The role of the Parish Life Ministry at College Church is to welcome, connect and foster fellowship in the parish community within parish ministries and beyond our liturgies. Parishioners who would like to get involved in parish life activities or bring new ideas to foster parish fellowship can contact Mary Tychonievich at 314-977-7319 or tychonmc@slu.edu.

Annulments

While the Catholic Church supports marriage as a life-long covenant of love and community, it also recognizes that many marriages do not become the relationship that Christ envisioned marriage to be. The annulment process seeks to help individuals to look at their life and relationship and to evaluate it in light of the Church's understanding of marriage. It can be a freeing and healing process so that one may continue one's life and growth.

If you would like more information on the annulment process, contact Joseph Milner at 314-977-7305.

Recognition

Saint Francis Xavier College Church was selected as an Excellent Catholic Parish by the Parish/Congregation Study based at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and funded by the Lilly Foundation. The study identified parishes that nurture the human spirit, draw people closer to God, bring them into loving service, and exemplify what is best in local churches throughout America.

College Church Endowment Fund

College Church has established an Endowment Fund to help assure the vitality of the Church both now and into the future. The College Church Endowment Fund exists to provide a consistent and increasing stream of investment return and distributions, over time, to maintain and improve the physical facility utilized by the church in carrying out its mission and its purpose.

Through the fund, current members as well as the many friends of the College Church can assure the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the church property. The Endowment is made up of gifts ranging from memorials at the time of death, remembrance gifts on special occasions (such as anniversaries or birthdays) to major gifts and bequests from wills or trusts or other sources. Parishioners and friends are encouraged to remember the College Church through gifts to the Endowment Fund. For more information, contact Mary Tychonievich at 314-977-7319.

Gathering Place

The mission of The Gathering Place is to help parishioners get to know one another and to assist in building and deepening the faith community by making available a warm, welcoming and comfortable environment in which to gather and nurture a consistent parish community experience. The Gathering Place focuses primarily on hospitality services for fellowship offering coffee and refreshments, and parish activities after Sunday morning liturgies in the Xavier Ballroom.

Hospitality

In Scripture we read much about the sharing of bread and its effect on the early Christians. We are called to serve others and in doing so we serve our Lord. Parishioners serving with hospitality help arrange refreshments for special parish events and celebrations, receptions, lectures, meetings and informal gatherings. It works with the planned liturgical calendar as well as on an as-needed basis.

Marriage Enrichment

Marriage Enrichment offers married couples the opportunity to reflect on aspects of married life, enrich their marriage and converse with other married couples from the parish. Throughout the year, groups will advertise in the Sunday bulletin on gatherings, workshops and program opportunities.

Social Events

Throughout the year, parishioners and parish staff plan and host parish gatherings to promote fellowship. As the College Church continues to grow in its members, parishioners are invited bring new event ideas and participate in the planning process for parish events.

Stewardship

Through the annual stewardship renewal process, parishioners are asked to reflect upon their gifts of time, talent, and treasure and to prayerfully discern their level of commitment to our parish community. It is not simply a once-a-year commitment, but an ongoing process of continual formation for each person as he or she journeys with the Creator. By way of supporting this journey, parishioners assist in the Stewardship process offering educational and formational insight to the parish about what it is to be a Christian steward.

We support the parish and its members through the connection of parishioners’ expertise and experience with parish needs. The Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee assist with the material development of the parish finances, and provide accountability for those funds. They fulfill their roles prayerfully and help each member of our parish community to a closer walk with God and a deeper ownership of their faith community through their personal stewardship commitment.

Welcoming Representatives

Welcoming Representatives personally contact newly registered members of the church community. The phone contact seeks to personalize new members’ introduction into this faith community, acquaint them with the many programs and activities offered at College Church and help direct their interests and talents within the community as well as give guidance with specific questions.