Through various ministries, the people of St. Joseph serve each other, the surrounding community and the world. We welcome your involvement in these ministries that give us the opportunity "to live Christ."
View the following to learn how we serve God's people, and on how you can lend your talents to a ministry.
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council is a group of people, chosen from and by the parish community, who consult with the pastor to foster and plan parish activity.
Contact: Joe Herro, 414-469-7261 or joeherro@yahoo.com
Finance Council
The Finance Council provides advice and guidance to the Pastor in the administration of parish assets.
Contact: Robbie Allbright, 414-241-1078
Buildings & Grounds Committee
The Buildings and Grounds Committee works with the Finance Council, Business Administrator and maintenance staff to maintain and improve the parish facilities.
Contact: Carol Polivka, 414-379-1616
Endowment Advisory Committee
The Endowment Committee exists to manage the Endowment Fund and to oversee the disbursement of monies for the educational and capital needs of the Parish.
Contact: Tim Taff, timtaff@me.com
Catholic Formation Committee
The committee functions as an advisory body to assist Ministry staff in program development, direction and implementation.
Contact: Larry Barbian, 414-871-7231
St. Joseph’s School Committee
St. Joseph School Committee’s role is to advise, develop, and support policies related to the school.
Contact: Jeremy Blackwood at jblackwoodmu@gmail.com
St. Joseph’s Home and School Association
The committee is responsible for supporting and coordinating volunteer efforts for activities including: Forensics, Oktoberfest, Catholic Schools’ week events, Cookie House, High Interest Day, and numerous other classroom and school wide events.
Contact: Alex Hersey, 414-807-9093 or alexkokolus@aol.com
St. Joseph’s Athletic Association
This organization organizes athletic activities for all St. Joe’s day school and religious education students as well as oversees maintenance and improvements to the Activity Center.
Contact: Athletic Director, Amy Ford, amy.ford8@gmail.com
Prayer and Worship Committee
The Prayer and Worship Committee plans for the different liturgical seasons and special events.
Contact: Suzzanne Silman, 414-771-4626 x104 or silmans@stjoetosa.com
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry at St. Joseph’s offers opportunities for all with musical gifts to become involved including the Adult Choir, Cantors, Instrumentalists and Handbell.
Contact: Dan O’Connor music@stjoetosa.com
Art & Environment
Art & Environment prepares the worship space in and around the Church for the different seasons of the liturgical year.
Contact: Suzzanne Silman, 414-771-4626 x104 or silmans@stjoetosa.com
Altar Servers
Alter Servers assist the priest during weekday and weekend liturgies. Students may train for this ministry at the end of third grade and beyond. High schoolers and adults are also encouraged to participate.
Contact: Audrey Szews, tamjma@gmail.com
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist in the distribution of the Eucharist at Mass. Ministers serve on a volunteer basis at the Mass of their choosing. Volunteers need to be confirmed Catholics who will attend a one-half-hour training session.
Contact: Suzzanne Silman, 414-771-4626 x104 or silmans@stjoetosa.com
Lectors
Lectors volunteer to assist in the Liturgy of the Word by proclaiming the first and second readings and intercessions at weekend and Holy Day Masses. New lectors are provided a brief training prior to their first assigned Mass.
Contact: Ann Marie Wick, 414-213-4902 or amwickmail@yahoo.com
Sacristans
The sacristan prepares what is needed for each Mass and assists with clean-up afterward. Mass time of your choice, training and support provided.
Contact: Suzzanne Silman, 414-771-4626 x104 or silmans@stjoetosa.com
Ushers/Ministers of Hospitality
Ushers, also known as ministers of hospitality, play a vital role in extending hospitality and assistance to parishioners and visitors during Mass.
Contact: David Niles, 414-617-6597 or davidgniles@me.com
Church Cleaning
Church cleaners are responsible for performing light housekeeping duties in the sanctuary, sacristy, balcony, confessional and narthex areas. Training is provided.
Contact: Judy Patin, 262-506-8359
Purificator Washing
Members of this group wash and iron the purificators (linens) in their home.
Contact: Jane Vosters, 262-780-9668 or jvangilder@wi.rr.com
Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee encourages us to care for the possessions that God has given us as a way of giving thanks and sharing the good news with pray, time, talent and treasure within and outside the parish.
Contact: Duane Filtz, 262-993-4858 or dmfiltz1112@att.net
Parish Life Committee
The mission of the Parish Life Committee is to foster and build community among all parish members.
Contact: Jen Murray, 414-331-5936, murrayjm11@gmail.com or Anne Mallinger, 414-202-6796, annemallinger@gmail.com
Human Concerns
The role of this organization is to discern human needs in the community and to identify resources to meet those needs by enlisting the active cooperation of each parish member.
Contact: Karen Bartel, 414-476-9914
Pickup of Day-Old Bakery
The Piggly Wiggly Store Bakery at 124th and North provides day-old bakery that is picked up and delivered by parish members to St. John’s Cathedral Open Door Café where there is a daily lunch program for the less fortunate who are hungry, homeless or otherwise in need.
Contact: Fran Tollefson, 262-786-8276
Bereavement Ministry
The Bereavement Committee works to offer solace to those who have lost a loved one and those working through the grieving process.
Contact: Cathie Papen, 262-789-1752 or Padge Haas, 262-784-5952
Coat Collections for the Needy
From November through March, winter coats and jackets, as well as scarves, hats and gloves, are collected on a clothes rack located in the Welcome Center off the Center Street entrance of the Church. The items should be clean and in good condition. These articles are donated and delivered to those in need.
Contact: Karen Bartel, 414-476-9914
Communion for the Home Bound
Homebound persons wishing to receive Holy Communion can do so by calling the parish office more information.
Food Pantry
Food and/or money are donated every third weekend of the month. The food and money help the needy at Hope House, The House of Peace, St. Rose and St. Hyacinth.
Contact: Russ Luther, 262-782-8328
Foreign Ministry
St. Joseph’s sister parish is St. Peter Claver in Belize. Groups of parishioners travel to Belize annually. Special collections of money and materials are held on an as-needed basis.
Contact: Jim Schwai, 262-782-1343
Outreach
The committee helps with the needs of different groups and distribute funds accordingly to assist local and state organizations for those in need.
Contact: Diane Haase, 262-785-6230.
Repairers of the Breach
This organization is a non-sectarian daytime center for the homeless. Services offered include health care, literacy training, and counseling.
Contact: Anne Thomas, 414-258-9362
Respect Life Committee
This committee works on education, activism, and fundraising to promote an appreciation for all life, as the Catholic Church calls us to do.
Contact: Lynne Herro, 414-469-7260
St. Ben’s Meal Program
Our mission is to help spread God’s abundant love and grace by warming the bodies and souls of the guests of the St. Ben’s Meal Program by providing delicious, homemade casseroles and desserts
Contact: Marilyn Martin, 262-993-6566 or martintoes@aol.com
Sandwich Making
On the second Tuesday of the month following the morning Mass, volunteers gather in the school hall to make sandwiches for the Open Door Cafe at St. John’s Cathedral, which serves the less fortunate who are homeless, hungry or otherwise in need.
Contact: Karen Bartel, 414-476-9914
Tree of Life
Donated gifts are collected at Christmastime and donated to needy families in the Milwaukee Archdiocese in collaboration with Catholic Charities.
Contact: Deb Hamer, 414-778-1280
Go-Getters
The Go-Getters offer senior (60+) parish members the opportunity to gather for service opportunities, fellowship, and fun!
Contact: Diane Haase, 262-785-6230
St. Vincent de Paul
The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Society provides a helping hand to our neighbors in need of support.
If you need assistance, contact Joe Schueller: 414-462-7837, ext. 110.
If you would like more information about St. Joe’s SVDP Conference, contact Joe Schueller at 262-288-4812.
Christian Women
The focus of the Christian Women organization is to promote the spiritual growth of women by fostering fellowship, the enrichment of Christian family life and the service and support of our parish community.
Rummage
The Christian Women Society of St. Joe’s sponsors an annual parish wide Rummage and Perennial Plant Sale in mid-June. The proceeds are used to support the extra needs of St. Joseph Parish. Contact: Fran Tollefson, 262-786-8276