Religious Education:

The religious education program for our young people is held on Saturday afternoons from 2:00 -4:00 p.m. While offering a time for fellowship with other young people, the instructions and activities ensures that our youth are deeply rooted in the Catholic Christian faith tradition. Adult Bible Study is held each Wednesday from 7:00 -9:00 p.m. By exploring God's Word to us in the scriptures, we come face to face with God's will for us in the present day. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) offers an opportunity to learn about the Catholic faith, leading up to baptism or entry into the Catholic community. Meetings are held Sunday mornings at 9:00am. 

Church Choir:

Our Church Choir leads us every Sunday in praising our loving God as we worship together. Grounded in the rich African American heritage of gospel music and rooted in the Catholic tradition, the choir's ministry reveals its untiring commitment to "create a joyful noise unto the Lord". The choir is open to those of any age who wish to join.

Seniors:

St. Anselm's Seniors-on-the-Go meet the second Monday of every month at 11:00 a.m. for both social and spiritual fellowship. Many other informational, spiritual and recreational outings also take place for our elders, who are definitely young at heart.

HOPE Project

St. Anselm's HOPE Project helps provide emotional, spiritual, as well as physical necessities to our neighbors in the Washington Park community. Gathering together in a spirit of community and self-help, food and other necessities are earned through a commitment to self-development, respectful of the dignity of persons. Every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. a meal is served, followed by the "HOPE Circle" in which the joys and troubles of life are shared and discussed with an eye to what actions can be taken.

Teens, Dance, & Drill Team:

The Dance Ministry and Drill Team offer youth an opportunity to experience the fruits of cooperation and teamwork as they sharpen their precision in shaping their routines. The teams share their ministries occasionally at Sunday Mass, and also give Spirit-filled performances at other events. The teenage youth group offers an opportunity for teens to share their dreams and struggles with one another in the context of their faith. Social and recreational activities also help bring a spirit of community and belonging, including retreats, liturgies, and outreach efforts in the community. Members of the parish as well as non-Catholic teens participate in this group.

This Far by Faith

There are many more ministries and programs happening at St. Anselm's, helping to uplift the faith community itself and reaching out to the community around us with God's Word and the love of Jesus. We've been through many difficulties and changes over these past 90 years, but we're still here as a beacon of Light and Hope. Join us in worship on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and have a cup of coffee and learn more about us after Mass in Mother Drexel Hall!

Outreach

Our Mission Statement inspires us to reach out to our neighbors in the Washington Park community, where half of all families live below the poverty line. With the help of our Sharing Parishes, we are able to extend a helping hand to the poor in our community. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, thousands of people are the recipients of gifts, food boxes, and hot dinners. Our prison ministry reaches out to the families of those incarcerated, in a neighborhood where there are so many touched by crime. We are also host the "Building Bridges" training program, which prepares men and women to take an apprenticeship exam in the construction trades. This year, we are a site for the Tax Assistance Program, which helps low-income families prepare their taxes and benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit. We open our doors to several Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each week. Through these programs and in many other ways, we try to carry out our mission of affirming the human dignity of those around us, all children of God.