ST. JUDE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY    PAGE SEVEN   DECEMBER 3, 2000 

Although we have adopted already over 300 families, there are still a number of families to be adopted.    You can choose the size of the family you wish to adopt.

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 one (1) to three (3) boxes of non-perishable food depending on the size of the family adopted, and also a personal gift for each family member.     The gifts should be wrapped with a card stating the person's name.

On Saturday, December16th, you bring your boxes ands 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 another local, non-denominational agency, which helps those who are in need by distributing food.     During this Advent-Christmas Season, there is always a run on "MANNA" for help.     Please consider helping "MANNA" help others.     

All kinds of food stuffs 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.

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 parallel to the handicapped ramp.    Louise Brennan will make sure these items get to Dolores Mission as soon as possible.

In November, a horrible fire destroyed "Many Mansions" apartment facility for our local people in need.   One hundred households were left homeless.   Most of them lost everything they owned.    Many of the people living in Many Mansions were elderly men and women living on Social Security.     One lady confined to a wheelchair living on the third floor was able to escape, because another tenant with three children took that lady down three flights of stairs backwards.    Now these tenants are trying to rebuild their lives.   

Funds collected during the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at St. Max, and also the Collection taken-up Thanksgiving Morning during our Thanksgiving Day Mass, were given to help these people.   

Needed badly are clothes for people of every age and size.    Also needed are toys, books, computers, etc., for children.     Household items.   

Many Mansions is our local, non-denominational agency, which helps those who are in need.   Some are elderly.   Some have been abandoned by a spouse.     Some are ill and cannot work.    Of course, Many Mansions is now looking for cash (including stock) donations to help provide a new shelter in the Conejo Valley.

Please consider reaching-out and helping those in need.

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.

 
"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.