The support St. Michael’s provides extends well beyond our parish. Here are a few examples, and ways you can help God’s children in need.

Salt and Light Ministry

The Salt and Light Ministry offers short-term, hands-on volunteer outreach opportunities to aid the vulnerable, at-risk, hungry and homeless in our greater community.

Click here to see their offerings, including services to some of the agencies listed below.

 

 

 

Archdiocesan Office of Human Concerns

The Archdiocesan Office of Human Concerns works to engage Catholics and others of good will in acts of justice and charity.  The office’s work supports programs and initiatives of both the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference

and the archdiocese such as:

• Faithful Citizenship
• Catholic Social Teachings
• Sweatshop Initiative
• Just Faith
• Justice for Immigrants
• Fair Trade
• Just neighbors
• Catholic Relief Services

Find more information on its website: Archdiocesan Office of Human Concerns

St. Joseph’s Social Service Center

St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth provides food, clothing, furniture, social services and much more for the needy in the Elizabeth area.  The people of St. Michael’s partner with St. Joseph’s by making and delivering sandwiches, making monetary donations and providing service such as onsite volunteer work.

SANDWICH PROGRAM.  This is a great way to get the family involved with feeding the poor and the homeless.  Simply buy a loaf or two of bread and some cold cuts, cheese or peanut butter/jelly.  Then make the sandwiches, placing each sandwich in a sandwich bag.  When finished with the loaf, put all the loaf’s sandwiches into the original loaf bag and secure with a baggie tie.  On Sunday between the hours of Noon to 7 PM, take the sandwiches to the designated drop-off site and place them inside the sandwich cooler that is clearly visible in front of that week’s drop-off site.  Drop-off sites are listed in the weekly parish email blast and in the Sunday Bulletin.  For more information, contact the Parish Center.

  Learn more about the St. Jospeh Social Service Center.

MEATLOAF PROGRAM.  The people of St. Michael’s partner with St. Joseph Center by making and delivering meatloaves.

 

Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee

The Cranford Interfaith Human Relations Committee is composed of lay members of Cranford’s various houses of worship that work with the Clergy Council. Members of the committee help plan and coordinate the interfaith services, events and outreach efforts. St. Michael parishioners serve on the committee and participate in the various annual offerings.

Family Promise

St. Michaels is pleased to be participating as a Family Promise host congregation. Four times a year we host 3-5 families in our Parish Center for a week. The families are families with children who are temporarily homeless.  Most families find a home within 90 days of becoming homeless. For more information visit the Family Promise website http://familypromise.org.  We need the help of lots of volunteers.  Some configure our center into a home setting for our guests.  Other volunteers prepare meals, provide snacks and beverages.  And volunteers are needed to help in other areas such as activities, hospitality and oversight. A month before each hosting, volunteer signup information is published in our weekly Parish Bulletins and our email blasts.  Please volunteer. It is a great way to help someone in need.

Raphael’s Life House

Raphael’s Life House provides transitional housing since 1993 for young homeless women who are pregnant or recently have given birth. Founded in 1989 by 2 St Michael parishioners. It is housed in the former St. Patrick convent in Elizabeth. Parishioners can support this not-for-profit mission with their Time, Talent and Treasure. To find more information and to become involved visit Raphael’s Life House website.

St. John’s Soup Kitchen

St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark provides over 700 meals daily to those who come hungry and in need. The people of St. Michael’s partner with St. John’s by making and delivering meals, making monetary donations and providing service such as onsite meal cooking, serving, and cleanup. For information or to support this work, visit the St. John’s Soup Kitchen website.

Monthly Mass at Cranford Health & Extended Care

Once a month a priest from St. Michael’s gathers his chalice, hosts, wine and vestments and drives to the Cranford Health & Extended Care Center where he joins the CH&EC community to celebrate Mass with them. Volunteers are needed to bring some wheelchair bound residents to the meeting room. To volunteer contact the Parish Center.

Cranford Family Care

Cranford Family Care provides short-term, emergency assistance to families living in Cranford. The most common form of assistance is help with rent, mortgage payments and utilities. Assistance can take the forms of monetary contribution or a donation of food from their pantry. The people of St. Michael’s partner with Cranford Family Care by helping stock their food pantry throughout the year and making individual gift and monetary donations at Christmas and throughout the year. Make inquiries at: 61 Myrtle St Cranford, NJ 07016 or phone: 908-276-3530.