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Community Outreach &
Evangelization
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St. Brigid is an active partner in the Canton Christian Community. The following represents a fair portion of the
outreach/evangelistic programs/events Our outreach programs strive to establish and maintain a closer relationship
between St. 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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