Service

The Altar Guild are volunteers who help clean the church. Volunteers work in teams, once a month, during the day, and schedules are very flexible.  This is an adult ministry that requires physical activity. The Altar Guild is ideal for those with limited time. New members are welcome.

Primary Contact: Sharon Seiler
Phone: 410-465-4483
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: n/a

The Parking Shepherds assist parishioners in parking their cars to maximize everyoneʼs safety while making the most efficient use of the available parking space. Shepherds greet parishioners to reinforce the existing image of a friendly, open parish. If an emergency occurs, they serve as part of the first responder team to guide parishioners.

Volunteer shepherds assist parishioners for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses and holiday Masses. They rotate on a schedule driven by the number of shepherds available - generally one Sunday a month. Shepherds arrive at 9:30 a.m. on their scheduled Sunday and stay until the lot is cleared after the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  

Volunteers over the age of 15 are welcome. This ministry requires standing and walking for half hour increments. This is an ideal opportunity for those with limited time. New volunteers are always welcome.  We are currently seeking a few shepherds so that no one will need to volunteer more than once a month. Training is provided.

Primary Contact: Deacon George Krause
Phone: 410-465-1670
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: Sunday mornings approx. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

We meet on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from May through October to care for the grounds of the cemetery.  We provide general gardening assistance, seek funding for the preservation of the grounds and grave sites, and make arrangements with the appropriate professionals for restoration and repair.

Anyone and everyone can participate in this ministry, even if they cannot do the physical work.  Donations, prayers, and support are much appreciated.  New volunteers are always welcomed, and donations are gratefully accepted to help offset costs of maintenance and renovation as there is no fund for perpetual care of this historic cemetery.  

Physical Requirements:  Volunteers must be able to cross a small, short bridge without rails.  We welcome all levels of gardeners.  We appreciate those with knowledge and expertise in light gardening and also those who can perform more rigorous gardening tasks including climbing steep hills and lifting bags of mulch.  The cemetery is not handicapped accessible.  

Primary Contact: Liz & Betty Larney
Phone: 
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; May - October

St. Paul provides support to the Grassroots organization in Columbia, which provides crisis intervention services, shelter, and transitional housing for the homeless along the Rt. 1 corridor. Each January, St. Paul hosts a Cold Weather Shelter for the homeless in cooperation with Grassroots. This is an extensive undertaking, and many volunteers are needed to provide transportation, food, overnight supervision, and laundry services for the homeless during their stay.

The Cold Weather Shelter Committee meets several times to coordinate efforts as January approaches. Meetings are held in the evening. This is an adult ministry but older children may be included if well supervised by a responsible adult. Physical imitations do not preclude participation. This ministry provides volunteer opportunities for those able to commit time and those with limited time. Volunteers are sought for various tasks beginning in October.

Primary Contact: John Gilbert
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: n/a

The Creation Care “Green” Ministry is dedicated to educating, creating awareness, supporting and motivating St. Paul’s parishioners on environmental issues of relevance within the greater Ellicott City area and, by extension, the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Ministry sponsors a wide-range of activities, extensive partnerships with Community Enviromental Groups and faith-based organizations. The Ministry promotes within St. Paul's Parish a faith-based deep appreciation of the sanctity of Earth and will care and advocate for it through the Ministry’s words and actions.

This Ministry is open to all--from children to seniors!  Times and locations for meetings and events vary throughout the year with most outdoor activities taking place during the Spring through Fall seasons.

Primary Contact: John Gilbert
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: yes
Meets on: varies

St. Paul provides support to the Grassroots organization in Columbia, which provides crisis intervention services, shelter, and transitional housing for the homeless along the Rt. 1 corridor. 

Primary Contact: John Gilbert
Phone: 443-583-9650
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: n/a

The Grief Ministry conducts an active outreach program for those grieving the loss of a loved one. The bereaved receive a letter every month for a year with helpful information about understanding grief. Accepting the New Reality is a monthly grief support group conducted by ministry facilitators. The meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month and at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the 2nd floor lounge in Dohony Hall.  This schedule is subject to change in the summer and around holidays.  

Due to the emotional nature of grieving, this is an adult ministry.  However, it is ideal for those with limited time or physical limitations.  New members are welcome.

Primary Contact: Deacon Joe Knepper
Phone: 
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: Wednesday; morning and evening; twice a month

The Knights of Columbus, Saint Agnes Council conducts programs in six service areas, which include family, community, pro-life, youth, council, and church. The Round Tables at both St. Paul and St. Agnes parishes work to support the parish priests. The pastor of each church notifies the members of the Round Table of needs for assistance to improve the church appearance, raise funds, or get information out to the community. The Knights of the St. Agnes Council meets on the first Monday of each month for its business meeting and the third Monday of each month for its open meetings. Members with physical limitations and limited time are welcome. Membership is exclusive to Catholic men.

Primary Contact: Chris Rotunda
Phone: 410-336-8173
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: n/a

The Legion of Mary is an international organization of Catholics who gather to pray and conduct works of service. Founded in Ireland in 1921, there are now over three million members. Members attend weekly meetings, do a minimum of two hours of apostolic work each week, and recite the Legion prayer daily.

Meetings are held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish office conference room. This is an adult ministry. Members are required to be practicing Catholics.

Primary Contact: Ella O'Colman
Phone: 410-
Email: n/a
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: Saturday mornings 10:00 a.m.

My Sister's Place Lodge, an outreach of Catholic Charities, is located in Baltimore City and houses formerly homeless women who have been diagnosed with mental illness. On the second Sunday of each month, volunteers bring an “old fashioned Sunday night dinner” for approximately 32-38 women who reside at the Lodge. Members prepare a complete meal in advance, which consists of a main dish, salad, bread, and dessert.  The norm is for three volunteers/families to prepare the monthly meal.  

Volunteers depart from St. Paul’s parking lot at 4:30 p.m., have dinner on the table at 5:30 p.m., and return to Ellicott City by 7:00 p.m. Volunteers donate and prepare the meals and dine with the residents.  There are no regularly scheduled meetings for this ministry.  Volunteers should be age 14 or older; there are no physical limitations. This ministry is ideal for someone with limited time:  you can help once, twice, or three times A YEAR.  All are welcome!

Primary Contact: Kellie Morstein
Phone: 410-461-1938
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: E-mail and phone are primary means of contact

St. Paul offers a nurturing and fun environment to care for children ages 1 to 5 years old while parents enjoy the 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Masses. Parents with infants and younger children are welcome to stay in the Nursery and watch Mass by way of closed circuit television.
There are no regular meetings. Volunteers must be 12 years old or older and registered on Shield the Vulnerable through the Archdiocese of Baltimore before helping in the nursery. The nursery is not handicapped accessible.

Primary Contact: Julie Palozzi
Phone: 
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: 
Meets on: During Sunday Mass

The Pastoral Council is an advisory body; a ministry of shared responsibility with the pastor to provide direction and advice through a centralized leadership forum. The purpose of the council is to further the development of a Christian community by advising and assisting the pastor in matters relating to the overall function of the parish to fulfill its mission.

The council members serve as a channel of communication through which questions, insights, views, and plans of and for the parish may be exchanged between parishioners, the pastoral council and our pastor. The councilʼs efforts are focused on enabling our parishioners to grow in faith and to maximize involvement in vibrant committees directly supporting St. Paul's mission, vision and values.

The Pastoral Council meets monthly in the evening from September through June. Participation requires one serve on various subcommittees between meetings. The commitment required in this ministry is not ideal for those with limited time. This is an adult ministry. Physical limitations do not preclude participation. Pastoral Council members must apply for open seats on the council and be elected by the parishioners at an annual election. Seats are held for a maximum of four years.

Primary Contact: Chris Childres
Email: [email protected]
Meets: monthly 

The Pastoral Ministry has two volunteer opportunities. Pastoral visits to assisted living and dementia communities and pastoral visits to the sick in which Eucharistic Ministers bring communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass due to illness.

On pastoral visits to the residents in assisted living facilities, the Pastoral Associate and volunteers pray with and bring communion to the communities on a regular schedule. Communion services, praying the Rosary and individual visits remind the residents that they are a special part of our church family.

Pastoral visits to parishioners who are homebound or incapacitated due to a short or long term illness are made during the day or evening. Volunteers do not meet regularly as a group. This is an adult ministry which welcomes parishioners with physical limitations. The flexibility of a visiting schedule makes this ministry ideal for those with limited time. Volunteers are selected based on their interaction skills with the elderly and their ability to meet the requirements of Eucharistic Ministers.

Pastoral visits to the sick are conducted by parishioners who minister to fellow parishioners by visiting them when sick and homebound. They take communion to those who are unable to attend Mass on a short or long-term basis.

Pastoral visitors to the sick get together semiannually for a morning of prayer and training. This is an adult ministry which requires visits to personal residences that may not be handicapped accessible. There is flexibility in setting a time to visit, so it is a ministry for those with busy schedules.

Primary Contact: Deacon George Krause
Phone: 410-465-1670, ext. 17
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: n/a

St. Paul and Church of the Resurrection have combined efforts to serve the poor and needy, this is a wonderful opportunity for families to volunteer together.

St. Vincent de Paul

Primary Contact: Peggy Nieberding
Phone: 410-645-4018
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: as needed

The tabulators meet weekly to count the money from weekly collections. They begin a detailed accounting of all the collections. It is not all work, as the tabulators enjoy a special camaraderie.

This is a ministry which requires the ability to navigate stairs. Volunteers must be able to commit several hours per week.  There are a limited number of tabulators needed and a detailed background review is required for participation.

Primary Contact: Gloria Baer
Phone: 410-465-1670
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: 
Meets on: weekly

Ushers assist parishioners find a place to sit, especially during crowded Masses. They also take up the weekly parishioner collection during Mass. After Mass, ushers distribute bulletins at church exits. They also serve as a resource to our parishioners and visitors for information about the parish, the facility and, should an emergency occur, they assist the first responders.

Volunteers are trained before and during a Mass. There are no regularly scheduled meetings. Ushers report to the head usher at Mass for assignments. This is an adult ministry for those with the physical ability to navigate the church and pass the collection basket. It is ideal for those with limited time. New volunteers are welcome.

Primary Contact: Ken Rizzo
Phone: 410-750-6237
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: Yes
Meets on: 

The Welcome Committee sends out Welcome Packets to all new members, answers questions from new members and ensures new members are entered in the church's database.

Primary Contact: Maria Grove
Phone: 410-465-1670 ext. 10
Email: [email protected]
Volunteers Needed: 3
Meets on: Volunteers in the office as needed