Parishioners reflect mercy
through shelter donations
FORT KENT, Maine — Members of parishes across Maine will live out works of mercy throughout the Jubilee Year of Mercy (Dec. 8, 2015-Nov. 20, 2016) which was declared by Pope Francis to invite all believers to live faith more fully by being neighbors of every person and seeking ways to reflect God’s love and mercy.
Giving mercy is accomplished through living out the corporal works of mercy, which includes sheltering the homeless. In that spirit, St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent has launched an initiative to collect items from parishioners and community members in an effort to assist individuals and families at a homeless shelter in Presque Isle and victims at a battered women’s shelter in Fort Kent.
The items most in need are toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo, combs, brushes and other toiletries. Throughout January, all are encouraged to drop off items in boxes located in each of the churches of St. John Vianney Parish: St. Charles Borromeo in Saint Francis; St. Joseph in Wallagrass; St. Louis in Fort Kent; and St. Mary in Eagle Lake.
Throughout the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the parish is also focused on teaching local children that engaging in works of mercy is how God calls everybody to live.
“After we contacted the shelter and they told us what their needs are, we created a flyer with a list of the items and sent it home with all of the children in our faith formation program,” said Lisa Charette, parish catechetical leader.
At the end of January, when all of the items have been gathered from the four churches, a representative from the shelter will come to collect the donations from the parish children.
“We want the children to understand all of the works of mercy and learn how, even as young people, they can participate,” said Charette.
For more information on the initiative, contact St. John Vianney Parish at (207) 834-5656. For more on the Jubilee Year of Mercy, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/holy-year-of-mercy.
