 Our Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen struggle to support the growing needs in our community. These ministries depend on the generosity of parishioners, and also rely on broader food assistance programs. Now, the USDA has issued a 60-day notice of $1 billion in funding cuts to school lunch programs, food banks, and food assistance purchases from local farmers. If we already struggle to meet the needs of our neighbors, how much worse will it be once these cuts take effect? What Does This Mean for Us? 📌 More children will go hungry. With fewer resources for school lunches and emergency food programs, struggling families will face even greater challenges. 📌 More neighbors will turn to the Church. When government programs fail, faith-based organizations like our parish must fill the gaps. 📌 We have an opportunity to act. This Lent, we are called not just to give alms but also to act for justice. Take Action Today: Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in urging Congress to reconsider these cuts. With just a few clicks, you can use the SVdP's Voter Voice platform to send an email to our lawmakers. ✅ Send a letter through Voter Voice: Conference "Mary, Mother of God/Society of St Vincent de Paul" at votervoice.net/SVDPUSA/home ✅ Encourage your family and friends to participate ✅ Pray that elected officials hear our collective voices "Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. But it is justice’s role to prevent the attacks."
May God bless our efforts as we seek to feed the hungry, serve the poor, and advocate for a more just world. Together as a parish, let us be the hands, feet, and voices of Christ in our community. Amen!
Thank you to Saints Peter and Lambert Parish for donating food to our Food Pantry. Volunteers helped with the donation pickup last Friday amidst the snowfall, and we are grateful for their support. The important work of the Food Pantry would not be possible without collaboration from our larger Catholic community. On behalf of Mary, Mother of God Parish and those we serve, thank you to the parishioners of SS. Peter & Lambert!
See what items are on our food pantry wishlist by clicking the button below.  A Seat for Everyone at Mary, Mother of God ParishMary, Mother of God Parish, launched the "A Seat for Everyone" campaign just before Christmas in the spirit of compassion, generosity, and community. The initiative, a partnership between the parish and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, has garnered emotional and financial support from parishioners. This campaign embodies the Catholic Social Teaching that calls on us to serve others with dignity and compassion, and it provides a meaningful way for the parish to reach out to those on the margins. Stephanie Held, the parish's Communications Coordinator, explains that "A Seat for Everyone" is much more than a fundraising campaign. "Our goal is to bring the warmth of Christ’s love to everyone," says Held. "This project reminds us all that everyone has innate human dignity. We should all have the comfort of a warm meal and a warm sweatshirt. We're not that different." The Beginnings of the Campaign
The idea for the "A Seat for Everyone" campaign began to take shape just before Christmas. Pastor Fr. Alejandro Lopez, OFM Conv. made a special appeal encouraging parishioners to become more engaged in giving and outreach. Stephanie Held recalls how the idea blossomed from there. "The Society of St. Vincent de Paul president reached out. The Society wanted to do something meaningful for the dinner guests and find a way for parishioners to be a part of it. We thought, why not celebrate Christmas with a useful gift? What if we gave everyone at the Soup Kitchen a hoodie, as a symbol of inclusion and welcome, and encourage parishioners to sponsor one?"
 Every hoodie is more than clothing - it is a symbol of hope, community, and care. Proceeds support our Soup Kitchen and Outreach Programs, helping us:
  "I was so pleased to see the kids cheerfully guiding the food recipients through the food selection maze. All of them were engaged with the people they were helping. With warm smiles, the kids were obviously trying to help people with language difficulty understand what puzzling food items consisted of and how they might be used. I went home that day feeling better about the future of the Church and society in general." Our parish food pantry depends on the generosity of volunteers to keep its doors open and operations running smoothly. We are grateful for this on-going partnership with the eighth graders of Saints JFX School in Wilmette. This is a weekly way for students to put their faith into action!
Yesterday, two Franciscan postulants began their ministry at our parish food pantry. As postulants, Kole and George are in a year-long formation program with the Conventual Franciscans to see if they would like to join the Order. In addition to regular ministry work, they are living in community with the friars and learning the daily rhythm of the Religious Life. This is the stage of formation directly after a young man's application is accepted by the friars. Are you called to a life of service, fraternity, and prayer? Click here to learn more about the Conventual Franciscans! Happy New Year from the volunteers at the parish Soup Kitchen! We would like to thank the anonymous donors who sent a ladle, package of reusable grocery bags, a bag of bite-size candy, three bags of dry lentils, and a six pack of Scotch tape to St. Thomas of Canterbury. Below are photos of volunteers putting these gifts to good use. Scenes from the Christmas Party at St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen. We hope all of our guests enjoyed this festive dinner. 🎄 Thank you to the volunteers who helped organize, prepare, decorate, and clean up the meal. We are very proud of our parishioners and the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society for organizing this event.💓 |
