The St. Pius X Parish Community strives to reach out and Christian Service serve those in our parish and in the broader community who are in need. The Commission seeks information on a wide variety of needs. It then sets priorities and coordinates these efforts as best it can. This work is accomplished through various organizations and charitable efforts within our parish community and also with organizations in the Billings community and beyond.
The Christian Service Commission also sponsors educational efforts to improve parishioners' awareness of the social teachings of the Catholic Church. Its members foster a spirituality of peace through justice in our parish.
The Christian Service commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., in the Parish Center. Everyone who shares these goals and objectives are welcome to join.
Contact Person: Reverend Daniel
Wathen @ 656-2522
In the Spring of 1982, with the authorization of the Pastoral Council, St. Pius X
Parish began supporting a "sister parish" in Peru. Nine requests for support were considered by the committee appointed by the Council, and Christo Rey Parish in Piura, Peru, was selected.
During the mid-1980's flooding from heavy rains destroyed the home of the religious sisters of that parish. It was decided at that time that part of our 'tithe' should be used to support the work of the Sisters of Charity in Peru. The sisters are actively ministering in several cities and have a House of Formation for local women seeking to join the order.
Economic conditions remain critical in Peru, and if people are fortunate enough to have employment, wages are only $15-30 per month. The sisters are supported by the Mother House, and take no salary from our tithe. In addition to the severe poverty, the people have endured two devastating floods, a cholera epidemic and terrorist attacks in the eighteen years that we have been supporting the sisters.
The generous contributions of our parishioners make possible this sharing with our very needy brothers and sisters in Christ.
The focus of Outreach Ministry is to reach out to parishioners who are in need of spiritual, physical, or practical assistance. Such assistance includes, but
is not be limited to:
Funeral follow-up families following the death of a loved one.
Provide a grief support group.
Prayer and consultation on medical needs through
the parish nurses.
Hospital visitation of the sick and injured
of the parish.
Home visits with Eucharist to the sick and shut-in parishioners.
Visits to nursing homes and care facilities to bring Eucharist.
Provide temporary light housekeeping and meals for those unable to care for themselves and family members due to illness or injury.
Provide rides to church, doctor appointments, etc., for those unable to drive.
Provide educational programs and resource referrals to parishioners.
This ministry is an extension of the Christian Service Commission.
Contact Person: Mary Carol Rachac @ 656-2522
AIDSpirit is a group whose purpose is to initiate and support ministry activities within the Catholic Church and for all those living with HIV/AIDS and their families and friends.
The second goal of this group is to increase
the awareness and encourage compassion among all people in Montana toward
(HIV/AIDS) of HIV/AIDS those affected by this illness.
Meeting Schedule:
7:00 p.m. - second Tuesday of each month at Holy Rosary Parish House.
Membership Dues: $10 - $15 per year or a donation
Contact Person: Contact the Holy Rosary Parish Center @ 259-7611
Angela’s Piazza is a woman’s drop-in center dedicated to the support, education and empowerment of women. The purpose of this center is to provide open hospitality. The foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, Angela Merici, advised her companions to have their homes be “like a piazza” -
a place to gather where all are welcome and valued for who they are. The aim is to provide a safe, accepting, nurturing environment where women may gather to talk, listen to one another,
thus helping themselves and one another, bringing
healing and empowerment. A few of the programs that are
provided:
Mother Share for Native Americans
A support group for women coming from prison and pre-release as they adjust back into society.
A parenting session, begun in prison, for women in pre-release.
AA for women
Domestic Abuse Support Group
Referral Services are also provided.
Contact: Sisters. Mary Dostal, O.S.U., or Pat Funderhide, O.S.U., @ 255-0611
e mail: mdostal@wtp.net