Parish Organizations
There are four Catholic organizations associated with St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. These organizations are inter-parochial because their membership consists of parishioners from not only St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, but also other local Catholic parishes.
Catholic Daughters of the Americas | Court Patricia #998
The local group of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, known as a Court Patricia #998, was instituted on April 11, 1926. Some 86 years later, the Catholic Daughters of Court Patricia are still living the motto of unity and charity by being involved in many areas on the local parish, community and even state and national levels.
Some of the ways that Court Patricia supports our parish community, include preparing and delivering lunches to the homebound members of our parish twice a year; hosting a luncheon that follows the annual parish Mass for the Anointing of the Sick; helping with parish Lenten fish dinners,; sponsoring the canteen for the blood drives held in St. Mary Parish Hall; and hosting the annual Easter egg hunt for the youngest members of our parish family. Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Patricia #998, holds monthly meetings for its members on the third Tuesday of the month at St. Mary Parish Hall, Kittanning at 7 p.m.
Knights of Columbus | Council #1011
Our local Knights of Columbus, Council #1011, was founded June 2, 1905 to promote the order’s four core principles of fraternity, charity, unity and patriotism. Brother Knights recognize that the mission of their organization and their faith in God compels them to action.
The local council supports the work of St. Mary of Lady of Guadalupe Parish by supporting and promoting parish, pro life, youth and family activities. Members of the council generously give of their time and service at our parish’s annual Lenten fish dinners and Holly Berry Fair. They also help to operate the local St. Vincent de Paul Society thrift store, volunteer at the food bank and support the local Arc of Armstrong County.
St. Vincent de Paul Society | Our Lady of Guadalupe Conference
The St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was founded in January 1970 with the mission to offer tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. An essential precept of the society’s work is to provide help, while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served.
The society also coordinates our parish Wish Tree Project during the Advent season each year. This Wish Tree is trimmed with ornaments containing wishes from children in need from our local area.
Our parish conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society works collaboratively with two other St. Vincent de Paul conferences from Christ, Prince of Peace Parish, Ford City, and St. Lawrence Parish, Cadogan, as well as the Knights of Columbus, Council #1011, to operate St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store located at 121 Market St., Kittanning.
Legion of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Praesidium
The local group of the Legion of Mary, known as a Praesidium, was founded in March 1999. The St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Praesidium holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion.
Persons who wish to join the Legion of Mary are welcome to join the group as a guest at a Praesidium meeting, held each week on Tuesdays in the St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Center from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.