Description of Service Committee Ministries

We are an informal association of Filipino-Americans who worship at Immaculate Heart of Mary.  We strive to keep and promote some of our traditions, and to expose our fellow parishioners to a different culture sharing the same faith.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary parish food pantry began 28 years ago by the Holy Name Society and remains in existence through the very generous donations of food and time of our parishioners.  The pantry is located in the lower level of the church outside the Fr. Byrne Auditorium.

The question was raised "What happens to the food after it is donated?"  Donations are collected after each Mass on the 2nd Sunday of every month.  Non-perishable items and food are sorted and stacked in the pantry by a group of parishioners.  A volunteer accepts coupons and combines these with the monetary donations the food pantry receives and purchases additional items for the pantry.  Every Wednesday volunteers help to prepare boxes for distribution to our families and groups in need.  The families arrange to pick up their food on a regular schedule while a pantry volunteer normally distributes the food to the organizations.  Currently we service 13 families and assist St. Joseph's in Elizabeth, Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity in Newark, Scotch Plains Social Services and the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation of Scotch Plains.

These are difficult times and we are here to serve.  If you know someone needing our assistance, please call the parish office at (908)889-2100 and we will refer you to Norman Metz or Rich Wagner, our Food Pantry organizers.

The Holy Name Society helps in promoting the welfare of the men of the parish by encouraging and assisting them in observing the practices of the Confraternity of the Holy Name of Jesus.  Members perform such special works as are assigned to it by the pastor.  The Society meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month following the 7:45 am Mass.

The Parents' Guild was started as a parish group to promote the involvement of parents and children in the parish community through a variety of different activities including sports, social events, community service and volunteer work. In recent years, the Parents' Guild has become less formal and has focused mainly on sports, namely basketball.  We organize and run a Friday Night PeeWee Basketball program for boys and girls in grades one through four.  We also have a competitive Travel Basketball Program for boys and girls in grades four through eight.  We are hoping over time to return to our original mission and expand our involvement in the parish community.

Notify the Parish Office at (908) 889-2100 of sick at home, in hospitals and those who are unable to worship with us.

IHM's Social Concerns committee addresses some of the same important social issues prevalent in our world today at a parish level.  IHM is a covenant church with the Interfaith Council for the Homeless, and regularly hosts the homeless in the parish facilities; We maintain a family blood bank for the benefit of the parish and sponsor blood drives at least three times each year; We sponsor a number of holiday programs providing turkeys, Christmas presents, and Easter baskets to those less fortunate; We provide sustinance toiletry items to residents of the Park Hotel in Plainfield, a halfway house type of environment.  We sincerely welcome individuals who may have interest in any of these programs or who may have ideas on how to expand or improve the program.

The Thursday morning prayer group gathers to grow closer to God and to recognize Him in our daily lives.  We meet at the Nazareth Center once a week on Thursday morning for a two hour session of faith sharing and prayer intentions from mid September until early June unless the schools are not in session.  There is a small fee for materials and new participants are welcomed any time throughout the year. Reflecting on God's presence and His powerful love strengthens and nourishes us for our journey.

"God will command his angels concerning you, and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

- Matthew 4:6

Please click here for the HS Youth Group page.

The quoted verse is our Scriptural Passage for the year. Though you may not necessarily find actual angels at our youth group, you will find friendship and community.  We are a new but quickly growing group. The atmosphere is both comfortable and inspiring. Our yearly theme is Community and we are continuing to grow and develop as one.  All of our meetings and activities are built upon that foundation.  So, any high school age student is more than welcome to join us for our meetings and our activities.  Meetings will occur on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 7 to 8:30pm and the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 7 to 8:30pm.  Also, after school drop-in hours will be on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 3:30 to 5:30pm. Please feel free to email the Youth Minister, Matthew Butler, with any thoughts, questions, or concerns.