Groups & Organizations

Boy Scouts:  A parish sponsored organization for boys 12-18 which helps them, through work and play, to become better citizens.  Weekend camping trips Sept. – June (one per month), week-long camping in July, community service including Adopt-a-Highway, Scouting for Food, Meals on Wheels, Operation Christmas Child, twice a year grounds clean-up at St. Athanasius and Keating Fire Company.

Cub Scouts:  Boys from 6 to 11 years old learn skills and hobbies and how to be healthy and strong.  We teach boys positive Christian values in an alcohol, drug and tobacco-free environment.  We camp, fish, hike, do handicrafts, field trips, etc.

Christian Mothers:  A spiritual and social group open to all women.  Our meetings are socials with various types of programs.  We have monthly meetings with speakers and/or programs to help us spiritually, intellectually and to socialize.  We contribute to our Pastor's projects for the parish and other charitable organizations like St. Vincent DePaul, St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, Community and Non-Profit Organizations, annual communion breakfast, covered dish dinners, and Day of Recollection.  Praying the Rosary at the funeral home for deceased members, attendance at funeral Mass, cards to sick members, help at the festival and other parish organizations, and praying for families and each other.

Ladies of Charity:  The Ladies of Charity visit shut-ins in nursing homes, make calls to shut-ins, help families that may be in need of rides to church or to doctors, make meals for people returning home from the hospital, and visit the bereaved at funeral homes.  We have an anointing Mass for the sick twice a year.  We sponsor the giving tree for parish members in need and also help with other community projects.

Respect Life: The Respect Life Program creates and sustains respect for human life at every stage of its existence and in every situation from conception until natural death.  They sponsor the bus trip to Washington DC in January for the March for Life.  They hold an annual flower sale with the proceeds donated to organizations that offer supportive services to homeless women, children, and pregnant women.  They focus on such issues as abortion, war, the death penalty, euthanasia, elder abuse, poverty and racism.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St Athanasius Parish works together with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Pittsburgh. Click here to learn about the many good works of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Pittsburgh.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris, France on April 23, 1833 by a group of laymen headed by Frederick Ozanam, who named St. Vincent de Paul as the patron of the group.  The Society is a lay organization inspired by the Gospels.  The Society leads women and men to spiritual growth through person-to-person service to those in need.  St. Vincent witnessed God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice.

Needle Threaders: The Needle Threaders make comfort quilts for members of our community to let them feel the love, support, and encouragement from the parish during difficult times.  They also make many items for the church, homeless, nursing homes, hospitals, charity in addition to sewing for special projects.

Legion Of Mary

The Legion of Mary is an international organization founded in Dublin, Ireland by Frank Duff in 1921 as a Roman Catholic Marian Lay Apostolate.  The members of the Legion are primarily engaged in serving our Clergy, parishioners, and neighbors through the performance of the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Members can be active or auxiliary (praying). The Legion of Mary is divided up into smaller groups. The Parish group is known as a praesidium. The praesidium at Incarnation of the Lord is Mary, Ark of the New Covenant. Some of the works being performed by this praesidium are:

• Visiting the elderly and sick in their homes, personal care facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals.
• Providing the Pilgrim Virgin Statue Home Visitation Program to parishioners.  The statue can stay with the parishioners for at least two weeks. Family and friends are encouraged to pray the Rosary daily to develop a closer relationship with Jesus.
• Providing a Book Barrow near the entrance of the church to share evangelization materials with parishioners on a variety of topics in the Church.
• Facilitating, collaborating, co-hosting, and co-sponsoring Spiritual Development Events.
• Leading Rosary Prayers in Church and at other facilities.

If you are interested in discovering more, please email us at: mary.ark.of.the.new.covenant@gmail 

Or call: Jane Sestric 412-841-3923, or Araceli Victoria 570-234-5775 

To discover more about the Legion of Mary in the Pittsburgh area, please visit our website: https://pittsburghregia.com 

St. Teresa of Avila Parish offers a variety of organizations and groups for parishioners to join for fellowship and service. We invite you to join us in growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through your participation in any of the organizations presented here. If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below contact

Boys Scouts of America Troop #368
Boy Scout Troop 368 is for young men ages 10 to 17 and is a boy-led program emphasizing outdoor skills, citizenship and group leadership, organized by patrol. Their motto is “Be Prepared” and they progress through the ranks at their own pace by earning merit badges, mastering life skills and taking increasingly challenging leadership roles. Weekly troop meetings are held on Tuesday evenings in Schoppol Hall. Coordinator: Dianne Machesney

Confraternity of Christian Mothers
Christian Mothers learn to unite their own hearts to Christ so that they can help to draw their families closer to the Lord. In that way they become the leaven which makes their own parish and community more alive with the presence of the risen Lord.  Mary, the “Mother of Sorrows, as mother to all of Christ’s followers is the patronage of the organization. All women over the age of 18, single or married, with or without children, are invited to join and share their gifts and talents to serve the church, school, and community. The group attends Mass together on the first Sunday of the month and participates in group prayer after communion. Coordinator: Georgiann Schaefer

Knights of Columbus Council #13959
Open to Catholic men, eighteen and over, committed to the exemplification of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. The Order is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is unequivocal in its loyalty to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of the family. The Order serves the parish and community wherever needed. Visit the Council’s website at KOFC13959.ORG.

Ladies of Charity
The motto of the Ladies of Charity is “to serve rather than be served in humility, simplicity, and charity. The organization ministers to parishioners and others through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. Coordinator: Mrs. Curtis Staab

Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St Vincent de Paul leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering. Organized locally, Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. At St. Teresa of Avila, the group assists the needy of the parish as well as those of the greater parish community. Included in that community are family members as well as individuals and organizations associated thereto. Once a month the group provides dinners to Northside Common Ministries which supports the needs of homeless men. Coordinator: Bob Burnos 

Oaxaca Mission Group
The Oaxaca Mission Group provides financial and spiritual support to the Anna Seethaler Hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through various annual fundraising events, the group raises much needed funds that benefit the operation of the hospital and the care of its patients. The hospital, located in the third poorest state in Mexico, serves about 1800 patients a month, many of which are so poor they are unable to pay for their treatment. Click here to learn more about the mission of the clinic or to make a donation. Coordinator: Janet D. Lindner