News & Upcoming Events

“Share Your Shelf” Weekly Program

Thank you to St. Mary’s parishioners for your generous donations to our weekly food shelf collections.

November’s recipient is FOCUS MINNESOTA

Food Shelf Needs for November 2024

IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Pasta / Pasta Sauce, Canned Veggies, Tuna, Cereal

• Sunday, November 3: Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
• Sunday, November 10: SPAM
• Sunday, November 17: Boxed Pasta / Pasta Sauce
• Sunday, November 24: Canned Meat (e.g., tuna/chicken)

Please do not bring opened packages. They will be discarded.

The need is greater than ever as food insecurity in our community continues to skyrocket. You can bring bags of packaged or canned food to St. Mary’s during weekday business hours, or on Sunday mornings prior to the Divine Liturgy. We also have a collection box for monetary donations to help food shelves purchase needed food items. Checks should be made out to “St. Mary’s” with “Share Your Shelf” in the memo line.

“Recent research shows that many children who do not have enough to eat wind up with diminished capacity to understand and learn. Children don’t have to be starving for this to happen. Even mild undernutrition, the kind most common among poor people in America, can do it.” – Carl Sagan

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:13-21)

Urgent FOCUS Clothing Needs
November 2024

FOCUS is in desperate need of men’s winter clothing, including jackets, boots, warm socks, and gloves. Cold weather is coming and the men’s closet is very bare of these essential articles of clothing. Please bring these needed items to church and place them by the FOCUS sign in the hallway leading to the office.

The fall temperatures are unseasonably warm, but we know that the cold is coming! FOCUS drive is for all types of NEW blankets, up to the size of a full bed. Roll it up and tie it with a ribbon. Put the blanket at the church FOCUS sign by the church school doors or take to FOCUS at 550 Rice Street, St. Paul. FOCUS clients will appreciate the warmth this winter.

St. Mary’s has packaged 189,000 Meals!

Woohoo! and praise be to God for all the volunteers who stayed after Liturgy to enjoy putting together oatmeal meals, 15,000 (St. Mary’s goal) for a grand total that St. Mary’s has done to-date of 189,000. Thank You! It was delightful to hear Iosif ring the bell when another box was filled, how fun is that! It was heartwarming to hear a comment “this is something that I can do and it makes me feel really helpful.” And, another comment “it was so fun at our table.” It is wonderful to hear that already, folks are asking when the next Harvest Pack Event will be held as they want to put on their calendar.

You will be glad to hear that these boxes of nutritious oatmeal went to Every Meal. Every Meal was very grateful for your volunteer help as their mission is Fighting Child Hunger. There are approximately 300,000 children in Minnesota with food insecurity – that is a very large number of hungry children and families. How grateful that St. Mary’s volunteers helped many children and families with the oatmeal meals.

Doesn’t it make you feel good to see all these smiles of everyone helping children and families. Thank You!

About Missions & Outreach and Getting Connected

These organizations bring to life our Parish’s Vision: Hear, Pray, Grow, Serve and Share

The Missions & Outreach group also provides guidance to newcomers who want to learn more about St. Mary’s and the Orthodox faith.

To get connected and find volunteer opportunities, stop by the Welcome & Information table in the Great Hall after Sunday Liturgy, or email the office to be put in touch with Missions & Outreach.

Focus on FOCUS

by Cheryl Dragotis, Sept 2024

Give what you can, a loaf of bread, a cup of wine, a piece of clothing. On the FOCUS website, a quote from St. Gregory of Nyssa reads, Nevertheless, give what you can; God asks nothing above your powers. You can give a loaf yourself, another will give a cup of wine, another clothing; thus one man’s hardship will be relieved by your combined aid.

One of the ways to help and give aid at FOCUS is their food program. Volunteers are desperately needed to make bag lunches and hand them out in the FOCUS neighborhood. Commitment starts at 10:00 AM with the making of sandwiches and filling paper bags with sandwiches, chips, cheese, applesauce and other available goodies. Handouts to neighbors start at 11:30 AM and continue until bags are gone or 12:30 PM. Choose your day, Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, once a week, once a month or whatever time you have. Fridays are especially in need of help.

Other food help opportunities are:
• Prepare groceries for monthly food shelf and handing them out. This happens on the third Saturday of the month, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM.
• Transport fresh food in your truck or van from local food banks to FOCUS House.
• Transport bags of food to vulnerable older neighbors or families who are unable to come to FOCUS House. Two volunteers can go together.
• Help Philoptochos with a hot Sunday meal and handout. Visit the Philoptochos table in the Great Hall after Liturgy for dates.

Any of these opportunities are easy and fulfilling. Please consider volunteering. To find out more information, call 651.222.0712 or send an email. (Focustwincities@gmail.com)

Featured Organizations

Featured Photos

Committee Members

Cheryl Dragotis
William Fazio
George Griller
Terri Leckas
Bob Kennedy