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. Our goal is to shine a light of hope and touch what is at the root of Christianity: Love, Faith, Compassion, Mercy, Service – to “Be the Face of Christ” for others.
While our primary goal is volunteer outreach, a secondary “fruit” has flourished – a sense of community among the participating parishioners.
We have served and delivered Thanksgiving meals, we adopted families for Christmas and two parishes in the flood-torn areas of NC, hosted a Christmas dinner for seniors at Cranford
Senior Housing, distributed food to 3 organizations through our Reverse Advent Calendar, worked the Community Food Bank, served at the St. Joseph’s Social Services Soup Kitchen, raised money for the Eddie Gray Camp, assembled and delivered lunches to St. Joseph’s, celebrated a Mass of Anointing for the Sick with a luncheon and our Crochet Connection is actively making lap blankets and beanies for the sick.
The appeal of the ministry is that there are no hard commitments, you volunteer when it fits into your schedule.
For more information or to become a part of our ministry contact Patti Conheeney at pcon0219@gmail.com.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under-foot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16
Pope Francis urges us believers “to give flavor to the life of others and to bring the light of Faith to our neighbors and to mankind”.
PARISH DAY OF SERVICE
Our 2nd Parish Day of Service, scheduled for Saturday March 28 has been canceled. Teams of parishioners would have participated in a variety of service projects around the parish. The day was to begin with 8:00 Mass in church, followed by check in and breakfast in the school auditorium. The activities would have concluded around noon with lunch in the cafeteria.
Some Pictures from our last Service Day.
In conjunction with Service Day we will be hosting a children’s ‘new’ toy drive. The toys will be donated to the children’s cancer unit at RWJ Newark Beth Israel. A box is located in the lobby of the church and at the Parish Center through Friday, March 27. Here is the RWJ Newark Beth Israel link suggesting the types of items. Click here to sign up to volunteer for a project or to donate an item.
We will also be hosting a Career Clothing Drive. We are looking for donations of ‘career’ handbags and accessories. In addition, we will be collecting ‘plus-size’ (size 16 or larger) prom dresses. Please drop donations off on Saturday, March 28 in the School cafeteria between 9:30 a.m. and noon. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept donations prior to the Service Day due to space limitations.
We are looking to forward to another day filled with Faith, Community and Service!
If you have any questions, please email Ken Hickey or Patti Conheeney.