Opportunities for Almsgiving

Through special collections, we have an opportunity to support the needs of the universal and diocesan Church.

Rice Bowl during Lent

Pray, Fast, Learn and Give with Operation Rice Bowl this Lent.

Each year, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to pray with our families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn more about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas, and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.

St. John Charity Fund for “Door Ministry” - February 27 and 28, 2010

We know of calendar years, and fiscal years, and funding cycles, but at St. John we have the "March to March" for Door Ministry. During the time from March to March we help our local community serve the needs of people who seek help from us as a faith community. We visit with 30 or more people a week (and many more are not served because of lack of resources) helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, transportation (job search or work related), and other specific requests. Our guidelines help us to steward the resources you provide to offer the gift of compassionate listening and practical assistance to the sometimes "invisible" struggling people of our community, your neighbors.

Diapers, toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste or food? This can be the question that people who come to the St. John Door Ministry are asking themselves. The annual Charity Fund collection helps us to ease the urgency of the needs many in our community face on a regular basis. Families, individuals, people with disabilities, limited or no income, little food security, sometimes no permanent address, underemployment or no jobs, all contribute to the picture of struggling people in our community. They walk with us on the street, they ride with us on the bus, they shop in our groceries, they apply for local jobs.they are our neighbors in need. Please respond generously to the St. John Charity Fund collection so we can respond on your behalf to neighbors in need.

Minnesota Food Share/Channel One – Reverse collection
- March 6 and 7, 2010

Take a piece of paper from the basket at the second collection; buy item(s) on paper; return them to the Food Barrels at St. John for Channel One.

Reflection

February 17 - Church in Eastern Europe and the USSR:
The collection funds vital pastoral and social projects in 28 countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Contributions from parishioners continue to assist in revitalizing and strengthening the Church in these regions. The theme for this year’s collection is “Believe in the Power of the Spirit of Love."

The Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe has focused on rebuilding what was lost in the years of war, , and oppression. Rebuilding has inclueded church structures, religious education programs, ministry formation and evangelization. There is still much work to be done.

March 13 and 14, 2010 American Bishops Overseas Appeal/ Catholic Relief Services: The Catholic Relief Services Collection is an important opportunity to express Christian compassion and generosity. The Collection is scheduled for March 13-14 in many dioceses across the country. The Collection theme, Jesus in disguise, reminds us of the presence of Christ in every one of our brothers and sisters in need.

April 2, 2010 Holy Land : The Holy Land collection seeks assistance for the needs of a portion of the Church which is both forever old and forever young. The Catholic Christians living in the Holy Land.

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, recalled this obligation during his visit to Turkey: “We ask peace for Jerusalem and for the entire world ( …). From this Anatole Peninsula, the natural bridge between continents, first of all we invoke peace and reconciliation upon those people who live in that Land which we call Holy, and which is home to Christians, Jews and Muslims. It is the Land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and which is destined to welcome a people who become a blessing for all the nations (Gn 12, 1-3)”.

Diocesan Annual Appeal: Bishop John M. Quinn, encourage you to prayerfully consider your support of the Annual Diocesan Appeal. Your Gift makes all the programs and ministries in the Diocese of Winona possible.