Ministries: Pastoral, Housing and Homelessness, Urban Ministries
Results
Bellarmine Support Team for Ignatian Spirituality Projects Retreats (Cincinnati, OH)
Parish volunteers assist with Spiritual Exercises retreats as retreat companions for persons in homelessness seeking change and growth to overcome homelessness.
Parish volunteers provide lunch monthly to assist persons in homelessness with histories of emotional and/or mental challenges participating in Tender Mercies permanent housing and supportive services.
Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia (New York, NY)
The Centro Altagracia is dedicated to faith in action; promoting social justice through active collaboration with parishes, community organizations, and individuals and through initiatives that serve the needs of the community as those needs have been identified by the Hispanic community of northern Manhattan. We seek to awaken awareness within individuals of how their Catholic, Christian faith calls them to be aware of the issues impacting their community and to be engaged in action to address these issues. Among the Centro's programs are: Social/Pastoral Ministry Teams that serve as coordinators and catalysts for social awareness and action within parishes; H.E.L.P. (Hispanic Evangelization Leadership Program) that trains young adults for leadership roles within their parishes; and G.R.A.C.E. (Gaining Respect and Awareness through Community Education) which addresses the issue of domestic violence. The Centro also maintains a library of books and DVDs for community use.
The Dominican Outreach Center or Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia (Altagracia Center for Faith and Justice) was formed by the New York Province of the Society of Jesus in response to the unmet needs of the Dominican community of the Washington Heights area. In a period of slightly more than one year the Centro Altagracia has been able to make incredible strides in establishing itself in the community through its work with the ten parishes of the North Manhattan vicariate, various community organizations, and elected officials.
Gesu Parish Direct Service (Milwaukee, WI)
The social ministries are active year-round and open to all parishioners to join in making the social mission of the church the essential and central mission of the parish. Examples of ministries include: parish twinning with St Jude's parish in Haiti, ongoing social justice eduation programs, and fair trade coffee sales.
Gesu Social Concerns Committee oversees a number of programs to the homeless including a regular Saturday meal program, Sunday breakfast bags. Gesu parishioners also partner with downtown congregations offering shelter and day programs to the homeless individuals and families and Gesu parishioners were instrumental in the establishment of a Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund
Marquette Midnight Run (Milwaukee, WI)
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.
The Father McKenna Center (Washington, DC)
Provides meals, fellowship and outreach every day of the week to homeless and addicted.
The poorest of the poor go to the McKenna Center each weekday to get a mail, take a shower, to get clean clothes, to ask for job and drug counseling and to experience a safe and drug-free environment. The McKenna Center provides or efficiently refers guests to any service a homeless man might need. The McKenna Center is the last daytime drop-in center for homeless men in the downtown Washington, DC area.
