Every Sunday, tamales and tacos and sweets of every kind summon the parishioners of Our Lady Star of the Sea to the parish hall. It’s a time and place for the community to gather and share the happenings of the week. This weekly fellowship also serves another purpose. Nearly 20% of the annual parish budget is collected during these gatherings. The hall kitchen itself is unable to contribute to the effort because it is in dire need of repair.

“There is great potential to grow our parish ministry and bring our kitchen up to code,” said Fr. Hector Basañez, pastor. “We are trying to raise $80,000 for a kitchen remodel that would allow us to fundraise on Sundays and provide hot meals during the week.” Anyone who has ever remodeled a kitchen understands the challenges Fr. Hector and his parishioners are facing, not to mention the financial burden on this small but vibrant community.

To help Fr. Hector build his kitchen, please click here:

For more information, please click here.

High school graduation is a time of excitement and optimistic anticipation for the learning to come on a college campus. For the graduating seniors from the Mayfair neighborhood of East San Jose, the financial burden means that only 2 percent of them will be able to receive that college education. Gladys, a former resident of Mayfair and participant in one of the Amigos de Guadalupe programs is a junior today at Sonoma State. She, like many of the students in East San Jose has the resiliency to succeed; she just needed access to education.

With the help of the Amigos de Guadalupe scholarship program, children like Gladys gain access to the kind of education they desire and deserve. With your help, Amigos students have attended the University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, St. Mary’s College, and other great universities.

To support students like Gladys through the Amigos de Guadalupe literacy and scholarship programs, please click here:

To learn more about Amigos de Guadalupe scholarship program, please click here.

“I am so thankful I can get all my needed care at John XXIII,” said Edwin, a chronically homeless 61-year-old who struggles with mental illness and diabetes. Edwin finally secured housing, but he lacked medical care.

For the last 50 years, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has served low-income seniors at the historic John XXIII Multi-Service Center in downtown San Jose. More than 1,700 seniors use the facility every year. Some of the services include free or low-cost daily hot or boxed lunches; community and ethnic events; citizenship classes and a variety of wellness activities such as exercise, dancing, tai chi, recreation and meditation.

The Center recently added a valuable component – the integration of behavioral (mental) and physical health services. The physician-managed clinic follows a leading-edge model that breaks down traditional silos between professionals who provide physical, mental health and social services. This holistic and wrap-around approach is a proven method that begins the moment people walk in the door – and results in better health that helps patients live longer, with more dignity and independence.

Today, the health care providers at John XXIII Integrated Health Care Center are working closely together to not only keep Edwin healthy, but well and stable enough to remain in his home.

To help feed, heal and create a healthy pathway of Hope and Opportunity for people like Edwin, please click here:

Catholic Charities’ website

Every month, 350 families and individuals receive food from the All-Year Giving Tree at Our Lady of Refuge parish. It will come as no surprise that the need is greater at this time of year. Those who struggle to make ends meet every month of the year are not in a position to have the traditional Christmas meal we eagerly anticipate for weeks in advance

“We are blessed by the generosity of our parishioners and our supporting communities,” said Anabella Estrada, Pastoral Associate, “but wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone could experience the joy of Christ’s birth surrounded by food, family and friends?”

To help Our Lady of Refuge provide holiday meals, please click here:

To learn more about Our Lady of Refuge and their All-Year Giving Tree, please click here.

As a people of God we are called to minister to those in need. Our parishes respond to that call with numerous comprehensive community service programs. Not sure which ministry you would like to help?

Your contribution to our Parish Outreach Endowment Fund allows you to support our parish social ministries, increasing their outreach and effectiveness. Since 2009 this fund had granted over $400,000 to parishes all over our Diocese. In 2015, 19 programs – like the ones you’ve read about here – received a grant from this fund! Your gift to the endowment will help the Foundation fund even more wonderful programs during our annual Spring Grant Cycles.

To make your contribution to the Parish Outreach Endowment, please click here: