Community Outreach
Community Outreach is Mary Mother’s intentional effort to connect with and serve our wider community, extending our reach and impact beyond the walls of the parish. Purposely putting into action and actively reaching out to help and serve others in tangible, practical ways. It is a way for parishioners to live out the core values Jesus calls us to of love, compassion and service while demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of our neighbors in the community and world. By actively engaging with the community, our parish builds trust and credibility, creating a welcoming environment for all while strengthening our own community itself, fostering unity and providing opportunities for members to grow in their faith and discipleship.
Mary Mother’s Community Outreach Ministries:
- Meals at Mary Mother – Those in need in our community are served meals prepared by our volunteers. Meals are delivered to cars, or walk-ups, from 5:00 – 6:00 typically every 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month. Those wishing to receive meals should enter the lower parking lot and follow the directional signs bringing them to Door 1.
- Emergency Food Shelf – Stocked by our generous parishioners, neighborhood families experiencing food instability may receive 2 bags of groceries monthly by appointment.
- Diaper Ministry – Families with young children in need of extra assistance may receive a sleeve of diapers as well as package of wipes monthly by appointment.
- Crib Ministry – Referred by Dakota County Case Workers or Public Health Nurses, families in need may receive a full-size permanent crib, mattress, mattress pad and sheets. This is an Archdiocesan supported ministry.
- Loaves and Fishes – A team of Mary, Mother volunteers prepare a free, healthy meal once a month on location at the Peace House Community in Minneapolis.
- Military Support – Mary, Mother volunteers pack and ship boxes to military personnel overseas assisting family members of deployed servicemen and servicewomen. For a list of items needing donations, please click on the Learn More tab.
- Panera Bread Day-End Dough-Nation Program – Mary, Mother volunteers bag and distribute day old bread to people facing hunger or food insecurity on Tuesday mornings in the Main Lobby area.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry – Parishioners who love to knit or crochet come together to create beautiful shawls and baby blankets that are blessed by our Pastor and given to people in our community experiencing illness, grief, loneliness, sadness or the birth of a child. These talented creators meet once a month on the second Monday from 4:00 – 5:00 at our parish. Others who cannot attend are encouraged to share their talents by donating shawls and baby blankets made at home to our ministry.
- Rosary Makers Ministry – Rosaries are made for our parish and organizations both locally and across the world with places such as Sierra Leone, Italy, Togo, Philippines, Mexico, Haiti and Rwanda. Everyone is welcome to join this ministry even if you do not know how to make a rosary! The Makers meet every 2nd Saturday of the month from September through May from 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
- Mary Mother’s Baby Shower – As a part of our Dignity of Life Ministry in October, volunteers gather and distribute items needed by young families such as diapers, clothes, bedding, etc. that are generously given by parishioners to area pregnancy resource centers.
- Community Thanksgiving Baskets – Families and volunteers come together in November to prepare a holiday meal box/basket of food for families in our community experiencing food instability.
- Mary Mother’s Advent Giving Tree – As a part of our Dignity of Life Ministry in December, volunteers gather and distribute clothing and outdoor wear items that have been generously given by parishioners for families in need to area charities and school districts.
If you are interested in more information about these Outreach Ministries or would like to volunteer, please call Janet Gorshe in the Parish Office or email jgorshe@mmotc.org. Thank you!
