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Community Outreach &
Evangelization
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Our outreach programs strive to establish and maintain a closer relationship between St. Brigid
Parish and the community to foster the importance of Christian living and stewardship. The
following represents a fair portion of the outreach/evangelistic programs/events that can be
attributed to St. Brigid Parish and its dedicated staff and our volunteers.
- Advent Giving Tree -- During the four weeks of Advent, a tree is placed in the church and
each week parishioners bring gifts that are allocated to various charities in the community.
- Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous Meetings - AA Meetings are held every
Sunday evening at the Parish Center. NA Meetings are held every Wednesday evening at
the Parish Center.
- Annual Bull Roast
- Annual Crab Feast
- Annual Shrimp Feast
- Beans & Bread Monthly Meals for the Poor - On a monthly basis, at least 35 trays are
prepared and delivered to the Fells Point Beans and Bread facility. St. Brigid has participated
in this programs for more than 20 years.
- Bingo - Monthly Events
- Blessing of the Palms - For over 20 years, on every Palm Sunday at O’Donnell Square,
ministers from all the Canton area congregations assemble to extend Holy Week blessings to
all residents. This has taken place every year for 20 years.
- Blessing of the Animals - Annually, on the weekend of the Feast of St. Francis, ministers from
the Canton churches gather at O’Donnell Square to bless the pets of the people in the
community. Numerous types of pets are brought forward to the Square to participate in this
annual event.
- BrightView Weekly Mass Celebration - St. Brigid’s celebrates Mass on a weekly basis on
Friday morning at the Brightview Living Assistance facility in Catonsville. Many of the
residents are Catholic and approximately 35 attend Mass each week.
- Canton/Highlandtown Community Association Meetings - Canton/Highlandtown Community
Association meets monthly at the Parish Center on Wednesday Evenings
- Canton Community Christian Pastor Group & Sponsored Events
- Christmas Baskets for the Needy - This is an annual program where at least 40 baskets are
filled with can goods and coupons for meats and are distributed within the community. Some
of these families are fully sponsored by our parishioners and businesses in the area. The
sponsored families submit wish lists of gifts which are purchased and provided in addition to
the Christmas Baskets.
- Future Care - For over 20 years, St. Brigid has ministered to this nursing home facility located
on Boston Street. Every Tuesday afternoon Mass is celebrated at 2PM. With the assistance
of Holy Rosary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Pompei and St. Leo’s residents have
access to Mass each week. Fr. Joe Bochenek is responsible for the yearly mass schedule.
This ministry also has several volunteers from these parishes that help with the residents in
bringing them to Mass.
- Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns - Office area is provided in the foyer of the
Parish Center. It is estimated that nearly 41 clients a month take advantage of the facility at
St. Brigid. The center is open Monday through Friday and provides counseling, guidance and
support.
- Good Friday Services - For over 20 years, Parishioners and community churches assemble
at St Brigid and carry a cross through Canton and Highlandtown visiting each Church as we
sing songs and give witness to significance of the day. The youth group and Confirmation
students participate as well.
- Hatton Senior Center Education Programs - For over 15 years, this Canton senior community
center annually has requested local ministers to make presentations at their center. St.
Brigid’s has taken the initiative in the FAITH/LIFE SERIES. Various other Canton ministers
participate every Fall and Spring for five week each season. Each provide a Christian based
presentation to members of the community.
- Halloween Community Gathering - For over 20 years, St. Brigid hosts an annual safe haven
Halloween party for the children in the community.
- Health Ministry
- Home School Program - Approximately 40 families use the 2nd floor classrooms one day a
week. The group consists of families who home school their children from all over Baltimore
City and County.
- Karate Club
- Lenten Meals - During the Wednesday’s of Lent, a various types of soups are prepared by a
volunteer cook and is offered along with bread and beverage. The monies raised are
allocated to various charities in the community. The program has been in operation for nearly
20 years.
- LITE Religious Group for Teens
- Mothers’ Day/Adoration of Mary Community March
- Palm Sunday Blessing of the Palms & Community March
- Parish Sponsored Social Events
- Preakness Community Support
- Sacramental Receptions
- Seder Celebration & Parish Meal - Following the Blessing of the Palm and a procession back
to the Church, The Religious Education Program sponsors a Sedar Meal for the children,
RCIA candidates and parishioners.
- Masses for Special Needs & Community Events
- Religious Education Programs
- Spring/Summer Community Carnival
- St. Vincent De Paul Head Start Program - Approximately 75 pre-school children use the
basement of the Parish Center. The Head Start Program has been in operation for more than
15 years at St. Brigid.
- Soup Bowl Sunday - Annually, on Souperbowl Sunday, the youth group station themselves at
the exits of the church door and solicit monies for the needy. For the past several years the
youth have collected approximately $500.00 each year. The youth are overwhelmed at the
generous response from the parishioners.
- Sunshine Club - St. Brigid Parish center host a program for seniors in the community. They
meet every Tuesday afternoon throughout the year and on a monthly basis work with the
ladies of the Sodality in sponsoring a Luncheon Bingo.
- Thanksgiving Food Collection & Distribution
- Vacation Bible School
- Volunteer Ministry
- Volunteer’s Recognition Gathering
- Voting Facility - For over a decade, St. Brigid Hall is designated as a voting site for city, state
and national elections. Handicap ramps provide easy access for voters.
- Web Page www.saintbrigid-canton.com - A site developed to expand the access roads for
parishioners and others to St. Brigid, Father Joe and his ministry. The site is accessed on an
average of 600 times a month.
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