As baptized Christians, we follow in Christ’s footsteps in providing love and care for all of God’s creation.

Our parish provides numerous ways to meet the needs of others. Please consider taking part in these parish-wide charity efforts or by volunteering within the parish through ministry or volunteer opportunities. Further, through the Bishops’ call to Social Justice, please consider the ‘foot’ of social justice to address the root causes of the needy and getting active in advocacy programs. Some are listed below, as well.

• Food Pantry collection  1^st Sunday of month, bring non-perishable goods to Mass (leave in the Gathering Space – vestibule) for donation.
• Lent (leading up to Easter), paper ‘rice bowls’ are available to collect your donations to aid those helped by Catholic Relief Services. 25% of the monies collected stay in the Hartford area to provide for the needy close to home.
• The Giving Tree During the season of Advent, select a gift to purchase (written on paper ornaments) from the Giving Tree set up in the Gathering Space of the Church. The collected items are distributed to a variety of social service organizations serving the needs of the very young to the elderly, as well as veterans and struggling teens.
• Various 2^nd Collections throughout the year are taken during Liturgy. These provide for help in our own parish (such as the fuel collection), our neighbors (such as HOPES – elementary Catholic schools), and worldwide (such as Peter’s Pence – monies to further the social justice programs of the Pope). Your generosity gives back to God what He gives to you. Thank you.
• Mission collections. Occasionally during the year, our parish is offered the opportunity to help to further the work of other priests or organizations around the world that meet the immediate needs of the poor and vulnerable.

 
    Avenues for Social Justice

Advocate for Those who Suffer Injustice Examples of this include letter writing on important issues and legislation that affects the poor, families, children; working with groups in these areas, as well. 

• United Action of Connecticut (UACT) is an interfaith, multi-racial, multi-lingual organization of organizations and community institutions crossing political, economic and urban/suburban boundaries. Its mission is the building of powerful, broad-based community organizations, rooted in faith and social justice values, working to make concrete improvements in the lives of families and individuals. 
  • Our Lady of Mercy is an active member of UACT and you are welcome and encouraged to be part of those bringing hope and justice to those in need. For more information, see the website: 
      http://www.uact4justice.org/
• The Archdiocese of Hartford’s Office of Social Justice seeks to educate and provide opportunities for both charity and social justice.
• Keep informed. The Knights of Columbus maintains a website with current civic concerns, The Catholic Pulse, www.catholicpulse.com.
• Vote with an informed conscience.
• Financially support organizations that work for change. The annual collection for the Campaign for Human Development, sponsored by the US Bishops, funds employment and community development projects for the poor.