Societies and Organizations
AA and AL-ANON
Doug Corley
(732) 245-2541
If someone is interested in participating in either of these support groups, all they need to do is attend the gathering at 8:30 PM on Tuesday evenings. These open meetings are held weekly and in strictest confidence.
Cub Scouts NJ Pack 157
Dan Vesque - Email: danv@njpack157.com
Lou Smith - Email: lous@njpack157.com
Cub Pack 157 has been chartered at St. Thomas More Church for over 30 years. Over the years the Cub Pack has been active in the St. Thomas More Parish and the Manalapan community.
Cub Scouting is for boys in the first through fifth grades, or 7 to 10 years of age. Boys who are older than 10 or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join the Cub Scouts, but may be eligible to join the Boy Scouts.
There is a reason for everything boys do in Cub Scouting. Apart from the fun and excitement, the aim of Cub Scouting is to help boys grow into good citizens who are strong in character and personally fit. This is why we say that Cub Scouting is fun with a purpose.
Adults should express interest to the pack leaders, the Cubmaster, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee to participate as a pack leader. While there's no guarantee that a specific role or position will be available, there is usually some way in which you can contribute, and most units are glad for any offer of help.
Boy Scouts
Troop 157
John Barrett
(732) 431-2428
Troop 157 has been chartered at St. Thomas More Church for over 30 years, and during that time over 50 Boy Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. Boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouting and are at least 10 years old, or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10, or who are 11, but not yet 18 years of age can join the Boy Scouts.
Troop 157 achieves the Boy Scouts of America's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness through various outdoor activities, achieving recognition and awards through community service, and performing civic duties for the St. Thomas More Parish and the Manalapan community. On the Church grounds are some completed and in process Eagle Projects.
Troop 157 is also looking for adult leaders to work with the troop in various leadership positions.
Ancient Order of Hibernians
www.aohmonmouth16.com
John M. Keane Jr.
President, Division 16
Monmouth County - St. Oliver Plunkett
732-792-0387
Email: Jmkeane63@hotmail.com
Our organization is dedicated to uniting Irish Catholic men in Friendship, Unity, and Catholic Charity. Division #16, Monmouth County- St. Oliver Plunkett, was chartered in September 2002. Division 16 consists of members from St. Thomas More, Our Lady of Mercy, St. Rose of Lima, St. Robert Bellermine, St. Gabriel, and several other parishes in the area.
In our short time as a division we have donated to several local charities including Freehold Area Open Door, St. Vincent dePaul society, Birthright, Monmouth County Child Advocacy, and many state and national charities. We also support Project Children and non-sectarian program that gives an opportunity to Children of Northern Ireland to spend 4 weeks with sponsor families in the United States.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic, Irish American Fraternal Organization. The Order can trace its roots back to a parent organization, of the same name, which has existed in Ireland for over 300 years. However, while the organizations share a common thread, the North American A.O.H. is a separate and much larger organization. The Order has also provided a continuing bridge with Ireland for those who are generations removed from our country.
The Order evolved from a need in the early sixteen hundreds to protect the lives of priests who risked immediate death to keep the Catholic Faith alive in occupied Ireland after the reign of England's King Henry VIII. When England implemented its dreaded Penal Laws in Ireland, various secret social societies were formed across the country.
Similarly, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America was founded May 4th, 1836 at New York's St. James Church, to protect the clergy and church property from the "Know Nothings" and their followers. At the same time the vast influx of Irish Immigrants fleeing famine issues in Ireland in the late 1840's, prompted a growth of various social societies in the USA - the largest of which was, and continues to be, the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
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St. Thomas More Bob D'Ambrosia, PGK 609-395-6852 |
Knights of Columbus
Prince of Peace Council #5903 - Englishtown
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest lay Catholic men's organization dedicated to the ideals of charity and support of the Church and country and is open to all practical Catholic men over 18 years of age. Its four main principles are charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The Order is world wide with over 13,500 local councils and 1.7 million members. Its members donate over 65 million man hours of volunteer service and more than 18 million dollars annually to a wide range of Church, community, and charitable activities. It has rightly been labeled the strong right arm of the Church.
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Our Lady of Mercy Andrew Rohmeyer |
The Council sponsors an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children, a party to recognize Altar Servers in both Parishes, donates to the support of Seminarians, raises over $10,000 each year to support the disadvantaged, and actively supports the Right to Life movement.
The many social and fraternal activities of the council promote the spirit of family and friendship among its members. The Knights of Columbus is the perfect organization if you want to help the Church and the community while building lasting friendships with fellow Catholic men. Past Grand Knight Robert D'Ambrosia can provide information on joining the Knights of Columbus. Father John, Father Mark, and Father Jim are all members of the Knights of Columbus.
Legion of Mary
Regina Finn
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last six Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.
Active members meet weekly for about 90 minutes with their Spiritual Director to pray, and to report on and to receive a work assignment. A minimum of two hours work is assigned by the President and approved by the pastor. Active membership is open to all Catholic men and women. Those who are 18 years of age or older join a senior group, those under 18 years of age join a junior group.
Active members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Auxiliary members, the praying wing of the Legion of Mary, are lay faithful, priests, or religious unable to assume the duties of active membership. They recite the prayers of the Legion and the Rosary.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Michael Lee Foster
Email: svdp@moremercy.org
(732) 446-6661 Ext. 208
Leave a message.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides assistance to the needy, both in a material and spiritual way, through person-to-person contact. The Society is an international Catholic organization of lay persons, founded in 1883 by Frederic Ozanam and his companions. Placed under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul, the Society derives its inspiration from Vincent's thinking and work. It seeks in a spirit of justice and charity and by person-to-person involvement of its members, to help those who are suffering. The Society is approximately one-million strong in 131 countries.
Person-to-person involvement is essential to Vincentian helping and can include any assistance that promotes human dignity and integrity. The Society is concerned not only with relieving need but also with redressing the situations that cause it, and serves persons regardless of creed, opinion, color, caste, and origin which might include immigrants, transients, orphans, the abandoned or rejected, or any who find themselves among others who are indifferent or hostile.
The Society often encounters situations where it could extend its financial resources if there were a bank of volunteers with special talents that could be called upon for help. Examples, not limited to these alone, include legal, medical, dental, financial, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, etc… Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month in the Adult Education Room at St. Thomas More.
For more detailed information regarding the mission of the Society we invite you to visit the National Council's
web site using the following link: Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.