The Funeral Luncheon Ministry helps make a very difficult day a little easier for family and friends by providing a luncheon at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Parish. The family is spared the need to plan what to serve, where to serve it, and the need to clean up afterward. These luncheons also enable family and friends to reminisce and share memories at their leisure.

Participating in this ministry is truly a way to show the love of Jesus to others through our gifts of time and talent. Our volunteers see firsthand how grateful the families are and that the people who attend feel the love and compassion extended to them.

• When the parish is contacted about planning a funeral, an invitation is extended to the family for the parish to host a luncheon. 

• The luncheon coordinator contacts a kitchen team leader who, in turn, organizes a team to set the tables, setup the buffet, and clean up afterward. 

• The coordinator also contacts callers who contact volunteers who have offered to prepare food. 

• The coordinator is expected to make her calls to the kitchen team leader and callers immediately and to provide them with complete information about the time, location, and number of people estimated to attend.

• The coordinator also purchases the meat, cheese, bread, etc. and delivers it to the luncheon location.

• Kitchen team leaders are expected to organize their teams to ensure that the room is set up and food displayed attractively on the buffet table by the time the guests arrive. The team also cleans up afterward.

• Callers are expected to begin contacting volunteers within a couple of hours as a courtesy to allow the volunteer plenty of time to do his/her grocery shopping and food preparation.

• When volunteers are called and asked to prepare food they are expected to prepare a salad or dessert to feed 12 to 15 people and to deliver it to the luncheon site by a specific time

If you are interested in learning more about the Funeral Luncheon Ministry, please contact Jeanine Wideman 574-273-8572 or the parish office 574-282-2308.