The Parish of Our Lady and St Therese, Essendon has many groups and ministries that welcome new members at any time. Please contact the office if you’d like to join the ranks of our committed volunteers.
Our parish is committed to the safety, wellbeing and dignity of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.
SAFEGUARDING
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST MEET THREE SAFEGUARDING REQUIREMENTS
- Volunteers must hold a current Working With Children Check and must list each parish where you volunteer. Please add St Therese’s or OLN to your WWCC check here: https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children
- Volunteers must complete the CAM Safeguarding Essentials Training Certification every three years: Click link here
- Volunteers must read and acknowledge The Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct every three years. Access the Code of Conduct through the online Safeguarding Essentials Training platform This may be done without completing the training.
These three components of Safeguarding are a legal requirement for EVERY volunteer
The Safeguarding Unit has produced these helpful instructions. Click this link: Safeguarding-Essentials-Training-Instructions
| Ministry/Group | Description |
|---|---|
| Church Upkeep | Brass Cleaning, Linen and Building Maintenance |
| Finance and Planning Team | Managing Parish finances and planning for our future. Making the Parish Vision a reality. |
| Gardening Group | Responsible for the upkeep and care of our grounds |
| Kids at Mass (Children’s Liturgy of the Word) | Helping children gain meaning from the Word of God. Parents and older siblings are encouraged to participate. |
| Liturgical Ministries | Sacristans, Music Ministry, Liturgy Ministry, Altar Servers Program, Collectors, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Data Projector Operators. |
| Parish Leadership Team | A representative Group bringing together the hopes and dreams of the whole Parish Community. |
| Pastoral Care Group | Communion to and drivers for the sick & elderly, Baptism preparation and visits to bereaved parishioners. |
| Refugee and Asylum Seeker Group | Visits families to offer support with language, material offers, friendship, rental assistance and links to the community. Meets every second month. |
| Sacramental Program | Catechists volunteer their time to our Sacramental Program for young people not attending our school who are candidates for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. |
| Sacramental Support Team | Wedding, baptism and funeral co-ordinators who prepare our church and are parish ambassadors for these sacraments. |
| St Vincent De Paul Society Essendon | Helping the needy in our local area. |
| Tiny Ts Playgroup | Tiny Ts runs weekly on Wednesdays during school terms in PACE Function Room from 9:30am until 10:30am. |