We still have some families who need to be adopted for Christmas.    We have adopted already over 250 families.    But volunteers are still needed to Sign-Up for our "Adopt-A-Family" Christmas Program.   

Each year St. Jude Catholic Community parishioners participate in this wonderful expression of Christian love and care by providing food and gifts to an ever-increasing number of families in our local area and inner city parishioners.     This year's emphasis focuses on helping families identified by the Ventura Region of Catholic Charities, and St. Malachy's in Los Angeles.     

It is so simple to "Adopt-A-Family", and yet the impact is so profound and so significant.    All that is required, is that you Sign-Up by Calling for the name of a family, and for the names of the family members and their ages.    Then you provide three (3) boxes of non-perishable food per family, and a personal gift for each family member.     The gifts should be wrapped with a card stating the person's name.

On Saturday, December 16th, you bring your boxes and gifts to St. Jude's Parking Lot between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Please call John or Jackie Treuting at 805 - 495 - 4630 to Sign-Up or for more information.

PS:   Helpers are also needed to make this our best year ever.     If you can help, please call John or Jackie.    All who help are guaranteed to experience a super Christmas!

MANNA is the local, non-denominational agency, which distributes food to those in need in the Conejo Valley.     During this Advent-Christmas Season there is a run on MANNA for help.     Please consider helping MANNA help others.     

All kinds of foodstuffs are needed.    Please NO glass containers.    Plastic, cans and paper are fine, but no glass.     Canned vegetables and fruits, canned soups and juices, canned meats and meals, canned stews and sauces such as prepared marinara, dry meal mixes, dry cereal, pasta and noodles, rice, pancake and biscuit mixes, crackers, dry drink mixes including powdered milk.    Condiments too are needed in small plastic or paper containers such as catsup, mustard, salt, pepper, salad and cooking oil, vinegar, simple spices, peanut butter and jelly, coffee and tea, hot chocolate.

Hygienic items are also needed such as body and dish soap, personal hygiene and health care items (toothbrushes and paste, combs, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.).

In addition, baby items are needed such a disposable diapers, baby blankets, baby foods, baby health care items.

Please bring your MANNA donations to church with you next Sunday.    You may also drop them by the Pastoral Center during the week.

Do remember: NO glass containers.

The Respect Life Ministry is in need of women who can visit pregnant women in prison at the California Youth Authority Correctional Facility in Camarillo.

If you can help, please contact Mary Linn at 818 - 889 - 7849.

Dolores Mission in East Los Angels has a great need for sleeping bags and blankets, men's shower sandals and hygienic supplies, and men's clothing.     Please help if you can!

Bring your donations to the Pastoral Office and leave them parallel to the handicapped ramp.    Louisa Brennan will make sure these items get to Dolores Mission as soon as possible.

 
"I have no hands but yours ...We are bringing all ingredients, cooking and serving breakfast to the Homeless every second Saturday of the month.    Come and be part of Jesus' hands.

We will leave St. Jude's at 5:30-5:45 a.m. to car pool or go on own to the Catholic Charities in Ventura, 303 N. Ventura Avenue.      Directions will be available at 5:30 a.m. in parking lot for those going on their own.   

For more information, please call Marilou O'Halloran at 805 - 494 - 6668.  Confirmation Candidates are reminded this is an excellent way to fulfill your Christian Service Hours.