Each Advent, Gesu "plants" a Christmas tree near the east altars and invites parishioners to trim this Advent Mitten Tree. The first Sunday of Advent marks the start of our annual-sharing project for the home with gifts of warmth: new mittens, caps, scarves and gloves for homeless children and adults of several shelters for Milwaukee’s homeless and victims of domestic violence. Since 2002, we have also planted a Haiti Children’s Tree, which parishioners decorate with bars of soap, toothpaste and brushes, underwear, shoes and socks, and hair clips and ribbons for the children of St. Jude, our twin parish in Haiti.

Since 2007, Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event held at Creighton that serves as a "one-stop shop", connecting homeless individuals to needed services, including: housing, healthcare, legal resources, Social Security, food-stamp benefits, and employment. Creighton University President Fr. John Schlegel who has served as chair and host of the event noted in 2010: 330 individuals were provided housing information, 80 moved into housing, more than 100 have received new dentures, and 540 received some form of health care-related service and of those 80 percent receiving follow-up treatment.

A vibrant Hispanic community at St. Raphael and celebrate Wed 7pm, Sat 7:15pm, and Sunday 2:30pm Masses in Spanish. The Office coordinates preparation for sacraments in Spanish, Presentaciones, Quinceaneras, Charismatic Renewal, and celebrations for Our Lady of Guadalupe and All Saints Day.

Gesu Church is a member of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) – a coalition of area churches, syna­gogues, and places of worship, which provide temporary overnight housing for homeless families at periodic weekly intervals during the year. Volunteers are needed to provide meals and companionship during times when Gesu hosts IHN guests in McAuley Hall.

The Jesuit Urban Service Team provides educational, medical, legal and social services to the working poor and underserved families living in Camden and South Jersey. These ministries include Holy Name School and the High School Scholars Program, St. Luke’s Catholic Medical Services, the Camden Center For Law and Social Justice and Guadalupe Family Services.

Midnight Run is a volunteer service program which began in 1988. It focuses on the particular needs of the hungry and homeless people living in the community around Marquette. This program is organized by a coordinating team of Marquette students under the supervision of Campus Ministry. Volunteers serve meals and work in area meal programs and shelters. Service in Midnight Run is meant to challenge students to integrate their experiences with their faith. Midnight Run's philosophy is rooted in the gospel, with Matthew chapter 25 serving as its hallmark. Midnight Run is based on the fundamental belief in the dignity and worth of all persons and strives to cultivate a sense of responsibility for caring for all members of our community.

For over 20 years, the campus ministry program Midnight Run has utilized voluntary direct service (primarily nutrition and meal outreach) as its primary tool to “build relationships, and walk with those who are hungry, homeless, or suffer the consequences of society's unjust structures, honoring the dignity and worth of all.” Through reflection on service Midnight Run seeks to create men and women of service and develop agents of positive social change.

Martha Ministers assist parishioners in providing a luncheon to family and friends after a funeral in St. Ignatius Church. They shop, cook, set up, serve, and clean up after a luncheon or light reception held in the Parish Center's Garden Room. Food is both purchased and donated, and the average size of group served is 60-80. A typical luncheon requires two-hour shifts beginning about 10:00 am and lasting until 2:00 pm or later, and linens are laundered by the volunteers.
 

For over 20 years, Martha Ministry has assisted parishioners in providing a luncheon to family and friends after a funeral liturgy in St. Ignatius Church. We’d love to have you join us!

For many years St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church has been supporting and communicating with the missions of Kasisi in Africa, St. Catherine's in Alaska, and the Swinomish Spirituality Center in LaConner, Wa.
Not simply an exchange of letters, this helps the community realize the values associated with being a Jesuit parish, such as a real concern for the well being of others and a spirituality that moves St. Rita's forward.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission was founded in 1986 by community residents and the California Province of Jesuits. It has grown into a highly effective community - building organization. Proyecto Pastoral is committed to involving local community members in the planning, design and implementation of its programs. One third of the Proyecto Pastoral Board of Directors is comprised by local community residents responding to community identified needs enabling Proyecto Pastoral to make a significant impact in the lives of local families. Anticipating the needs of the community enables Proyecto Pastoral in being an ever evolving organization that whose success lies not only in being dynamic but understanding the real issues. Proyecto Pastoral serves over 2,500 children, youth and families annually through its five programs.

Proyecto Pastoral at Dolores Mission is a community building organization whose mission is to provide training, education and social services with the Pico- Aliso/Boyle Heights district of East Los Angeles. Proyecto Pastoral coordinates five community based programs.

In 1888, Holy Rosary became the first Catholic Indian Mission on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The school later honored the name of this great Lakota leader, becoming Red Cloud Indian School. For more than a century, Red Cloud Indian School has sought to give the Lakota students the skills they need to compete in a larger society while retaining the traditional values of their Lakota heritage.

ANGEL TREE ministry arranges for and delivers Christmas gifts for children whose parents are in prison.
Contact: Dan & Brandi D’Orazio, dgdorazio@gmail.com

IGNATIAN HELPERS provide services for those who are recovering from surgery or otherwise incapacitated, including grocery shopping, meals and transportation to physical therapy.
Contact: Norma Hyder, shawgas29@verizon.net

IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY PROJECT offers overnight retreats and days of recollection for homeless men and women who are in transition.
Contact: Colleen Moore, cmoore@mdmercy.com and Marilyn Dunphy, mdunphy1974@gmail.com.

JESSE TREE ministry provides warm gloves, hats, sweaters, scarves and other essentials which are given to homeless men and women at Christmastime.
Contact: Norma Hyder, shawgas29@verizon.net

JUSTICE & PEACE: The Justice & Peace Committee is chiefly engaged in education and advocacy. It educates parishioners by circulating materials or organizing events that clarify and advocate the Church's social teaching on economic and political issues that impact peoples and cultures throughout the world. It also identifies particular programs or organizations working for domestic or international peace and justice in which St. Ignatius may actively participate. The Committee organizes monthly sales of Fair Trade coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, and olive oil, as well as periodic collections of groceries for the Catholic Worker Viva House.
Contact: Sharon Davis, nelly6362@aol.com

LOAVES & FISHES prepares and delivers meals and warm clothing to the poor and homeless in downtown Baltimore on Saturday and Sunday evenings from November to April.
Contact: Beth Leonard, bl7010@hotmail.com

MEALS FOR MY SISTER'S PLACE provides and serves lunch twice each month for homeless women and children who participate in programs at My Sister's Place.
Contact: Sue Cashman, susancashman@comcast.net

A group of Gesu parishioners provide and serve a hot meal once a month at St. Patrick’s Hunger Center.

Parishioners help families in transitional housing by preparing and serving a meal and chaperoning an overnight at Visitation Parish.

Parishioners participate in a prayerful vigil, 40 Days for Life, twice a year and attend the yearly ProLife rally in Olympia, WA.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

The Immaculate Conception conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society provides individuals and families with either rent or utility assistance. Volunteers conduct telephone intake interviews at the parish offices downtown and schedule home visits to those who ask for assistance. At Thanksgiving Saint Vincent de Paul members also assemble and distribute food baskets to those in need. Currently there are eleven volunteers who focus primarily on residents of Central City and the Lower Garden District. Additional volunteers and material assistance are always welcome.