Service Outreach Committee

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The Service Outreach Committee (SOC) was formed under the St. Mary Church to fulfill the parish service mission to the community outside of the Parish.  The SOC is now under St. Paul VI and includes both St. Mary and Mater Christi parishes.  The focus of the SOC is to inspire and lead the parish faith community in ministering to those in poverty, service members in the military, the elderly, community families and the environment. The SOC is made up of a group of parishioners who research and develop service projects to be supported by the parish faith community.  Support consists of volunteer hours, donation of goods, and/or donation of monetary gifts.
 
Service Projects are the means by which the committee engages the parish community to provide heartfelt service to others.  Project details are shared with parishioners who then volunteer themselves and/or members of their family.  For Religious Education and St. Mary School children, the projects have served as good opportunities to acquire service hours.  The list of projects include regular weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and one-time projects.  Future SOC projects and the call for volunteers, will be posted in the Parish Bulletin and Newsletter.  Do you know of a service project, a group or organization that our parish could help? Are you interested in inspiring and leading our parish faith to service others?  Reach out via email:  Pat Madai, madap67@att.net or Sue Jones, suejonesriverside@gmail.com

St. Paul VI Parish Action Day

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​Parish Action Day (PAD) is a service day that has been held at St Mary’s Parish from 2012 thru 2019.  After a 2-year COVID forced break, the first    St. Paul VI PAD was held on November 5, 2022 and consisted of parishioners from both St. Mary and Mater Christi churches.  PAD is sponsored by the Service Outreach Committee and its purpose is to build community and camaraderie with all parishioners as they serve a few hours together to help the needy, the military, and the environment.
 
PAD began with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the St Mary Parish Center. It was followed by a send-off prayer by the Pastor at 9:00 a.m. and then parishioners joined their project group. In 2022, there were 10 different service project groups:  packing supplies for the homeless, a Veterans program at Hines VA, environmental landscape work around town, assembling laundry kits and decorating cookies for the homeless, making holiday cards for the military, specialized cleaning in both of our churches, making Random Acts of Kindness notes to distribute around our neighborhoods, sorting coats & clothing & making after school snack packs for Catholic Charities.
    
PAD 2022 was a success with 145 attendees.  As the pictures below indicate, everyone worked hard and had fun completing the service projects.  

Parish Action Day; November 5, 2022

Service Outreach Projects

Greater Chicago Food Depository
​Individuals help pack food for those in need in Cook County.
​ Kids 11+ be must accompanied by a responsible adult. For questions or to register contact John Legan via text or call at 708-870-0045 or email at bishopse5a@gmail.com.

Catholic Charities Tuesday Supper
CC Cicero began the Tuesday Supper program at the beginning of the pandemic in October, 2020. The geographic area that is served is mostly the near west suburbs of Berwyn, Cicero, and South Oak Park. The CC clients served are seniors and the working poor. St. Paul VI Parish is a monthly sponsor and the CC clients are very grateful for our service.   The Service Outreach Committee coordinates a supper on the 3rd Tuesday of every month; different menus are planned. Check the St. Paul VI bulletin and the newsletter for more information. Thank you to all who have helped us to help others, especially those who help on a regular monthly basis.

Catholic Charities - Stock the Pantry
Please bring your donation for the Catholic Charities Pantry items to the Parish Office at 40 E. Burlington, Riverside. Canned goods: soup, vegetables, fruit, tuna, and pasta, pasta sauce, rice, cereal, mac n cheese are welcome. In addition, gift cards can be placed in an envelope and dropped at the office mailbox. Please label the envelope CC Food Pantry Collection.  Thank you for your generosity and continued support.

BEDS PLUS 
  • Shelf Stable Collection – These items are collected for the homeless that are being housed in hotels by the BEDS PLUS organization for the homeless.  The shelf stable items are used for clients on the weekends when hot meals are not available.  Items are collected at the Service Outreach Committee meetings.  If you have items to contribute, send an email to Patcuevas35@gmail.com. 
  • Rotational Shelter Meals - BEDS PLUS has opened emergency shelters in a rotational schedule at churches in our neighboring communities. St. Paul VI Service Outreach Committee is supporting BEDS PLUS with dinner and breakfast meals on specific dates.  Check the Parish bulletin or newsletter for more details on the next meal.  Any questions, reach out to Nancy DeFauw, nancydefauw@comcast.net.

Feeding the Hungry - Housing Forward
Do you enjoy cooking?  There is opportunity and need for volunteers to help feed the hungry for a homeless shelter located on Lake Street in Oak Park.
 
The first Friday of each month, generous cooks provide 40 dinners to Housing Forward.  Volunteers make 5-10 dinners of a menu
of their choosing comprised of an entree, a vegetable, and a dessert.
Containers are supplied.  Meals are delivered.
 
If you are interested in this worthy deed, please contact Kathy Burns.  burns.kathleen@comcast.net