area grocers and delivering it to Angels and Sparrows. For more information, contact Garland Jackson at gljacksonjr33@yahoo.com.
Bulletin Team - Creates and publishes the Church bulletin weekly. For more information on the Bulletin or volunteering, visit www.stmarknc.org/Bulletin.
Catholic Charities - Saint Mark partners with Catholic Charities to support its program which provides furniture and houseware items for families in need. We thank the many parishioners and volunteers who have helped with the donation and collection of furniture and household items. For additional information on donating or volunteering, visit www.stmarknc.org/catholic-charities.
Christmas Giving Tree - Our Giving Tree program continues to be a huge success with the love and support of our St. Mark community. We currently support the needs of four local schools, (Blythe, Huntersville, Torrence Creek, Long Creek) four local nursing homes (Old Knox Commons, The Oaks Nursing Home, The Havens, Autumn Care), Mira Via, Little Smiles, ARC, Children’s Hope Alliance, Hope House and our St. Mark families in need. Each year we have been able to bring Christmas to more than 1,000 people. If you have any questions please contact Michelle Potuzak at michelle.potuzak@yahoo.com or go to www.stmarknc.org/christmas-giving-tree.
Coat, Blanket, and Toy Drive - The Coat. Blanket and Toy Drive collects gently used items in October and distributes them to those in need at Saint Mark. For more information, go to www.stmarknc.org/coatblankettoy.
Faith Community Nursing - Provides nursing care to the parish. Contact: KC Shinners, nccnms1@yahoo.com, 704-458-8783
Food Pantry - Collection is a year-round collection of non-perishable food items. Donations can be placed in the wooden bin in the Church Narthex. Donations are collected weekly and taken to 4 different pantries in the area. Contact: KC Shinners, nccnms1@yahoo.com, 704-458-8783
Grounds Ministry- This ministry provides the opportunity to Serve one Another and encourage Growth in Christ with no set schedule for working on the grounds, no regular meetings, and the ability to work outside. Everyone can work according to their own schedules, any time or day. The work is relatively easy, it's outside, and can rack up a lot of service hours pretty quickly. Those interested in volunteering with the Gardening and Grounds Ministry should contact Debbie Hains at debbiehains@gmail.com. Habitat for Humanity - Work with Our Towns Habitat for Humanity building houses for the needy. Dates and times vary. Ages 16 - Adult.
Hispanic Ministry - Works with all aspects of the Hispanic Community. For more information visit www.stmarknc.org/hispano.
Hope House - Hope House gives hope to women and children in our community who are transitionally homeless in our community. Contact: Joan Lesch, 704-464-1409, joanlesch@yahoo.com. Or for more information, visit www.stmarknc.org/hope-house.
Knights of Columbus - Men's Fraternal Order dedicated to the service of the church, youth, families and community. www.stmarknc.org/koc
Knights of Columbus Ladies’ Auxiliary - Women's group dedicated to support and assist the KOC. www.stmarknc.org/knights-of-columbus---ladies-auxiliary
Lake Norman Community Health Clinic - St. Mark assists at a free health clinic in Huntersville. Nurses, Doctors, Interpreters, Office Assistants are needed. Contact: Janet Urban, jgraceart@yahoo.com, 704-236-7475
Meal Packaging - Package meals during a parish-wide event to be distributed overseas to those in need. Next date TBD.
MiraVia - Help support mothers and their babies at the Belmont and Charlotte locations. Contact: Stephanie Panizza, yankee2south@aol.com
Nourish Up (former Loaves & Fishes) Food Pantry - Saint Mark has partnered with Huntersville United Methodist Church to support the Loaves and Fishes ministry which feeds the hungry in our community. Contact: Beth Zuhosky, beth@zuhosky.com
Parking Team - Ages 18 and older help with keeping our parishioners safe in the parking lot before and after the 9 am and 11 am Masses and for special events. Contact Keith Cosby at mkcosby@gmail.com or go to www.stmarknc.org/parking-team.
Prayer Shawl Ministry - This is a group of dedicated ladies at St Mark who meet twice a month to pray and fellowship together as we knit and crochet prayer shawls for those suffering through a time of transition, crisis or need. Our shawls go to the Levine & Dickson Hospice Houses in Huntersville and in Charlotte, Rachel's Vineyard Retreat and Parish members. The group also makes baby blankets that go to area NICUs and Mira Via. You can assist this Ministry by becoming a member and sharing your talents with us, donating yarn or making a monetary donation to aid in the purchase of yarn, For more information, contact Liz Hoegler at jlhoegler@gmail.com.
Respect Life Ministry - The Respect Life Ministry is focused on promoting the culture of life from conception to natural death at St. Mark and in Huntersville. Through our various activities and projects we encourage parishioners to become engaged in the efforts to protect life and marriage and to study the Church's beautiful teachings on marriage, children, and the dignity of the human person. Therefore, we oppose abortion, euthanasia, contraception, and same sex unions and embrace the Church's perennial teachings on life and marriage. For additional information, go to
www.stmarknc.org/respect-life.
Roof Above (Men's Shelter of Charlotte) - The Roof Above program (Formerly the Men's Shelter of Charlotte) works to end homelessness in Charlotte. We serve meals monthly, and help with lunch program. On the second Wednesday of every month St. Mark parishioners prepare, cook and serve dinner to the residents of the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte located at 1210 North Tryon street in Charlotte. We usually arrive around 4:00 pm to prepare the meal and serve promptly at 6:00 lasting until around 7:30. The residents cleanup so we can leave right after. We typically serve around 125 gentlemen. Contact: Carol Palillo, cpalillo1@gmail.com, (704) 363-4128
Room in the Inn - The Room in the Inn (RITI) Ministry provides meals and overnight accommodations in the Parish Hall on Thursday nights from December to March. You can support this Ministry with financial or physical donations, and by volunteering. Volunteers are needed to provide hot meals for dinner, setup and serving, cleaning up in the morning, and driving neighbors to and from Urban Ministries. For more information and signup link, go to www.stmarknc.org/RITI.
Rosary Makers Ministry (Our Lady Undoer of Knots) - Did you know that here at St. Mark we have a ministry devoted to making Rosaries for those making First Communion, Confirmation, and for those being Baptized? We also send Rosaries to other places that are in need. What a beautiful way to share our talent while evangelizing the Rosary. Everyone is welcome! Whether you are a beginner (We will teach you) or someone who has been making Rosaries for years, we need you! So, if you enjoy making things with your hands and have devotion to the Blessed Mother, and the Rosary please consider becoming part of this ministry. If you have any questions or if you know anyone in need of a Rosary, please contact Sharon Torczynski at rosaryblessing@aol.com. Meetings are held once a month on the last Saturday of the month at 10 AM, following the 9 AM Mass, in Room 204.
Stephen Ministry - Stephen Ministry is part of a national organization designed to train volunteers to walk alongside someone going through a life crisis while offering emotional and spiritual Christ-centered care. Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of parish members — called Stephen Ministers — to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the parish and the community experiencing life difficulties. For more information, go to www.stmarknc.org/stephen-ministry.
Thanksgiving Food Drive - The Thanksgiving Food Drive is responsible for organizing and delivering food and grocery cards to families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday season. Items to be collected include boxed potatoes, canned yams, rice and beans, stuffing, gravy, canned vegetables and fruit, and dessert mixes. Grocery Store gift cards are also needed. For more information visit www.stmarknc.org/Thanksgiving.
Walking with Moms in Need - Walking with Moms in Need is a ministry that looks to better serve pregnant and parenting women facing difficulties in our local community. This includes providing various kinds of support, including providing diapers and wipes. Collections will be held for this effort. For more information, email stmarkwalkwmoms@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.walkingwithmoms.com.