Parish Outreach

Sister Mary Ellen Genova, CSFN oversees the outreach ministries at St. Rose, referring inquiries and requests to the appropriate ministry directors. Sister Mary Ellen makes regular hospital and nursing home visits, brings the Eucharist to shut-ins, works with the sick, dying, bereaved, home-hospice patients and their families and offers her time in counseling. We also offer monthly Mass at local assisted living and nursing facilities for their Catholic residents. 

If you are looking for information on how to access any of the good works of our Parish Outreach ministries, please contact Sister Mary Ellen.

Friendly Visitors is a volunteer opportunity to offer companionship and moral support to the elderly or those isolated by illness or infirmity. 

Monthly visits encourage communication that helps the Friendly Visitor and friend strengthen their relationship and provides the friend a sense of community.  It is a special way to contribute to the community and enrich the quality of life of oneself and the friend.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer as a Friendly Visitor must be Virtus trained; please go to Volunteer at St. Rose for more information.

For more information, please contact Sister Mary Ellen Genova at 203-426-2572 or Mariotte Corson. 

Upon the passing of a St. Rose parishioner, we request that the family make an appointment with Sister Mary Ellen Genova for funeral Mass planning and bereavement counseling. Sister Mary Ellen is available Monday through Thursday during Rectory business hours.

Provide a hot meal for fellow parishioners who are going through a difficult time. Volunteers are asked to provide a meal of their choice for a fellow family who may be struggling with a chronic illness or a family emergency. The volunteer prepares and delivers the meal with thoughts and prayers for the receiving family.

The St. Rose Parish Health Ministry supports the Church's mission to help those in need of physical healing and seeks to nurture holistic health (mind, body, spirit) of our Parish community.  Our Nurse Ministry supports the of promotion wellness and prevention of illness through the roles of health educator, counselor and as a source of referral to greater community services and resources.

Please contact our Parish Nurse should you need assistance of this kind.

Health Council

The Health Council is comprised of individuals, both medical and non-medical, that are concerned about the health and wellness of our parishioners.

Meetings: As scheduled

Time: 7:00 - 8:00PM

Place: Rectory Conference Room

If you or a family member are home-bound, in a short-term care facility (such as rehabilitation or nursing home), a hospital or in hospice care and would like to receive Communion, please schedule a pastoral visit (Communion Call). 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is comprised of women of the parish who prayerfully hand knit or crochet beautiful shawls which are given to the members of St. Rose who are sick, grieving or lonely.

Meetings: Second Tuesday, September to November and February to May

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Holy Innocents

We are concerned with the social needs among our parishioners and community. We offer ongoing support to help provide for the earthly needs of individuals in distress. We also are a seed organization, a catalyst for other complementary organizations and events that address local secular problems.

We also offer:

The St. Rose Cares Box can always be found in the the back of the Church. Identification of those in need is important: if you have a need or know of someone who does, please drop a brief note into the Cares Box. All information is completely confidential.

Religious Articles are for sale in the vestibule every third weekend of the month. We also accept purchase requests.

Parishioner to Parishioner: If you have something you'd like to give away to a fellow parishioner, please let us know and we will post it in the bulletin. If you are interested in an available item, you can make arrangements to pick it up.

Committee Meetings: First Tuesday of every month (except July and August) 

Time: 11:30 AM

Location: Holy Innocents Building

You can contact Lynda at the above email or Charlene at premium82@aol.com.

The Saint Joseph Project exists to support the parish's ministry to those in need with respect to housing issues.  The Saint Joseph Project will work continuously to raise funds in support of its mission.

This ministry is for St. Rose parishioners who, because of job loss, illness or other unexpected emergency, need assistance paying their rent or mortgage. The committee meets quarterly or as need, and all requests and information is kept strictly confidential.

If you would like to help our ministry, please leave your donations in the house-shaped collection box in the back of the church or in the sanctuary on the fourth Sunday of each month.

If you or someone you know, who is a parishioner of St. Rose Parish, is in need of housing assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can contact Terri or Sister Mary Ellen Genova.

Read about The Year of St. Joseph:

Year of St Joseph

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord and He will repay them for his deeds. Proverbs 19:17

The Welcome Ministry is here to support all newly registered parishioners as they transition to and make connections within our parish community. We offer information and resources for events and people at St. Rose Parish as well as the greater community of Newtown.

The ministry can be reached via phone or email to Marci Mitchell. If you prefer, a member of our ministry can meet you for coffee and Q&A. We also offer a St. Rose Parish Welcome Packet that includes a compilation of information and resources useful to new parishioners.

Please join us as a volunteer! If you are interested, we welcome you! Please contact Marci Mitchell