Social Ministry

Parish Social Ministry, or Outreach, is about people living out their baptismal call to love and serve one another. It is written, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Gospel of St. John 13:34. And as Saint Mother Teresa so insightfully said, “Your true character is most accurately measured by how you treat those who can do ‘Nothing’ for you.”

The Saint Mary’s Office of Parish Social Ministry (PSM) offers a variety of services to those in need. We provide families with immediate assistance by giving them food and clothing. We also assist by counseling those maneuvering through the challenging process of obtaining assistance from local, state and federal government resources. 

The Office of PSM works closely with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP), which provides those in need with financial assistance to cover things like rent, utilities, furnishings, and more. There are some instances where SVDP will invest in a change of life program and provide educational assistance to a well deserving individual.

A full listing of our services includes: 

• Food Pantry
• Clothing Pantry
• Bereavement Ministry
• Government Assisted Counseling
• Senior/Homebound Care Call
• Budget Counseling
• Thanksgiving Food Program
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul Referral Services
• Open Jobs Listing
• FOCUS Group (Singles and those looking for support after loss of a loved one)
• Backpack and Schools Supplies Program
• Christmas Gift Program

The Office of Parish Social Ministry conducts a few collection drives per year to help us gather the supplies we need to service those seeking assistance.
Our drives are below:

• Backpack and School Supply Drive (TBA)
• Thanksgiving Food Drive (Sunday, October 30 - Sunday, November 20)
• Advent Giving Tree (Friday, November 25 - Sunday, December 18)
• Advent tree will be erected in the south lobby of the Church on Friday, November 25. The needs of adults and children will be hung as ornaments on the tree. We invite you to select an ornament and fulfill the needs of a person struggling during this special time of year.
• Share Christmas (Friday, November 18 - Friday, December 16)
• Parishioners “Share Christmas” with families and individuals in need. Donors can help a family or individuals by purchasing gifts from a Wish List created by recipients. Gift cards can also be donated. This is a wonderful opportunity for family participation.

All donations for these programs can be placed in the collection box located in the south lobby of the Church or can be brought to the Office of Parish Social Ministry. For more information on these programs, please call the Office of Parish Social Ministry at 516-365-2705 or email our Director, Kathleen Kosciusko.

Hours of Operation
The Office of Parish Social Ministry is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from
11:00 AM-3:00 PM for pick-ups and counseling. Appointments are strongly recommended. To make an appointment, please call 516-365-2705.