Community Life/Social Justice

Advent Giving Tree
This is a Knights of Columbus sponsored program where social service agencies throughout Hartford provide lists of items or other donation needs to the parish. Individual parishioners can select an item for donation from the “Giving Tree” during the Advent season. Assistance is needed in delivering collected donations.

Christmas Baskets
Provides needy families in Hartford with food baskets for Christmas Day. Families can participate by “adopting a family” by providing “turkey money” or preparing a food basket.

Culture of Life
To Pope John Paul II, Culture of Life meant respect for human life from the first moment of conception until its natural end. In a loving way, this ministry seeks to create a presence for a culture of life perspective in the parish. It is hoped that prayer and action will raise awareness of the many issues encompassed by a culture of life and increase respect for life in all stages.

Habitat for Humanity
A full day of work provided by parishioners at a worksite in the Hartford area. Date varies from year to year.

Haitian Medical Ministry
Provides medical aid to Haiti, the poorest country in this Hemisphere. Our parish community, both medical and non-medical volunteers, participates in trips to Haiti to learn about the needs of the Haitian people and to lend support to a mobile clinic. Parishioners are involved in creating parish awareness to "Help Haitians Help Haitians", and in the collecting of vitamins, hygiene items and medical supplies. The ministry also sponsors fund raising efforts, such as the sale of Stop & Shop cards and an annual dinner. Click here for a brochure.

JustFaith
The Justfaith process is a journey into the heart of the Gospel where one learns how to follow Jesus more faithfully. It includes opportunities: To gain a better understanding of the Church’s social mission from Scripture and Catholic social teaching To encounter the poor and marginalized in our world and grow in compassion To integrate personal spirituality and social ministry It involves thirty 2-1/2 hour meetings from mid September to early May, retreats in September and April, four immersion experiences, and approximately 2 hours of reading per week. The cost is $145 per person for books (paid in installments, aid is available). If you really want to learn about Catholic social teaching, this major commitment is well worth the time and effort.

Mission Trips
Mission Trips are organized to respond to the needs of others. Past trips include a trip to New Orleans to help clean up after the Hurricane and a youth trip to Rutland Vermont.

Outreach Collections
Food Bank – Year-round collections of non-perishable food items distributed to a number of local groups

School Supplies Collection – Collect school supplies (Mid-Late August) for distribution to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker House in Hartford and the Hillcrest Area Neighborhood Outreach Center in West Hartford

Mum Sale – Mums are sold at all masses during the weekend following the Labor Day Holiday with proceeds going to Hope Works, Inc.

Food Bag Collection – Collect and distribute filled grocery bags which are then distributed to local food pantries during November with an annual goal of 300 bags.

Hot Cereal Collection – Collection of cereals, especially hot, to benefit Mercy Family Center starting in Mid January.

Lenten Corporal Works of Mercy – Various and appropriate items collected and distributed to local groups during the six weeks of Lent.

Camp for Kids – Collection in June to assist in sending inner city youth to summer camp in conjunction with St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker House in Hartford.

Soup Kitchens
House of Bread– The House of Bread exists in order to provide urban ministry to the economically disadvantaged in the Hartford area. We serve at the House of Bread from January thru December, lunches on Wednesdays from 10:45 - 1pm and breakfast on Wednesday and Friday mornings 7:30 - 9. Our function when there is to plate the prepared food and serve it to the customers and wipe down tables in between. Most volunteers have a specifically assigned monthly obligation and need to find their own sub if they cannot make a date. New volunteers are always needed and welcome.

St. Elizabeth House Dinners – Rotating teams coordinate dinners prepared by our parishioners, deliver and serve to the residents at the House of Mercy Shelter – St. Elizabeth House in Hartford, six times a year.

Tabor House Dinners – Dinners are prepared by parishioners, delivered, and served to the residents at Tabor House every other Wednesday. Tabor House is a homeless shelter caring for people suffering with HIV/AIDS. Click here for more information.