Our parish will be hosting guests who are situational homeless when the Interfaith Shelter is held at our parish from March 10th – 24th this year. Guests in the program are properly screened and must be actively seeking work, housing, and/or job training. They will spend each night in the Parish Hall and we will provide dinner, sack lunches, a warm place for sleeping, a shower, and breakfast each morning.

You have a unique opportunity to contribute to the Shelter by participating in our Shelter Giving Rack. When you come to Church January 27th & 28th please stop by the Giving Rack and select one or more cards with items that are needed for the shelter, like bedding, toiletries, and other necessities.

Purchase the items and drop them off at Church when you come to Mass on Shelter Sunday, February 10th & 11th. On Shelter Sunday, you can meet the Shelter Organizing Team, ask questions, and you can volunteer to bring a meal, serve breakfast, spend a night, transport guests to the laundry, set up or break down the shelter, or make a cash donation.

Last Sunday, in the Gospel, we heard John’s disciples ask Jesus, “Where do you stay”. We can easily take for granted that we have a place to live. Our efforts to help this small group of homeless in their time of transition is a sign of our welcoming Jesus, who in another Scripture is reported as “having no place to lay his head”. What a great way to participate in the Works of Mercy! Volunteer training sessions will be held on Thursday, March 1st, at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 3rd, at 9:30 a.m. Contact Debbie Higdon at dhigdon@sandi.net or call (619) 300-2563 for more information on volunteer opportunities.