PORTLAND, Maine — Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of young Catholics in Maine, local soup kitchens, food banks, and food pantries were big winners during the weekend of football’s “Big Game,” Feb. 6-7, 2016.
Local youth ministry groups joined those at parishes throughout the diocese to collect monetary and food donations from parishioners as they left weekend Masses to benefit the “Souper” Bowl of Caring, a weekend of giving and serving during which 100 percent of the proceeds are donated to local charities to help tackle hunger in the community.
Youth at the Parish of the Precious Blood in Caribou collected over $1,000 after weekend Masses at Holy Rosary Church in Caribou and St. Mary’s Church in Presque Isle. The donations will be split between Bread of Life Soup Kitchen in Caribou, Caribou Ecumenical Food Pantry, Grace Interfaith Food Table in Presque Isle, and Presque Isle Soup Kitchen.
The youth’s community service efforts come in the Holy Year of Mercy, going on through November 20 of this year, declared by Pope Francis. The Holy Year of Mercy is an invitation for all believers to live faith more fully by seeking ways to reflect God’s love and mercy, both received and given. Giving mercy is accomplished through living out the corporal works of mercy, including to feed the hungry.
Since its inception in 1990, churches across America have raised over $100 million for soup kitchens, food pantries, and other charities through the “Souper” Bowl of Caring. In 2015, over 5,200 charities across the country benefited from the collection.
