Collaboration

Advisory

Building & Grounds Committee

The Building & Grounds Committee (B&G) is comprised of parishioners who meet every other week in the morning.  The committee has a documented Preventative Maintenance Program that it follows in order to maintain the building and grounds of the parish.  We are always looking for anyone interested in helping with the committee. Construction experience would be helpful, but is not required. Anyone with carpentry, flooring, concrete, masonry, electrical, plumbing or painting experience would be greatly appreciated.

Endowment and Investments

The Saint Ambrose Endowment Fund receives and administers gifts and contributions for charitable, religious, educational and social service purposes. The organization operates consistent with the principles, teachings and philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church.  Gifts are received through many avenues including, but not limited to: cash, real estate, securities, retirement funds, life insurance policies and tangible personal property.

Finance Council

The Parish Finance Council provides expertise and consultation in financial analysis, planning, and policy development in order to aid the Pastor in the administration of parish goods, while maintaining due regard for The Code of Canon Law and The Diocese of Cleveland Parish Finance Council Policy Norms.  There are seven permanent committees within the Finance Council that provide support in the following areas:

• Parish budget and operations
• School budget and operations
• Investments and endowments
• Building, grounds and maintenance
• Communications
• Technology
• Policies and Practice

Members of the Finance Council serve on one or more of the above committees.  The full Finance Council meets the last Wednesday of every month, usually from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. In addition to the full Finance Council meetings, Council members attend committee meetings as required.  Members of the Finance Council are appointed by the Pastor for a two year term commencing on July 31st. Councilors make be elected to consecutive terms. Finance Council members are expected to attend all Finance Council and committee meetings and may be asked to work on special projects.  Talents and skills that are helpful as a member of the Finance Council include finance, education, administration, human resources and law, to name a few. Let Fr. Bob or one of the Finance Council members know if you are interested in serving on the Council.

Parish Pastoral Council

The mission of the Pastoral Council, as a consultative body to the Pastor, is to promote the spiritual and physical growth of Saint Ambrose Parish.  We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, except July and December, for approximately two hours. The leader and members of the Council commit to providing leadership for the other ministries by facilitation and consultation. Time commitments vary based upon needs.  Those involved with Parish Council need to be at least 18 years old and active members of the parish. They should be willing to participate in the consensus process; able to work on a team; able to discuss matters, weigh options and recommend practical conclusions and be a prayerful individual.

School Advisory Board (SAB)

The SAB serves as an advisory group to the pastor and principal regarding St. Ambrose School. Comprised of parents and other interested parishioners, the group researches and discusses various issues and proposals and offers counsel to the pastor and principal, all with the goal of making St. Ambrose School an exceptional 21st century Catholic learning environment.  Meetings are generally held once per month, although additional special meetings are occasionally called. Currently, meetings are conducted the second Tuesday of the month. Meetings routinely run two to three hours. This varies greatly depending on the issues before the Board at any particular time, and the time demands of SAB committees, several of which are chaired by SAB members. The minimum time commitment per month probably runs five to ten hours.  Generally there is at minimum one evening meeting for all parents held per school year.  An understanding of K-8 education in general and Catholic education in particular is helpful. But the only true requirement is a desire and dedication to the children of St. Ambrose School and to the goal of continually improving the education our students receive.

Vibrant Parish Life

Over the past several years, Bishop Lennon has engaged all the parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland in a meaningful and important discussion about our future. The Vibrant Parish Life process is an attempt to celebrate what is good and strong in our Church and address areas that need growth and development. Parishes have been ‘clustered’ with those in their region to draw strength and cooperation in pastoral planning.  We are very blessed at Saint Ambrose to be clustered with Saint Colette Parish. We have a unique opportunity to explore ways that we can work together to respond to the growing Catholic population in our region.

Parent-Teacher Union (PTU)

The Parent-Teacher Union is responsible for providing events, goods, and services for the day school students. We raise money for our school and students. The parents and teachers work together to make our school great!  There are so many activities that we host throughout the year for our teachers and students! Some include: Market Day, Catholic Schools Week, High School information night, Donuts for Dad, and Muffins for Mom. Our yearly events include Santa Shop, a Valentine’s Day Dance, Malley’s Easter candy sales, the Reverse Raffle/Silent Auction, and Special Person Day.  There are 25+ PTU committees and over 200 volunteers.  Time commitment is dependent upon the number of committees signed up for. We can always use more help, especially from people who possess leadership skills, dedication, and a positive attitude. We are here to fully support St. Ambrose Day School.  Our special events, held throughout the year, include: Salad luncheon (September); Christmas Craft Boutique (November); Mother-Daughter Banquet (May); and Parish Rummage Sale (July).

Faith in Action

If you enjoy helping people, particularly the elderly, and if you are looking for a way to live your faith, you would enjoy being part of this group. Faith in Action (FIA) provides assistance to seniors with low incomes or those who are frail, health-impaired or isolated. Our volunteers are caring friends who provide rides, visit or assist with housekeeping or outdoor tasks. Volunteers choose what activity and what day or time works best for their schedule. An hour or two once or twice a month, or more if you’re able, goes a long way to assisting someone in need. Faith in Action is a non-profit organization and is a coalition of area churches working together with local social service agencies. FIA is an outreach ministry to meet the simple needs of our seniors so they may stay in their homes longer or simply feel loved. St. Ambrose has been a member of FIA since 2002, and we’ve served thousands of hours in caring for our area seniors.

Boy Scout Troop 513

Boy Scout Troop 513, chartered by St. Ambrose Church is a youth organization targeted to young boys between the ages 10-18. Under the guidance of over 25 adult leaders, the scouts develop various skills including strong character, timeless values, and leadership. The Scouting program maximizes these aims through the use of weekly meetings on Thursday from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm and on campouts scheduled once a month all year round; trips include a week long resident camp, winter campouts, caving, and historical sites.  Scouts advance in rank based on skills and the earning of merit badges, activities that feature skill sets, hobbies such as wood carving, rocketry, and citizenship. The merit badge program is orchestrated to give the scout exposure to numerous trades and skills that otherwise may not be present in a youth’s growth. This also includes service to the church and our community through the sponsorship of American Red Cross Blood Drives, Adopt-a-Roadway, Adopting 2 or 3 families at Christmas through Catholic Works of Mercy, service to our Military Veterans, and other special fundraisers — such as the Scout Sunday Pancake Breakfast on the first Sunday of February in Hilkert Hall.  Scouting is youth run organization, where the boys develop leadership skills by planning their weekly meetings and camp outs, execute those plans, and then evaluate those plans.  The Scout Troop is always looking for new participants, youth or adult alike, who can contribute their life skills and experiences to help train our boys to become young adults.

www.brunswick513.mytroop.us/

Cub Scouts of America Pack 3513

Cub scouts, a part of Boy Scouts of America, is an organization serving boys in grades 1 through 5. The goals of the Cub Scouting program are to build character, foster citizenship and develop physical, mental, emotional and moral fitness through the completion of activities that are fun and challenging.  Dens, groups of boys organized by grade level, typically meet twice per month throughout the school year. The pack, all dens together, meets once per month throughout the school year.  Volunteers are the family and friends of the boys involved in the scouting program. The pack needs new leaders, assistant leaders and Pack Committee members each year. All leaders must be VIRTUS trained. Volunteers who will be working directly with the children will also be required to take some basic training that is paid for by the pack. Time commitment varies depending upon the role for which you volunteer.  Each year, the pack hosts a Halloween Party, Christmas Party, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet and Summer Boat Race for the scouts and their families. The pack is also involved in several community service activities such as Scouting for Food, Good Will/Good Turn Day, Christmas in July and a USO Drive.

www.brunswick3513.mypack.us/

Girl Scouts of America

We are a small group of girls, grades 6 and 7, led by adult volunteers, who meet every other week to work on crafts, educational projects, music, drama, and other skills toward the achievement of Girl Scout badges, as part of their Juniors Program. About once a month, we go on special outings, which can include camping, visiting special places, or just going out to have fun.  We meet every other Friday, from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Leader’s house.  We have leaders and volunteers that dedicate between 4-5 hours per week, plus some extra time for training and weekend outings.  We are a girl-centered group, with young preteens, and would be interested in guest volunteers who are involved in anything that might be of interest to the girls, or who might be an excellent role model. Alternately, if someone had a need that would service as a good service project for our group, please contact the leader.

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal Catholic Men’s Organization founded by Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 to care for the families of deceased members. Our watchwords are Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.  The Brunswick Council of the Knights of Columbus meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 in Lehner Center, with a social hour after regular meetings.  The officers attend three meetings a month and are involved in most of the programs that the Knights are involved with, which translates to a minimum of six hours per month.  To join the Knights of Columbus, one must be: over the age of 18; male; and a practicing Catholic as defined by the Church.

www.kofc4847.org/