PK-12th grade Catechist

Teach with a partner, all materials, curriculum and training provide

• To teach grades PK-K contact Mary S

• To teach grades 1-5 contact Jackie

• To teach grades 6-8 contact Abby

• To teach grades 9-12 contact Tom

Teen Assistant (PK-6th Grade classrooms)

You must be in 8th-12th Grade to be a Teen Assistant. Your registration fee will be waived.

• To assist with grades PK-K contact Mary S

• To assist with grades 1-5 contact Jackie

• To assist with grades 6-8 contact Abby

Adult Faith Formation Facilitator

In adult faith there are many varied styles of groups and studies. Support is provided, training is provided as needed.   Contact:  Patty Mayer

Youth Ministry Leaders

Contact: Randy Henderson

Homemade items give a personal touch!

Baptism Bibs

A group of volunteers embroider white garment bibs placed over infants at Baptism.  The group does not meet together, everyone works on their own.  All of your supplies are provided. Contact: Janice Fleming, 515/554-0750 (bibs) or Vicki Kolbinger, 515/865-1746 (stoles)

Knit 1, Purl 2

Do you knit or crochet? If so, please join in making knitted and crocheted items for charity. There are no dues and no formal meetings, just a group of people with a common purpose to use their time and talents to benefit those in need. The need for items keeps increasing and we welcome new members to the group. All skill levels are welcome. Bring whatever project you are working on for an afternoon of sharing and conversation. Patterns and yarn are available for charity projects. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm in Room 11 at OLIH or you can join us for a lunch meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month. We rotate restaurants each month.
Contact: Vicki Woodward, (515) 210-3797 for lunch group and Vicki Kolbinger for church group

Monthly Projects--If you are unable to join us, you can still help out!

Below are easy ways to make a difference without a commitment

Blood Donation

OLIH Hosts LifeServe blood drives five times per year.  Go online to find our next blood drive and even schedule your appointment now

“Food Pantry Weekend”

You can go online or visit the virtual OLIH Food Pantry to help in the efforts to relieve hunger in our community.

Normally on the last weekend of the month, baskets are passed at all Masses with slips of paper listing items needed by the Food Pantry. The following weekend, shopping baskets are placed in the gathering space to collect the items. The following week items are loaded into private vehicles and taken to the Des Moines Area Religious Council’s (DMARC) Food Pantry for distribution. Contact: Mike Black

“Kathy’s Chair”

In the parish office there is a chair where you can conveniently drop off small household items and toiletries for various Catholic Charities programs – including St Joseph’s Emergency Shelter and the Refugee Resettlement Program.

To find out what items are most in need, or to arrange for pick-up of larger household items check out the Catholic Charities website Contact: Kathy Avey or 964-0359

Rummage Sale

Normally this is held on one of the later weekends in July.Not only are items in clean, workable condition needed but so is help with setting up, pricing, staging, hauling and cleaning up.  Watch the bulletin and Parish Events in early summer for information on dropping off items for this sale.   Contact: Office, 515/964-3038

St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Truck

SVdP has a truck parked in the north parking lot where parishioners can drop off clean, gently used goods. An attendant is on hand to help you with your drop-off items. Donations are only taken on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. 

As an alternative, you may drop off items at the St Vincent de Paul Store, 1426 6th Ave, DSM or call 515/28208327 for free pick up.

  If you would like a receipt for your donation, there is a clipboard inside the truck box or stop by the front office.  Learn more

For Faith Formation Support Volunteers: All fees are waived for those who serve as office volunteers. Fees are discounted by 50% for all hall, gym, and parking lot monitors.

Gym Monitor

Monitor students waiting in the gym either before or after class time. This is a Wednesday at either 5:30 or 7:00 only position

Hall Monitor

Assist/direct anyone who happens to be in the hall during class times

Office Assistant

Work with one other person to perform light office/receptionist duties during class time (No Sunday hours)

Parking Lot Monitor

Work with two other adults to ensure students make it safely to and from their family's car.  Commitment: Weekly September through May

Contact for all faith formation helpers: Tom Primmer

Prayer Angels

The Pre k-Grade 5 Faith Formation classes are in need of parishioners who are willing to pray for one of the elementary classes by being a Prayer Angel. This may be a good way for YOU to be involved with the children if you cannot be a catechist. It is an important ministry and your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Contact: Jackie King, 964-3038 

Volunteers set up, prepare, serve and clean-up a lunch provided by the parish for the friends and family of the deceased. The committee calls volunteers on a rotating basis to provide salads and/or desserts to supplement the sandwich trays that are provided.

Volunteers are needed to work in the kitchen or to be willing to prepare a salad or dessert to drop off.  Contact: Amy Wall, 515.964.3038

Gardening Angels

Gardeners help maintain the grounds and plantings around the outside of the church and rectory. Volunteers are scheduled on a rotating basis for basic watering and general upkeep. Additional help is needed seasonally for planting and clean up.  Contact: Gary Jones 

Interior Plant Watering

Volunteers water the plants throughout the worship space and chapel and keep floral displays looking fresh. Volunteers rotate through on a weekly schedule. Contact: Phyllis Ross  or 238-7059

Librarians

This group of helpers keep the Library in order and manage the database.  Must be a person who enjoys the little details!  Meets: a few times during the year; some maintenance work on a weekly basis Contact: Patty Mayer 964.3038

Historians

Do you like to organize and categorize items? We need folks willing to collect, process and stage items for our historical display.  Contact: Joan Ski 

Altar Linens

This group is responsible for the cleaning and ironing of the linens used at Mass, such as the purificators (cloths used to wipe the cup after each person).  These are done weekly.  Linens are taken home to be washed, no special detergent needed. Often you may need to soak or scrub to get stains, such as lipstick, out. Iron the linens and return to the sacristy.  Contact: Pat White 

Cloth Napkins

We have moved to using cloth napkins in Mary’s Place, the Conference Room and the Staff Office.  We are looking for people who are willing to take these linens home and wash them, fold them and return them.  This is a rotating schedule. Contact: Patty Mayer 964.3038

Special Events

During special events we often use cloth table cloths and napkins.  Assistance in taking the table cloths and napkins home to be laundered and returned. This would be on an as needed basis. Contact: Joan Ski 964.3038 

Our Lady’s Nursery Ministry is available* for families s during the following times:

8:30 am Sunday Mass*

Children ages six weeks to six years of age are welcome and are cared for by volunteers.

The nursery is not available on the following holiday weekends:

• New Year’s

• Spring Break

• Easter

• Mother’s Day

• Memorial Day

• Father’s Day

• 4th of July

• Labor Day

• Thanksgiving

• Christmas

Nursing Mothers/Consoling Fathers

When the nursery is unlocked parents are welcome to use the space to nurse or rock their children.  A changing pad is also available.  Please clean any messes made.

Faith Formation

The nursery is available during Faith Formation sessions Sunday-Wednesday for the children of volunteers serving in Faith Formation Ministry.

Faith and Friendship

Childcare is also provided Thursday mornings so that mothers can participate in our Faith and Friendship group.  A small fee is required.

*Volunteers

Our Lady’s Nursery Ministry is a volunteer ministry of parents helping parents. Parents and Families who participate in using the nursery for their youth are expected to volunteer at OLIH in some capacity.  Nursery volunteers are generally scheduled 1-2 times a month and are partnered together and/or with a teen helper.

PLEASE NOTE: All Nursery Volunteers MUST successfully complete the Diocesan Safe Environment Training and Background Check Process. CLICK HERE for more information and details.

Cleaning

The nursery is cleaned once a week.  We ask that patrons be respectful of the space.

Donations

Have a donation?  Please do not dump or drop off toys without a phone call. Thank you for your cooperation.

Questions & Further Information

Please contact Mary Sankey at marys@olih.org or by calling 515-964-3038 ext. 133 with questions, more information or to sign up to help in this vital ministry.

Eucharistic Adoration

We offer Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Saturday morning (unless notified differently) at 8:30 am. On the first Saturday of the month it is preceded by ‘Mary’s Mass’—a special Mass for the namesake of our parish.

In addition, Eucharistic Adoration is offered on the Friday mornings of Lent.  Adorers are needed each Friday from 9am to noon.  Signup sheet is in the chapel during the Lenten season. 

Prayer Angels

The Pre k-Grade 5 Faith Formation classes are in need of parishioners who are willing to pray for one of the elementary classes by being a Prayer Angel. This may be a good way for YOU to be involved with the children if you cannot be a catechist. It is an important ministry and your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

Contact: Jackie King, 964-3038, ext. 106

Prayer Chain

As a pray-er on the prayer chain, you will receive a prayer call and then you call the next person on the list.  We do leave messages if someone does not answer, but then we continue down the list to personally connect with the next person so that the prayers continue to be actively prayed for.  Once you have personally notified the next caller you will take the request to prayer.  Contact: Ruth Ward 515.963.8185

Seven Sisters Apostolate

Do you have the gift of prayer? The Seven Sisters are a group of seven women who are dedicated to praying for our parish priest – to lift him up throughout his week.  Each sister is given a day of the week during which she will pray for Father for one hour.  We currently have two groups active for our parish priest, and one for a priest who does not have a parish. We are always looking for good subs for days when one of our sisters is unable to make her hour.  Meet: One hour a week, on your own, to pray in the chapel  Learn more   Contact: Nancy Breitkreutz or Bev Whitlatch

Sponsor Couples are those who have been married for at least 5 years and are interested in assisting with Marriage Prep for Engaged Couples. Sponsor Couples are not professional counselors or psychologists, they are married couples who are willing to share their time and their lived experience with engaged couples. Sponsors attend a 4-5 hours of Diocesan training.  All materials and resources are provided.  Usually, couples meet 4-5 times for about 1 ½-2 hours at a time.   The number of couples worked with is dependent upon time and availability. If interested in this very important ministry please call for more information. Contact: Renae Smith,   515.770.6161

Always on the lookout for people interested in helping with variety of tasks such as: stuffing bulletins, stuffing mailers, making phone calls, etc, etc.  Contact: Amy Wall  and let her know what you would be interested in getting calls for!

Money Counters

Counting the weekend collection.  Teams are scheduled on a rotating basis. Typically count Monday mornings 9am to 10:30am. Training is provided!  Contact: Marie Stefani

Photographers

Looking for pictures from various events either on or off campus.  Have a nice camera and enjoy taking pictures?  Contact: Joan Ski

Heart of Mary Homebound Ministry is a ministry founded in the Church’s rich tradition of pastoral care meant to reach those unable to participate in the Church’s life due to hospitalization, suffering from the effects of illness, disability, or the aging process. Trained volunteers extend the celebration of the Eucharist along with care, prayers and companionship of our parish community.

Mass is celebrated at the following facilities:

• Sunny View Care Center, first Friday of the Month at 10:30 am

• Mill Pond, third Monday at 10:00 am

• Independence Village, Mass on the first Friday of the month at 9:30 am and Holy Communion Sundays at 9:30 am

Contact: Kris Gaspari for more information or to arrange for a visit.

Shopper/Stocker for Wednesday Night Faith Formation/ Youth Ministry Programs  

Primary duties include arranging to pick up OLIH Hy-Vee card & receive shopping list from Randy Henderson, Director of Youth Ministry twice a month any day of your convenience Thursday-Tuesday so that we have sufficient chips, pop and pizza for our Wednesday night programs.  We supply payment method, access to youth room and organized supply list.     Stock the youth room with the pop & chips; stock the kitchen freezer with pizzas.  

Pizza Chef for Wednesday Night Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Programs

Primary duties include cooking pizzas provided in convection oven in our wonderful kitchen at OLIH, and delivering them to the Youth room by 6:30pm.  

Pop can redeemer!

Primary duties include transporting rinsed and bagged pop cans for bulk redemption at K & B Redemption Center (1501 NE Broadway in Des Moines. It's not far from E 14th exit) and return money and new bags to OLIH at your convenience during their posted hours of operation: Tues-Friday 10am-6pm (closed 1-2pm); Saturday 9am-1pm. 

Chaperone

We are always looking for adults to help chaperone Youth Ministry events.  

Contact: Randy Henderson 

There are many benefits to helping with Youth Ministry - including the smiles, laughter, support and thanks that teens, families, staff will share with you often; being a “part of the action” particularly where these opportunities serve our  Wednesday evenings; a greater appreciation of the support our parish family shows one another; inside knowledge and experience of our particular youth ministry program; networking opportunities; satisfaction of serving the Lord in an impactful and powerful way – it takes many hands in a variety of ways to “make room” for ministry to happen.

Help to assist in welcoming and connecting with new parishioners:

Welcome Committee

Volunteers visit with new parishioners to help them feel at home with their new parish family. They provide information about the parish and a tour of the facilities. Friendly volunteers willing to meet families in their homes or at the church will be trained and given the information needed to give tours and make one-on-one visits. This is a ministry one can do on his/her own time.