Outreach
Commission
We are actively involved
in outreach ministry, not only within our parish but in our local
community as well.
The Community Outreach Commission is comprised
of a number of groups whose focus is meeting the needs of
people in our community. These groups encompass both acts of
charity, as well as Peace and Social Justice.
Peace and Social Justice
Committee focuses on advocacy
issues. Holy Spirit specifically addresses issues related to
the poor and vulnerable in our society. .
A number of groups meet at specific times throughout the
year to address acts of charity within the parish, local
community, and the broader community of our state, country,
and the world. These groups include the Blood drive,
Christmas in October, Angel Christmas Tree,
St. James Soup
Kitchen volunteers, Shoe Box drive for Hope House, Lee's
Summit Social Services Food Pantry, People Helping People,
and Heifer International Project.
Please contact Deacon Rich Akins or the parish office for
more information.
SICK & HOMEBOUND
Please be sure to contact the parish when someone in the family is
hospitalized; hospitals are not permitted to notify the parish
without prior consent of an admitted patient. If surgery is
anticipated, you are encouraged to receive the sacrament of
anointing the sick, preferably before entering the hospital. While
most hospitals do provide communion for their patients, we will be
more than happy to bring the Eucharist to you if the hospital does
not offer this service. We are also willing to bring communion to
anyone who is at home and unable to come to Mass. Communal
anointing at weekend masses occurs once or twice a year.
BEFRIENDER MINISTRY
BeFriender Ministry is a lay pastoral care program. Specially
trained lay persons enter into caring relationships with others at
times of special need by visiting them and bringing them emotional
and spiritual support. They do this by accepting people as they
are and listening with compassion. BeFrienders are not
“counselors.” They do not solve problems or give advice. They are
simply the loving presence of God’s Church for others by their
listening and faith sharing. For more information, contact the
Parish Office.
BLOOD
DRIVES
The first
blood drive at Holy Spirit took place in early 2002. With only 14
donors, it was much smaller than it is today. Even so, the seed
was planted and these Sunday morning blood drives have helped to
collect an average of 40 pints per drive.
Some of the original blood drive donors have moved
on, so we need “new blood.” The need is enormous but the
requirements are quite
minimal. A donor must be at least 16 years of age and weigh at
least 110 lbs. For screening purposes and as benefits to you, your
blood will be examined and you will be advised of any problems.
You will also be advised on your cholesterol level.
Blood drives are announced in the Parish Bulletin
several weeks before they take place.
CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE
Each
year after Thanksgiving, Holy Spirit joins with Lee’s Summit
Social Services to provide Christmas gifts for those in need.
Parishioners choose a gift tag from the tree, purchase the item,
and place it, unwrapped, under the tree the following week. A
group from Holy Spirit transports the donations to Lee’s Summit
Social Services in time for Christmas.
CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER
Every year in Mid-October, parishioners gather at
Holy Spirit and go to selected homes in the greater Kansas City
area to make repairs for the disabled, elderly or less fortunate.
Parishioners with skills in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and
general home maintenance are always welcome, but all help is
appreciated with the many tasks performed for these grateful
homeowners. Sign-up’s for this one day Saturday event are taken
in late September.
FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION
On the
third Sunday of each month, Holy Spirit collects non-perishable
items for Lee’s Summit Social Services. Particular needs include
canned meat, stews, soups and pastas, cold cereal, peanut butter
and paper products such as toilet paper. Place your donated items
in the grocery cart in the back of church.
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE:
HOTLINE,
524-7172
Co-sponsored by Lee’s Summit Christian Church, New Summit
Presbyterian Church and Holy Spirit, this network of volunteers
seeks to match those in need of services with those willing to
provide the service. The most frequently requested services are:
transportation to medical appointments, laundry and light home
cleaning, home repair, lawn care, cooking, and shopping.
Call the hotline if you need help or know someone who does.
You may also volunteer by calling this number.
SPIRIT OF GIVING
The Spirit of Giving Program is a program designed to provide
assistance to less fortunate families in our community. The
program has partnered with the Great Beginnings Early Childhood
Education Center, which is part of the Lee’s Summit R-VII School
District, to identify families in our area which need assistance.
The initial project for this group consisted of identifying
volunteers to adopt a family during the Christmas season. The
volunteers arranged for donations consisting of toys for the
children, clothing, basic household items and more. The program
has expanded to help families throughout the year with programs
including a used book drive, collecting backpacks for Back to
School and collecting coats for the winter season. The Spirit of
Giving Program is also building an email network to address
specific needs for families as they arise throughout the year. If
you would like to become a part of the email network or would like
additional information about the Spirit of Giving program, please
send an email to Anna Vahrenberg at
spiritofgiving@holyspiritcatholicchurch.net.
St. James Soup Kitchen
Our
parish serves a meal at St. James Parish, located at 39th
and Troost Avenue in Kansas City on the 2nd Friday of
each month. Eight or nine volunteers are needed to serve the
meal and clean up afterwards. The volunteers typically leave
Holy Spirit at 3:30 and return at 7:00. This ministry is for
age 12 and up, although younger children may be welcome.
Contact Corrine Josten or Ann Hayles to volunteer. Volunteer
once or become a regular! For more information about St.
James Soup Kitchen, call Corrine Josten at 322-1570 or click here.
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