St. Henry’s Altar Society

A faithful group of women are active in the Altar Society of St. Henry’s Catholic Church.

The group provides many services to the church and community.

Possibly the most visible of their projects is the care and supply of the supplies for the Altar.

The group pays for the cloth, candles, bread and wine that are used at each service.

A committee of the society is responsible for cleaning and washing the “purificators,” the cloths that are used in the service.

The cloths are washed, starched and folded in a certain manner.

The committee also cleans the church each week.

The Altar Society currently has about 63 members with an average attendance of 25 at each monthly meeting.

At these meetings, the members discuss projects and other business, then a social hour.

The Bereavement Committee helps families that have had a death in the family.

The Committee provides a memorial meal for the family.

At times the meals have fed as many as 300 people.

Large meals can be done in the Activity Building at the church if needed.

Usually the meals are provided in the home of the family.

If the family does not want a memorial meal, the Committee can make a memorial donation to the family’s favorite charity or to the church in the name of the deceased.

Each year, the Society donates to Project Graduation.

The group also works with Orange Christian Services and the Bridge City Library.

Another project is to help provide the Seaman’s Center in Port Arthur with necessities for the visiting seamen.

“We want to provide them with things such as toiletries that they may need and also give things to the foreign seamen that will give them a small idea of American life,” said Cheryl Sargent, treasurer of the society.

In addition, the Altar Society has a mission program in the summer, a Christmas luncheon for the entire church, and it works with the St. Henry’s Youth Group.

The society also provided some community service and support after Hurricane Rita.

“With this group you can do as much as you want to.

We can work around your schedule, whatever it is,” Sargent said.

On June 8, the society will be giving a luncheon in the Activity Building for Father Jim McClintock.

“Father Jim,” as he is known, will be leaving the church here for his next assignment.

The society and the church want to have the luncheon as a way to thank him for his years of faithful service to St. Henry’s and the community, Sargent said.

Officers of the society are Barbara Piat, president; Mary Castino, vice president; Delores Myers, recording secretary; Cheryl Sargent, treasurer, and Mona Brunson, activity director.