Circle #1 meets monthly to foster spiritual and social relationships among women, supporting those who are expecting a child and the mothers of young children in our parish. It is a network of women celebrating strength in faith and friendship, and giving back to the church and community while growing in motherhood.  Members offer their time and talent at the Chic Boutique, which is a source of funds for the Ladies Guild. They also assist with Donut Sunday Hospitality and first Friday Masses, and select a charitable organization outside the parish to help each year.  Circle #1 meets on a variety of spiritual and entertaining topics at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, September through May. Monthly meetings generally last one to two hours and there are other social outings during the year. Leaders devote an additional hour each month.

While Circle 2 will likely vote on and undertake a community project (we are not assigned a specific project like the other Circles), our focus is on building fellowship. We meet to pray, visit, and build community.  Circle 2 meets on the second Monday of the month to plan fellowship and fun, and takes its turns offering assistance with Donut Sunday Hospitality and first Friday Guild Masses. Time commitment is estimated at five hours per month.

We are the ladies who have been active members of St. Robert’s for many years, some from the very beginning of the parish. Circle 3 is about fostering friendships and keeping them going as we meet, visit, and enjoy entertainment and goodies.  Circle 3 offers help for several Ladies Guild events and board meetings, serves at a monthly coffee, and members serve as co-leaders and workers for their own meetings, including programs, refreshments, set up and clean up.  Meets on the second Thursday of the month at 9:15 a.m., usually in the Mainelli Center. Time commitment varies and is around six hours monthly.

Circle #4 gathers to foster friendship, meet others, and advance spiritual welfare among young couples in St. Robert’s.  Working to assist the pastor and advance the purpose of the Ladies Guild, they also plan several social events each year, support the Mother/Daughter Event Committee, and assist with Donut Sunday Hospitality and first Friday Masses.  Those who help with Donut Sunday Hospitality and first Friday Masses commit to an hour each time. Those who work the events commit to three or more hours for each one.

This group provides social opportunities to foster old and new friendships with fellow parishioners and support for pro-life causes. Circle 5 plans four activities throughout the year and helps with a Ladies Guild project. One meeting has a pro-life focus, such as bringing baby supplies for Essential Pregnancy Services or a speaker to raise awareness. Time commitment is two hours for planning and 15 to 20 hours for the events.

This group works with the American Red Cross to host four or five opportunities for parishioners to donate blood at St. Robert’s. The group promotes the Blood Drive in the parish bulletin and in announcements in print and broadcast media and contacts prior donors to set appointments for them. It works as a liaison between the parish and the American Red Cross and assures a positive and pleasant environment for blood donors. Leaders spend about 14 hours organizing each Blood Drive. Blood donors without an appointment are encouraged to allow an hour at busier times.

Ladies Afternoon Bridge provides a monthly opportunity for ladies of the parish to enjoy lunch together, play bridge, and interrelate socially. The group is purely social and each member hosts lunch once during the session (September through May, excepting December). Volunteers help by preparing a roster, rules of play, and a schedule that is sent to bridge players. Scores are tallied each month, and sent to the hostess each month. The cost is $15 per person is contributed to Ladies Guild to help with expenses for funeral lunches and more. Typically, participants spend about three hours each month. The chairman spends considerable time organizing the agenda.

The purpose of Ladies Evening Bridge is recreation and fellowship. Teams are set, scores are kept, and coffee and paper products are provided for players. The group meets September through May at 7:00 p.m. in the Mainelli Parish Center on the third Monday of the month. An additional two hours per month is given by leaders to determine standings and team rotations.

Couples Bridge provides fellowship among fellow parishioners and keeps our minds sharp. Bridge is played in the evening or afternoon, whatever time is convenient for the couples. The group keeps an even number of players and tracks scores throughout the year. Prizes are awarded from money collected, a portion of which funds Ladies Guild work. Time commitment is around four hours monthly.

This committee provides an opportunity for fellowship while operating an annual parish event. Volunteers organize and implement a collaboration of crafters and vendors and host a sale which is typically held in October. A portion of the proceeds benefit St. Robert’s. Committee members can expect to contribute three to four hours a month.

This group cleans the church three times each year before Christmas, before Easter, and again in July or August.  Committee members wash the exterior windows, dust all window ledges and confessionals, clean the stands for the Easter candle and Holy Oils, and clean the flag base and tables in the narthex. Cleaning supplies are provided.  Time commitment is about two hours, depending on how many participate. Cleaning is normally scheduled following an 8:30 a.m. Monday Mass.

This committee offers support to women and their families during the joys, challenges, and sorrows of the childbearing years. This ministry includes pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, still birth, infant death, adoption, infertility and other crises or special needs. Elizabeth Ministers offer peer support, mentoring, and friendship. These women are willing to share their stories, presence, and experience in the hope of encouraging another woman and her family as help is needed. The group meets for sharing each month for one to two hours, with additional meetings based on need.

This committee of the Ladies Guild is committed to improving and maintaining the exterior appearance of the campus at St. Robert’s and has held for some time a goal of developing the property into a Statewide Arboretum Site. They have “adopted” all non-lawn planting beds, assigning them to a dozen individuals/groups that make year- long commitments to their spaces. In the spring they remove winter debris, plant annuals and shrubs, prune, and mulch. During the growing season they weed, water, and generally maintain the appearance, and in fall there is raking, pruning, and clean-up as needed. Time commitment typically is two Saturday mornings of general work in the spring and fall, with additional work as needed during the growing season.

This committee cleans, maintains, and organizes the Guild Room, kitchen, adjoining room and rest room. The work includes washing the tile floor and cleaning of the counters, stove, cupboards, and refrigerator.

This committee strives to preserve the memory and keep an accurate history of Guild events held throughout the year.

Organizes and hosts eight monthly events from September through April each year for the purposes of fellowship and community-building. Hospitality is available following the four Sunday Masses (7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 a.m.) in the Mainelli Parish Center. Leaders order donuts, bagels and cream cheese, juice, and paper products, set up on the day of the event, collect and secure goodwill donations, and coordinate with other Ladies Guild members for clean-up. Two Donut Sunday co-leaders are responsible for two Sundays each school year for a total time commitment of 12 hours for each co-leader.

This committee provides a quiet morning of spiritual renewal each year during Lent. It is open to all parish members and held on a weekday. Organizers secure a priest or religious as the presenter, promote the event at St. Robert’s and neighboring parishes, and serve light refreshments to those who attend. Time commitment totals from five to seven hours, and planning begins about three months prior to the event.

This committee assists with communication between the Guild and parish liturgical practices and events.

Bereavement support is offered on behalf of the St. Robert’s community by providing funeral luncheons for family and friends. Some members donate and deliver food for luncheons in a timely manner. Other members assist with presentation and serving of the luncheon itself. Following the meal, dishes are washed and stored, tables, dining area, and kitchen are cleaned and left as found. Any remaining food is packaged and sent home with the family or is delivered to a shelter. There is a time commitment for those members providing food for the luncheon, both in preparation and delivery. Estimated time for those members serving the luncheon is four to five hours, depending on the number of people served.