Outreach Programs
Listing of Special Collections
Community For Caring Life – Supports life affirming efforts including Pregnancy Choices; providing a variety of free services, pregnancy tests, miscarriage support, and support for new and expecting fathers.
Ending Homelessness – Supports MICAH and Dakota Woodlands the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH) which lives out the prophetic vision that calls us "to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God". (Micah 6:8). MICAH envisions a metropolitan area where everyone, without exception, has a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home. Dakota Woodlands is the only shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Dakota County. Their mission is to empower displaced families on their journey to independence
Food Sunday – Stocked by our generous parishioners, neighborhood families experiencing food instability may receive 2 bags of groceries monthly from our Emergency Food Shelf. On the occasion our food shelf is fully stocked, extra donations support The Open Door (providing food support for low-income individuals and families across Dakota County).
Loaves & Fishes – Your donations to this fund help a team of Mary, Mother volunteers prepare a free, healthy meal once a month on location at the Peace House Community in Minneapolis.
Meals at Mary Mother – Those in need in our community are served meals prepared by our volunteers. Meals are delivered to cars, a neighboring housing facility, or walk-ups on the 3rd and 4th Thursday of each month. Donations cover food and operations costs for this ministry.
Military Support – Mary, Mother volunteers pack and ship boxes to military personnel overseas assisting family members of deployed servicemen and servicewomen Minnesota doesn't have a major military installation, so we provide support for family members coping with deployments and long separations. You can make financial donations, or donations of goods. 100% of financial contributions marked for Military Support are used for box supplies or shipping costs of the boxes.
November Outreach – Families and volunteers come together in November to prepare a holiday meal box/basket of food for families in our community experiencing food instability. Since 2002, Mary Mother’s parishioners have made or contributed to Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets. These baskets are distributed to community families experiencing food instability to help make their Thanksgiving Holiday a time of joy.
Peter’s Pence – This collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See as it provides the Holy Father with financial means to respond to the needs of the Holy See and to those suffering from war, oppression, natural disaster, and disease.
World Mission Sunday – A collection taken to support the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and it’s work throughout the world. By engaging in this unique appeal, parishes are in solidarity with all other parishes, schools, and religious organizations worldwide as they are also taking a collection on this same day.
Retirement for Religious – Women and men religious have spent their lives serving others in prayer, ministry, education and care for those in need—usually for little or no pay. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings. Please support them by giving to the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your donation makes a difference for nearly 25,000 senior men and women religious.
Campaign for Human Development – US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ initiative to aid anti-poverty groups attempting to address root causes of poverty and move people of low-income from reliance to self-sufficiency. Emphasis of support is on local archdiocesan organizations. Activity includes appeal collections and opportunities for grants.
Risen Savior Missions – Glorifying God by feeding starving children. Risen Savior Missions strives to feed Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor. RSM partners with local churches, service organizations, and government agencies to bring nutritious MannaPack Rice from Feed My Starving Children into poor neighborhoods. Volunteers from these organizations seek families with children who are severely malnourished and invite them to a feeding site for a healthy meal. As these children come more frequently to the feeding site, malnutrition begins to reverse, and families get more involved with the site. Families start attending classes focusing on proper nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation. They gain knowledge and practical skills in farming and manufacturing. Most importantly, they learn about the love that God has for them.