Service Projects

Throughout the year, our children and youth in Faith Formation participate in a wide variety of service projects that help our local and worldwide community.

During the Season of Lent, our Faith Formation families practice almsgiving by raising money for Mary's Meals, a global Catholic organization that helps the world's poorest children attend school and receive a hot meal while at school. Their main vision is that "Every child receives one daily meal in their place of education." For only $20-30, you can send a child to school and feed him or her for an entire year. Faith Formation classes compete to raise the most money for Mary's Meals. 

Box of Joy, a Cross Catholic Outreach program, provides schools, parishes, organizations, and families with an inspiring opportunity to send gifts to Haiti, Guatemala, and other developing countries. A Box of Joy is Christmas shoebox that is donated and packed with toys, clothing, school supplies, and other treasured items by U.S. parishes, schools, and groups. Each child who receives a Box of Joy also receives a rosary and a booklet in their own language that tells The Story of Jesus. Box of Joy provides hope to children in need, each gift represents Christ's love, and may be the only Christmas gift they receive. 

We typically distribute the boxes in late October ask that people return them within 2-3 weeks. This ensures that the boxes will arrive in time for Christmas. Each box comes with a brochure that lists the types of gifts that can be included with each box and directions on how to return them.

The St. Mark Angel Tree Program has been bringing cheer and joy to families for many years. The program provides new clothing, toys, games, or other gifts for children and adults of needy families through the support of donors. During the Advent Season, parishioners or school families can select an "angel" off the Christmas Tree and purchase the item(s) listed for that angel. The selection of angels begins in early December. We ask that donors return their gift(s) by mid-December, so that our "Volunteer Elves" can organize and distribute the gifts to families before Christmas. 

Donors can also select an angel virtually through a sign-up link. Gifts can be mailed to the church or returned in person. 

If you are a family in need and would like assistance this Christmas through our Angel Tree Program, please contact [email protected] or (910) 398-6511.