Our Parish Christ House Committee
June 30 Christ House Meal – Sign up to help ready and serve To-Go meals to folks who are food insecure. Friday 30 June is our parish’s next meal date. The dinner takes place at our Diocesan Christ House Dining Room in Alexandria. Volunteers are needed to donate food and time. This month our menu includes: Sloppy Joe sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, Fruit cups, Chips, Chocolate brownies, & water bottles. You may sign up to donate food items and/or time. We need help preparing and distributing the To Go meals on Friday 30 June (see the list @ link below). We also accept monetary donations at the parish Office. Check out the full menu and sign-up for a Corporal Act of Mercy opportunity at the Perfect Potluck link: https://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=GIPJ1030
No time to buy items to donate? One may drop off or mail a monetary donation to the parish office and obtain a receipt for your tax records. Mark your calendars for our NEXT Dinner on September 30th. Inquiries may be directed to Committee Leads at ChristHouseCommittee@StRaymonds.org St. Raymond’s Christ Committee — AMDG ~ To God be all the Glory!
Contact: Maria Sanchez- O’Brien at ChristHouseCommittee@StRaymonds.org
History: Our parish started a Dinner Service Project in January 2015, with a handful of volunteers who make up St. Raymond’s Christ House Committee. Since then our Committee has grown to include Friends of St. Raymond’s Christ House Committee. Via this dinner project which our parish sponsors & our parish Christ House Committee hosts at Christ House in Alexandria, VA, every month with a 5th Friday, we prepare and serve a warm dinner and support Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (CCDA) in its program to provide warm meals year-round as CCDA believes passionately in a future without hunger.
Right now, 200,000 people in our diocese are food insecure – they do not know where their next meal will come from. Christ House in Alexandria serves dinner for between 50 and 70 men and women, and a few children, every day of the year. Founded in 1973, Christ House provides food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless, and clothing to those in need. Christ House hosts up to 17 men in transitional housing and helps individuals recognize their abilities, develop self-sufficiency, and maintain their self-respect.
Through our parish dinner service projects at Christ House, we support the mission, vision, and virtues highlighted below as we pray to our parish church patron, St. Raymond of Penafort and St. Therese de Lisieux, (the Little Flower,) St. John Bosco, St. (Mother) Frances Cabrini, St. Martha, our Blessed Mother Mary, and St. Joseph dedicating our work and efforts to God as we follow the examples of these and many great saints in their witness of charity and service to others. As Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and our church’s most recently canonized saint, St. Teresa of Kolkata (Calcutta)have taught us, good works of charity, mercy, and compassionate “love in action” accompany us on our faith journeys as we give God all the glory.
Vision: To uphold the dignity of every dinner guest at Christ House in Alexandria when St. Raymond’s hosts a dinner every month with a 5th Friday.
Mission: To help grow a culture of justice and charity in today’s world through prayer, fellowship, and service to our neighbor.
Shared Virtues: Justice and Love
Patron Saints: Mary, Help of Christians, St. Joseph, St. Raymond of Penfort, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Mother Frances Cabrini, and St. John Bosco, pray for us.
Dedicated to: The Sacred Heart of Jesus & The Immaculate Heart of Mary and Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis
A.M.D.G.: As. St. Ignatius of Loyola would teach, Ad majorem Dei gloriam, To God be all the glory!
Christ House in Alexandria is located at 131 S. West St. Alexandria, VA (703-539-8644)
Founded in 1973, Christ House provides food to the hungry (a warm dinner meal 24/7, hosted by our Dioceseân parish groups), manages a food pantry which currently is in URGENT NEED of resupplying (see CCDA.net/programs_christhouse.php for details), shelter to the homeless, and clothing to those in need (a Thrift Shop is adjacent to Christ House Holy Family Dining Room and offices in Alexandria). Christ House helps individuals recognize their abilities, develop self-sufficiency, and maintain their self-respect. It offers limited assistance to individuals needing help to pay their rent, utility bills, prescription bills, and other expenses.
Volunteers are needed to fill a wide variety of roles at Christ House in Alexandria. Volunteers work in the food pantry, staff the Thrift Shop, assist with the evening meal, answer phones and provide information and referrals to people coming to Christ House in need. Volunteers also help out with painting, cleaning windows and rugs, and washing dishes. Learn how to volunteer today.
Directions to Christ House in Alexandria, VA:
From 395, take the Route 7 East Exit to Old Town Alexandria (Exit 5). Route 7 becomes King Street. Stay on King Street. Turn right onto south West Street (which is after Peyton Street). Go down South West Street one block to intersection. Christ House is located on the right side at the corner of South West and Prince Streets. Off-street parking for non-pay and pay is available.
Do you want to help our parish host a warm dinner for guests who visit Christ House?
Join us and help Feed the Hungry.
As Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those on his right hand (the sheep), …. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” 40 Matthew 25:35a; 40.
And, as Mother Mary teaches us, “Do whatever He tells you.” Jn 2:5
Thank you for helping St. Raymond’s Committee in our service mission to feed the hungry and nourish bodies and souls. If you would like to help our Committee serve the meal in November, please contact us at ChristHouseCommittee@StRaymonds.org to sign up to volunteer or with any questions or suggestions you have. Thank you!
Graciously,
St. Raymond’s Christ House Committee
Maria Sánchez-O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, Gemma Sánchez-O’Brien, Jackie Kruse, Buz and Beverly
Buczacki, Denise Anezin, Cindy Leaf, Bob and Pauline Ferguson, Joseph Adelman, Kathryn Quan, Pat Greco, Beth and Kurt Berger and family, Cindy and Greg Hatcher and family, Stephanie and Luigi Rao and family, Annmarie and Matthew Riordan and family, Mariel Spiritosanto, Craig Sweigert, Betsy
Ryan, and Theresa HeaneyAMDG
Click here to see more about Catholic Charities.
To view and print the Volunteer application Evening Meal Form click here
To view and print the Volunteer application Short Version Form click here
To view and print the Liability Form for Youth Volunteers click here
To view and print the How to sign up as Evening Meal Volunteers click here
Evening-Meal-Volunteer-Log-sheet