Ministries - Community

​If you would like to volunteer for any of these ministries, you will need to complete a Volunteer Registration which is part of our Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults strategy.

The volunteer registration can now be completed online using The Welcome Portal which can be accessed via http://archbne.org/welcome.  This will eliminate the need for up to ten documents to be completed.  If you have any questions about this process, please contact the parish office.
BREAD DELIVERY GROUP
Once a week a St Vincent de Paul group and a Parish group, collect bread donated by local bakeries, which is unsold at the end of the day. They deliver it to parish families in need, who are grateful for this help.​​
Contact: Parish Office ph: 3356 7155
CARE & CONCERN
Care and concern is a group made up of volunteers who assist in the areas of:
  • Visit new Parishioners to welcome and inform them what is available in the Parish…
  • Refreshments after funerals services if requested by the family…
  • Organise morning tea on the first Friday of each month after Mass…
  • Send notes of congratulations to those who have been baptized in the previous month…
  • Send a condolence note to the family of those recently buried from the Parish.

​Contact: Maria Curry through the Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
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This is a cooperative alliance between churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, trade unions and other community groups (SVDP, Salvoes, etc). Its purpose is to empower the ordinary citizen in lobbying government to achieve a response to real needs in the wider community. It seeks to redress the balance of Government, Business and Civic Society which is essential for a healthy democracy.

Stafford Parish is part of a vanguard in North Brisbane and is in partnership with the Archdiocesan Community Alliance Team who in turn is part of the wider Queensland Community Alliance. We have recently had success in lobbying for subsidised Public Hospital Parking for those suffering financial hardship and/or long-term sickness in their families.

The Social Justice Group sponsors the Alliance in Stafford. (See “Social Justice Group” below).
​
Contact: Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
ECUMENICAL GROUP
​While our lady Queen of Apostles parish has been an active ecumenical parish for many years, there is limited activity at present. A Covenant of Prayer continues between us and it is good to see our parish support for particular events. Every year on the first Friday of March, we gather in different congregations’ churches to pray together with Christians throughout the world on the “World Day of Prayer”. Some of our Parishioners join in the
preparation for this event. Ownership of joint church ventures is not easy and individual involvement is in short supply. Your prayers are invited for the future. Contact: Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
ENVIRONMENT GROUP
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​Our planet is suffering because of wastage of resources, lack of care for our plants and animals, and a disassociation of people from the planet. Our Environment Group tries to put Pope Francis’ document,, “Laudato Si’” (https://thejesuitpost.org/2015/06/anoverview-of-laudato-si/) into action by auditing our parish’s use of resources, educating people and suggesting ways in which we can be more environmentally responsible.   Contact the Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
FAMILY GROUPS
​Family Groups consist of eight to twelve families, who come together monthly for social activities. The groups consist of a cross section of ages, from new babies to grandparents, and different family structures, for example, parents and children, couples without children, single parent families, widows, widowers and single people.

The aims of the Family Group Movement are to:
  • Get to know other members of the parish.
  • Support each other, sharing each other’s joys and sorrows and so build a Christian Community as in the early church.
  • Involve our children in our Christian sharing directly, if possible. If not, then indirectly by our example.
Each group has many activities at minimal cost.
​
Contact Maria via Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL
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PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
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RELIGIOUS GOODS STORE
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The parish operates a stall for the sale of pious items. A range of goods are available such as Holy Pictures, Cards, Rosary Beads, Medals, Crosses and chains, Mass Books, Candles, Gift items and more. This stall is outside the Church and operates prior to and following each of our weekend Masses for a short while.

You are welcome to order articles from several catalogues and we now have the facility to pay by Credit Card. (Sorry – no cash out).​ 
​Contact Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
The Social Justice Group endeavours :
  • To bring social justice issues before the parish so that parishioners can think about and respond to such issues.
  • To broaden our thinking of social justice issues in our world.
  • To place ideas about current social justice issues in front of parishioners.
  • Examples of recent activities include:
    ~ Swags initiative which raised a considerable amount of money.
    ~ Help fundraise for the fight against Human Trafficking
    ~ Flood response in January and February 2011
    ~ Promotion of websites containing social justice issues which provide parishioners the opportunity
        to get involved in such issues.
    ~ Promoting the Queensland Community Alliance
    ~ Sponsoring a Fair Trade shop for people buying Christmas presents.
  • Parishioners are generally asked to contact the office if they would like to contribute to or be part of an initiative.
  • There are currently around 10 members in the Social Justice group
  • New members are always welcome to join.
  • The Group meets monthly
  • The Social Justice group tries to have Lenten and Advent projects, during these times we promote certain charities (such as Caritas) and encourage parishioners to think about how they can contribute.

Contact: Mary through the Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
SOCIETY OF
​ST VINCENT DE PAUL
The society of St Vincent de Paul is a group of parishioners who represent the society at a local level to assist with helping those in need in the Stafford area. Members meet every 2nd Monday at 4.00pm.

Vincentians, through the generous support of parishioners, help Families and individuals in need of financial support for food and essential utilities. They also provide advice on budgeting as well advocacy on social justice issues. On a wider scale, other activities including; hospital and hostel visitation and the provision of youth and other services.

Our main mission is the development of our own spirituality through prayer and visitation and to see the face of Jesus in the people that we are called to see. Contact Members through the Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
TEAMS
Teams are groups of four to seven couples that learn together to help each other bring Christ to their marriages and ultimately every phase of their lives. A team meets to share prayers, a simple meal, their life stories and events, their attempts (and often their failures) to grow together as a couple in union with God through
discussion and sometimes sharing their material goods and skills. 
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Contact: Maria via Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
WELCOME
New Parishioners are invited to collect a “Welcome Pack” in the holders at the doorway of the church. It contains an invitation to complete a census form so that we can get to know you. You are also invited to share with all the other parishioners in paying for the expenses of the parish by joining our Thanksgiving Programme (this, liturgically, is symbolised by the Bread and Wine brought forward at the “offertory” or “Preparation of the Gifts” time at Mass). Included in the pack is also information about how we safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults - Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults strategy.

All these forms can be found on our website by clicking on the appropriate links indicated above. Should you wish your new home (if you’ve moved into our area) to be blessed, please see Fr Denis or contact the office to arrange a suitable time. If we can do anything else for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. Otherwise, a parishioner will make contact to discuss with you what the Parish has to offer and to ascertain any specific needs you may have.

​Parishioners are encouraged to be greeters before and after Masses, being conscious of people who may be new or alone.

Contact: Parish Office Ph: 3356 7155
SEE ALSO:  Parish Schools and Childcare