Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities

Our Parish welcomes your participation in our many Ministries.  Please see the information below and, for more information about any of our Ministries, please contact the Parish office.


Parish Council  
“The eyes and ears of the parish,” this committee advises the Pastor in the various aspects of parish administration, worship, outreach, and service. The Council meets 7 or 8 times yearly. All are welcome to attend meetings. times of which are published in the bulletin.

The members of the St. Philip/St. Teresa Parish Council are:  Joe Conway (Chair), Peg Duffy, Dolores Novello, Hal McGuirk, Diane Schwab, Secretary, Mary Griffith (ex. off Liturgy) and  Fr. Bala.  Please talk with any Council member about your concerns or questions or call the parish office if you would like to have a member of the Council contact you.   Contact Joe Conway 322-2652.  Council meetings are open and times are published in the bulletin.


Finance Council  
A group made up of working and retired persons from various backgrounds in business, finance, law, and banking. They watch over the parish finances, plan budgets, and advise the Pastor in financial matters. The Council meets 7 or 8 times yearly. Council meetings are open and times are published in the bulletin.

The members of the St. Philip/St. Teresa Finance Council are:Jim Keegan (Chair), James Gaffney, Colette Raya (Secretary), Marilyn Collins, Pat Griffith Mark Stapp, (and Fr Bala).

Next Finance Council Meeting: See the bulletin.



Liturgy Committee
This group includes persons with special interests and skills in the various aspects of worship such as music, ministries of the Word and of the Altar, and the decoration of churches, especially for Christmas and Easter. The Committee meets as needed, usually 4-6 times a year.  Committee meetings are open and times are published in the bulletin.

The members of the St. Philip/St. Teresa Liturgy Committee are:  Fr. Bala, Mary Griffith (Chair) , Bill Merget,, and Janis Wilson (Music), Penny Applegarth (St Philip's Guild).

Next Liturgy Committee Meeting: See the bulletin.


Ladies Guilds at St. Teresa and St. Philip
The aspirations of the organization are spiritual, service and social. All women of the parish are welcome to join either Ladies Guild. The Ladies Guild offers to all women of the parish an opportunity for the following activities:

• Friendship
• Social and Fund-Raising Events (such as Annual Ravioli Luncheon, Pancake Breakfast, St Patrick’s Day Dinner) - The fund-raisers greatly benefit the parish in many ways.
• Spiritual Growth 
• Involvement in the parish

To join the St. Teresa Ladies Guild, please contact Diane Schwab-Merget at (707)291-6104 or email 
To join the St. Philip Ladies Guild, please contact Penny Applegarth at (559)367-7403 or email.

Gardens and Grounds
Each church has a dedicated group that works in the gardens and maintains the parking areas and other open spaces.  Volunteers with green thumbs always welcome! 
Head Gardener St. Philip:  Tom Novello
Head Gardener St. Teresa: Open 

Home Visitation
Visits to the sick and those who are confined to their homes is a ministry of the parish. Visits may include those of the parish nurse, or of an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.  
Contact person:  Dolores Novello

Boosters Club (St. Philip Church)
Plan, organize, and carry out special fundraising projects, with proceeds going to the care and maintenance of St. Philip Church, Parish Hall, and rectory.
Contact person: Cathy McCool

St. Teresa Restoration Committee
Saint Teresa of Avila congregation members are devoted to her Restoration and Historic Preservation. The Restoration Committee, through your donations and the proceeds from the sale of prints of Ansel Adams Limited Edition “Saint Teresa of Avila”. Through your generosity, we can maintain the church for future generations' enjoyment.  St. Teresa of Avila is California Registered Historical Landmark No. 820. The Restoration Committee members are: Joe Conway, Charlie Bone, Peg Duffy and Bill Merget.
To make a donation or order an Ansel Adams print, please contact Peg Duffy at (240)482-7763.

Music Ministry
Instrumentalists and singers primarily for weekend liturgies.  Our many talented musicians also do special music events throughout the year. Anyone with musical talents is encouraged to join. 
Contact person:  Janis Wilson contact at 707-481-1697


Centering Prayer - Christian Meditation
Centering Prayer is a simple method that helps us silently open to God’s presence within and all around us. It is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to silent communion. The Trappist Abbot Thomas Keating and his organization “Contemplative Outreach” have been reintroducing parishes to this ancient method of Christian contemplation since the 1970s. All are welcomed. No previous experience or regular commitment necessary.

Our Centering Prayer (Christian meditation) group meets every Friday after the 9:00 a.m. service in St. Philip’s sanctuary. We help each other do what God calls us to in psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” The Hebrew word ‘jada’ means: to know, to notice, to experience, to realize through direct perception or reflection, to pay attention to, to have intimate relations with, to understand, to know personally. We strive for any such knowledge of God.

• The facilitator: Ella Rozett has been practicing Christian contemplation and meditation since 1983. She holds an M.A. in Christian-Buddhist Comparative Studies, taught religious studies through the Santa Rosa Junior College for 7 years, and leads prayer and meditation groups in churches, jails, and drug rehab centers. You can call Ella at (707) 874-3397.
• The teacher: God, to the extent that you trust God with that role.

Cemetery
The Parish cemetery is located near the junction of Bodega Highway and California Highway 1 near Bodega.  It is a country cemetery, well-maintained, with many recent improvements  in a lovely setting.  Graves for earthen burial as well as a new outdoor columbarium for cremated remains are available.

We have installed the new limestone altar donated by Jim and Jackie Smith. It is a beautiful addition to our parish cemetery. I hope you take a moment to visit the cemetery and see the altar along with all the other improvements we have done this year. If you are interested in purchasing a plot or getting information about our cemetery, please get in touch with Art Hansen at (707) 874-3681 or click here to send email.