Parish Outreach

Mother of Divine Providence Parish is involved in a number of Outreach projects and ministries.  Our parishioners are very generous in giving of their time, talents, and financial resources to engage in many Works of Mercy during the year.  Here is just a sample.

 

 

Feed the Hungry/Give Drink to the Thirsty/Shelter the Homeless

Food Collections: Blue bins are located in the back of the church to collect food donations for Catholic Social Services in Norristown.  Several times during the year, we participate in the Manna food collection, wherein we ask parishioners to fill bags with food to donate.  Our parish has been praised by Catholic Social Services for our frequent and faithful level of high support.

St. John’s Hospice: We support the work of St. John’s Hospice with the homeless in Philadelphia through our casserole program.   Volunteers make meals which St. John’s then uses to feed those in need.  Trays and suggested recipes are located in the church vestibule. Casseroles are to be dropped off at a parishioner’s house on the 2nd Wednesday of the month by 9:00 AM.  Click here for recipes.  Call the office for drop off information.  We also collect various toiletries in the back of the church which are donated to St. John’s.

 

Visit the Sick/Visit the Imprisoned

Care Ministers: Volunteers help visit our homebound parishioners, paying periodic friendly visits.  In December, parishioners bake homemade cookies, which are packaged by our care ministers and delivered to the homebound.  Care ministers also assist in the Mass with the Anointing of the Sick, helping to welcome and register those in attendance.

Nursing Home Ministry: Members of our parish Legion of Mary routinely visit a local nursing home for a rosary service.  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring Holy Communion to residents of these facilities.

 

Bury the Dead

Bereavement Ministry: Annually on All Souls’ Day, MDP offers a special Mass for the repose of the souls of all who were buried from MDP in the past year.  Families of the deceased are invited to attend and to commemorate their loved one during the Mass.  We also offer a Grief Support group, which meets monthly to help those who are dealing with loss to help cope with their grief and find support from one another.

 

Give Alms to the Poor

Giving Tree: At the end of November, we place tags on the giving tree to collect toy donations for approximately 30 families identified as in need by Catholic Social Services.  The outpouring of generosity in this collection is truly a sight to behold!

St. Vincent dePaul Clothing Drives: We collect used clothing twice a year for St. Vincent dePaul.  Collection dates are published in the parish bulletin.

Gift of Sight: We collect sunglasses and prescription glasses and donate them to the Give the Gift of Sight Foundation, which repairs and delivers glasses to those in need in developing countries.  Donations can be left in the Gift of Sight box in the back of church.

 

If you would like to get involved, or if you have suggestions for other outreach activities, please contact Claire Pinto at cpinto@mdpparish.com or by calling 610-265-4178.