Sharing Our Gifts to Make a Difference

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“For it is in giving that we receive.”

— ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Below is an alphabetized list of St. Joseph’s active service groups. We invite you to call the Parish Office at 515-266-2226 for contact information on the service group that best matches your time, talents, and treasures. Although certain groups at St. Joseph’s that meet primarily for prayer or fellowship are not listed, the Parish Office is happy to help connect you to those opportunities.

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS

Catholic Daughters of the Americas strive to embrace the principles of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all mankind. The Des Moines chapter meets on the third Saturday of the month for Rosary, Mass, brunch, and the chapter meeting.

COFFEE & DONUTS MINISTRY

Coffee and donuts are served in the Parish Center after both Sunday Masses throughout the year. The coordinator schedules various committees and groups to host on a rotating basis, and ensures inventory of needed supplies. The hosting group arranges the refreshments, provides hospitality to guests, and cleans up when fellowship time ends.

CONNECTION CAFE

The Connection Cafe serves lunch five days a week to homeless and low-income individuals and families in downtown Des Moines. Once a month, St. Joseph Parish requests food donations, prepares the meal on campus, and serves the meal at the official location downtown.

FUNERAL DINNERS

This hospitality committee has a long history at St. Joseph. For every funeral held in the church, members plan, prepare, and serve the meal for our funeral guests. The group also meets for a fellowship lunch on the last Wednesday of the month.

HOMEBOUND MINISTRY

Through this ministry, St. Joseph Parish brings the holy gift of the Eucharist—on a temporary or permanent basis—to the homebound, shut-ins, those in nursing homes or hospice, and anyone else who cannot journey to Mass. We do depend on our parishioners to keep us informed of those in need of this ministry; please call the Parish Office at 515-266-2226.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Founded in 1882 in Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization that serves the Church through its founding principles of unity, charity, fraternity, and patriotism. St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Council #10980 is dedicated to supporting the sick, the disabled, and the needy of our community through financial and other assistance. If you’d like to be part of an international organization of nearly 2 million Catholic men whose principal work involves helping others in need, our parish Knights invite you to join their force! Email St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus Council.

RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE

The Respect Life Committee seeks to illuminate all aspects of the global Church’s culture of life, from conception through natural death. Members meet regularly to discuss life issues and raise awareness through local service projects.

ROSARY SOCIETY

St. Joseph’s Rosary Society, a local chapter of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, promotes devotion to our Blessed Mother through prayer and good works. Its major fundraising projects—bake sale, garage sale, and craft & vendor fair—provide financial support for many of the church’s priority projects. Members meet on the third Thursday of the month.

ST. MONICA GROUP

This new prayer group will begin meeting in the chapel on Saturday, October 23, at 9am. We will begin by reading through the book Return, by Brandon Vogt. Our focus will be praying our kids, family, and friends back into the Church!

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

St. Joseph’s chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul unites men and women to grow spiritually by witnessing God’s love through local works of charity and justice for the needy and suffering. St. Joseph’s Vincentians meet regularly for fellowship and project planning.