​Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.


Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

Our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah 58:7-10 profoundly speaks of the outreach we have undertaken here at St. Julia to the homeless in our community.  So many of you answered the call for assistance by reading this newsletter and moving into action by bringing in the things most needed.

- sleeping bags
- socks
- mittens and gloves
- jackets
- prepackaged cutlery

The picture below says it all.  The donations on these tables were picked up this past Tuesday morning.  They were sorted over the course of the day by Matthew 25 Ministries, and hand delivered to those living under the Burgoyne Bridge that evening, with the last distrubution made at 11:30 p.m. that night.

These two tables were able to assist 61 people with care packages consisting of warm clothes, socks, underwear, gloves, and utensils.  25 sleeping bags were distributed.  I was told when they can assist 25 people it is good.  This was a big deal.  Thank you.

By Wednesday morning the table was starting to fill in once again.  Thank you.

Having announced our outreach this past weekend at all of our masses, we are prayerfully ready to make another call to be able to provide additional assistance.  Thank you.

An overflowing bin of food was picked up by the St Patricks' St. Vincent de Paul and will be used in their Food distributions on Fridays.  Thank you.

An overflowing basket of "unmentionables" again revealed your generous response to a need, that was again confirmed to me this week of the shortage of men's and women's underwear for distribution to those in need.  Thank you.

Calls come in on a regular basis for assistance from our St. Vincent de Paul, with vouchers hand delivered by our volunteers.  Your donations in the boxes when you exit mass make this possible.  Thank you.

Our outreach to the homeless has just begun here at St. Julia.  Permanent bins will be put in place for donations, similar to our food bin.  For now, the tables will be a visual reminder for all of us of the outpouring of support and the great need in our community, for everything donated will get into the hands of someone in our community.

Isaiah wrote in late 600 B.C. - early 700 B.C.  As the Living Word of God, this message, some 2700 years later, is just as real today as it was then.  It is a call to action for us.

Thank you for responding to that call with a generous heart as we care for our sisters and brothers in need.

May God bless you and those that you love, 

Fr. Greg