Saint Charles is a vibrant community involved in serving the poor.  A variety of programs and social activities are available to facilitate your involvement in parish life.  You and your family are invited to participate in any or all of these programs, either as volunteers or as recipients of programs.  Non-Catholic spouses and friends are always welcome to participate in Social Ministries activities.

     If you have any questions about Social Ministries or would like to volunteer, please contact Margaret Phipps.

CLICK HERE to visit the Catholic Alliance web site (opens a new window)

St. Charles - McAuley Free Clinic
    The St. Charles - McAuley Free Clinic serves the parish and the community by providing free health care to people without health insurance.  Volunteer lab technicians, nurses, office workers, pharmacists and physicians staff the clinic.  Patients may be referred to other physicians in our community for care not provided by the clinic.  Referral physicians are volunteers or work at very low cost.  Some patients may be able to get their medications free at the clinic.  Programs such as diabetes education and consultation on dietary needs are provided to patients.  For more information about the clinic or to volunteer your time and talents, please visit the St. Charles -  McAuley clinic page.

Blood Drive
     We at Saint Charles sponsor quarterly Sunday Blood Drives.  If you are able to donate blood, watch the calendar and the bulletin for the dates of the blood drives.  Because of our donors, the Blood Bank offers up to 100 units of blood reimbursement available to the members of our parish and their tax dependants.  If you wish to utilize this, contact the Oklahoma Blood Institute at 405-232-0670 or visit their web site at www.obi.org.

Coffee and Donuts
     Between Mass Social with Coffee and Donuts - Each Sunday during the school year between the 8:30 and 11:00 am masses, come over to Beckman Hall.  Here you will have a comfortable place to rest, visit and enjoy light refreshments.  You can visit with old friends, make new friends and together enjoy something to eat and drink.

Holiday Programs
     We do more than just Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, we also provide children with necessary items for returning to school.  We provide food baskets during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and include gifts for children at Christmas.  The names of people we serve come from our Pastoral Team, teachers in our school and volunteers in our outreach ministries.  We need people to purchase food and gifts, donate time for organizing, help prepare baskets, wrap gifts and, of course, deliver the food and/or gifts.

Mobile Meals
     We prepare and deliver hot nutritious meals every Friday to the frail elderly in our area, thereby helping them continue to reside in their homes.  Other area churches similarly commit to providing this service one day a week.  The suggested donation for the food is $1.00; we do not require a donation here at Saint Charles.  Please note that there is often a waiting list for this service.  If you wish to be considered for this program, contact the church office as soon as possible.  If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, or have other needs relating to being elderly, contact the Eldercare Access Center at 405-946-3388.

Dorothy Day Center (formerly Northwest Food Pantry)
The Dorothy Day Center is a dream realized.  Dedicated in November, 2005 by Archbishop Beltran, the 2,000 square foot building is east of the church and next to the white frame Catherine McCauley Free Health Clinic. The center is named for Doroty Day (1897-1980), a journalist and social activist who founded the Catholic Worker movement an d consecrated her life to serving the poor. Visit the Dorothy Day Center web site at  www.thedorothydaycenter.com

RAIN Team
     RAIN stands for Regional AIDS Interfaith Network - Team members act as extended families to people with AIDS, assist them with patient needs, take patients to their medical appointments and befriend them.  This project helps bridge the gap of fear and judgment sometimes directed towards AIDS patients.

Parish Activities
     The primary goal of this group is to ensure that everyone feels welcome and a part of this community.  The group plans all the parish parties and occasions for celebration.  They decorate and make sure that parish events are the best they can be.  Activities are planned for all age groups.  We are always seeking genial and fun-loving people, who like to be where the action is.  Check the parish calendar for upcoming events.

Sewing Ministry
     This group creates baby and infant clothing, blankets for Birthright and hospital gowns for the handicapped and helps with special needs of individuals.  Although some Sewing Ministry members work at home, most come together on Wednesdays for a few hours of working together.

Saint Vincent DePaul Society
     This is a group of lay people who have joined together to grow spiritually by offering assistance to the needy and suffering.  We assist people who live within our parish boundaries and help them with their material needs, while recognizing that they have spiritual and other needs as well.  People asking for help are sometimes directed to other sources that might be able to give them more permanent help, if needed.  The parish supports the St. Vincent de Paul Society through the poor boxes.  Contact the Society's pager at 405-530-0300 if you have questions about the Society or if you wish to speak to a Society member about assistance.  All calls are anonymous and confidential.  If you have an interest in any of these services areas, please contact Margaret Phipps at the parish office, or via e-mail.

Copyright ©2008 St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Last Updated  Wednesday January 23, 2008