Other Resources and Needs
Virtus and Fingerprinting Sessions
If you work with children in any capacity at all in the parish, you must complete a Virtus workshop and have your fingerprints taken. Virtus is mandated by the Diocese of Trenton for all volunteers working with children in our parishes. The well-being of the children placed in our care is a top priority to all who minister to them. These workshops are run at no cost to you and St. Paul's provides all materials as well as refreshments. Please call (609-924-1743 x148) or email (Annemarie@stpaulsofprinceton.org) Anne-Marie Calderone, Virtus facilitator, 924-1743 x 148, to register for a session or to receive information or questions pertinent to Virtus.

PLEASE NOTE: If you were previously certified, you do not need to repeat this program. This is a one-time certification program and your certification remains in effect for this diocese until further notice.

Board of Princeton Community Housing (PCH)
St. Paul's Parish is among the faith congregations that belong to the Board of Princeton Community Housing (PCH).

PCH has built four affordable housing developments in Princeton:

  1. Princeton Community Village(PCH) is located on Bunn Drive and it has 168 townhouses and 71 one-bedroom apartments that are low and moderate income rentals.
  2. Elm Court, on Elm Road, has 88 rental apartments for seniors and for disabled persons of any age.
  3. Griggs Farm, on Route 206, has 70 low income rental apartments that stand among market rate rentals and condos.
  4. Harriet Bryan House(HBH), 310 Elm Road, has 68 new rental apartments for low income seniors.
There are waiting lists for apartments. Parisioners who would like to be on a waiting list may email Carole Krauthamer, carolekrauthamer@yahoo.com, for more information.
NJ Family Care Program
Bishop Smith has asked that we support an important initiative being coordinated by a coalition of New Jersey Catholic organizations: the Catholic Conference, the fifteen Catholic hospitals, the five Catholic Charities agencies, the diocesan offices of parish ministries of social concerns. The initiative is an awareness campaign encouraging eligible individuals to enroll in the reconstituted New Jersey Family Care Program. As a result of the 2005 Family Health Care Coverage Act, enrollment in NJ Family Care has been simplified and eligibility has been expanded. In regard to children in NJ, it is estimated that of the 1.2 million uninsured individuals of the state, over 220,000 are children. Many of these children are eligible for New Jersey Family Care: but families, especially those whose parents work, are simply unaware that their children may be eligible. NJ Family Care can help meet the healthcare needs of uninsured children by covering doctor visits, x-rays, emergency room care, hospitalizations, eyeglasses, prescriptions; and even dental care in most cases. To learn more about the NJ Family Care Program, you can visit the NJ Family Care Website at www.njfamilycare.org or call 1-800-701-0710 to request an application, fact sheets and brochures.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Saint Paul’s is now a support parish for Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Mercer County. IHN is a national program that seeks to form local, interfaith networks to help homeless families. Consisting of up to 13 hosting congregations, a local network provides housing and food for a few homeless families at a time, while a local IHN office works to find these families a more permanent housing solution, as well as assist parents with career advice and help find daytime care for children. IHN serves families, often with working parents, who have no history of substance abuse, crime, etc. The families spend a week at a participating congregation where they eat dinner with volunteers and stay overnight. In the morning transportation arrives to take them to the IHN center where the parents then proceed to jobs, the children to school, etc. At the end of a week they move on to the next hosting parish. A few times a year Saint Paul’s will be providing volunteers to assist Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton when it is their turn to host for a week; in the future we may have even greater involvement with this program.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be Christ’s hands and feet on earth by helping others. If you are able to help or would like more information about this program or Saint Paul’s involvement, please email Sarah Bermeo at sbermeo@princeton.edu.

The Marianist Family Retreat Center, in Cape May Point, NJ invites you and your family to enhance your spiritual growth by joining in a variety of weekend and week-long retreats in a unique seashore setting. Retreats include family and peer-group activities, Eucharist and other family and community prayer, scheduled recreation and free time daily with ocean swimming. Week-long retreats are held in July and August. Weekend retreats are held in the spring, autumn and during Advent. Families with young children are accommodated in the spring. In addition, the Center hosts retreats for married couples, men's and women's groups, young adults, teens and private retreats. A Holy Week Triduum is also offered. For more information, you may write to PO Box 488, Cape May Point, NJ 08212, or phone 609 884-3829, or email mfrc@capemaymarianists.org. Their web site is www.capemaymarianists.org.
Other Notices
PREP Collecting Personal Products
The children in religious education collect travel-sized toiletries for distribution to the homeless at the Trenton Soup Kitchen all year round. They need soaps, shampoos, razors, powder, toothpaste, toothbrushes and small sealable sandwich bags. For their brown-bag lunch program, they are also collecting juice boxes, wrapped snacks and brown and plastic sandwich bags. Drop off donations in the Office of Rel. Ed. in the convent.
Catholic Underground in Mercer County
The Catholic Underground is a Christian coffeehouse, that resides in the St. Vincent de Paul Church basement/auditorium, 555 Allentown-Yardville Road, Yardville, NJ.

Catholic Underground offers popular Christian bands, great music, fellowship, good coffee and refreshments in a traditional coffeehouse with a difference. Each evening will begin with a holy hour of adoration and evening prayer, live music at 7:30pm, followed by music from a featured band around 8:45pm. Catholic Underground will be open every second Friday of the month excepting June, July and August. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit their website at: www.catholicunderground.org.

The Princeton Hub is a safe and welcoming gathering place for adults with emotional or developmental challenges. The Hub meets every Saturday from 6:30 - 9:30pm at the Princeton United Methodist Church for conversation, activities and social time. All progams are overseen by two trained staff members plus volunteers. The Hub also provides an opportunity for personal time for parents and guardians. We invite new participants to drop in. For more information, call 924-0781 or visit www.princetonhub.org.

Be a pen pal for someone in prison. The group offers participants a foolproof system for providing complete anonymity. Remember: I was in prison and you visited me....as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for Me. Matt. 25:36

Visit www.MaryMothofCaptivesSupportGroup.org or email mmocsprtgp@aol.com for more information.

The Adoptive Parents Organization of Central NJ is looking for families who are considering adoption, are in the waiting process, and families created through adoption. They meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7 pm to 9 pm from September thru May at the St. Gregory the Great Parish Center, 4680 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square. They are a non-profit, tax exempt, 501c3 organization. For more information on the organization, email SJTran@aol.com or visit http://apocnj.tripod.com where you will find currently planned events, directions to their meetings, adoption resources, and more.
Volunteer Opportunities with Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps, a lay volunteer program for women and men, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, provides opportunities for people over the age of 21 to give a year of service to those in need. The emphasis of the program is service, community and prayer. Volunteer opportunities include teaching or nursing on an Indian reservation or inner city, working in homeless shelters, and social service agencies. Current placements also include Guyana in South America. This is a unique opportunity for those who wish to have an experience ministering to the needy. Room, board and medical insurance and a small stipend are provided. For more information, email Dot McAvay at dmcavay@aol.com.
Martin House Store Needs Volunteers and Donations
The Martin House Learning Center needs volunteers to teach or assist adult immigrants to learn to speak and read English. Classes meet Mon - Fri, 9-10:30 am. They also need clerical assistance during these same hours. If you can help, please call Mrs. Catherine Weldon at 584-7829.

The Martin House Store provides good quality used furniture and household goods to people of the inner city of Trenton as part of the family of programs in the diocese. They need donations of bedroom, dining and kitchen furniture in good, usable condition. Living room furniture cannot be more than 5 years old. Housewares like dishes, bedding, pots and pans, functional appliances, etc., are badly needed. Donations of cars which can pass inspection are also of benefit. Please call (609) 989-1040 or (609) 989-8143 to make arrangements for a pick-up or see their website: http://www.martinhouse.org/

Can you donate a formal gown, evening bag, shawl or other accessories? My Sister's Closet makes evening wear available to young girls who could not otherwise afford prom outfits. To donate, email dgalen@comcast.net or apryllroach@aol.com. Men's Vocational Discernment, April 13
If you are a single Roman Catholic man between the ages of 18 and 40 who would like to know more about an exciting and powerful approach to life in the Lord, join us for this month's Vocational Discernment Meeting on Saturday, April 13, at 5pm in the Church of St. Aloysius in Jackson, NJ. Join Rev. Scott Schaffer as he begins the evening with Mass at 5pm followed by a discussion on vocations, his experience in the priesthood. The meeting concludes with a meal. To RSVP or for more information, please call Rev. Msgr. Gregory Vaughn at the Office of Vocations at 609-406-7400 x5698 or email Vocations@dioceseofTrenton.org.
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