MISSIONS
COLLECTION OF RELIGIOUS ITEMS
One way that our parish can minister to the spiritual needs of national and international missions is through the collection of religious items, including holy cards, small statues, medals, rosaries, and other altar items, such as priest vestments, altar server robes, and linens. These items are packaged and sent to “Beads of Peace” in Ohio, which gets requests from all over the world for specific religious items needed. At their expense and from donations of postage from our parish, they send these articles to the areas of most need. The best way we can help in this worthwhile project it to collect and donate religious articles we are not using, so that others may benefit from them. Items we cannot accept: anything made of glass or plaster parts, any statues above 8" in height.
ST. ANTHONY ORPHANAGE
The St. Anthony’s Orphanage Mission was established on December 25, 2001, to provide financial help for the care and education of 180 orphan children at the St. Anthony’s Children’s Home, Nagercoil, TN, India. In this orphanage, deserted and orphaned children from infants to 22 years of age are cared for by members of the Congregation of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since the Mission is run by volunteers, 100% of all contributions are used for the care and education of the children. Since one of the founders of the Mission was a parishioner who passed away suddenly, our parish has taken it upon ourselves to “adopt” the orphanage. Monetary contributions are distributed for tuition support, food and clothing support, and child health clinics. In the recent past, our parish assisted in providing an electrical generator for the orphanage in times of power failure and in sending several young women to nursing school. Contributions are gratefully accepted through the diocesan Mission Office and through our parish collection.