Annual Coat Drive
Each year we collect new and gently worn coats, hats, scarves and gloves for men, women and children. Our donations support the Market Street Mission’s Annual ‘Coat Give-Away’ held each year in Morristown on the Green. Coats are dropped off in the Fr. Ed Center.
Staff Contact: Vonnie Gibbons - [email protected] 973-635-0625 x 155
Appalachia Help Weeks
For over 25 years adults and youth of our parish have traveled to Preston County, WV to participate in the Catholic Church of Preston County Home Repair Program. Homes are repaired and relationships are built as we share our gifts of labor and real presence with those living with the unfortunate circumstances of poverty. Teens, sophomores and older, and adult volunteers participate in this ministry of caring. Full details can be found here under Formation-Youth.
Contact: Fred Mercadante - [email protected]
Staff Contact: Maggie Grady - [email protected] 973-635-0625 x 28
Christmas in a Box
Each Christmas season, through the efforts of many volunteers who begin planning in October, our parish reaches out to hundreds of people locally and in the Paterson area to share our blessings in the form of presents and holiday food, wrapped and delivered with love. In addition to the planning committee, there are volunteers who come together on sign up day to assist the parish in choosing a child or family to sponsor. Other volunteers help on drop off day when our entire gym is loaded with the generous offerings of our parish.
Staff Contact: Vonnie Gibbons - [email protected] 973-635-0625 x 155
Eva’s Kitchen
Eva’s Village is a non-profit social services organization in Paterson. It is also a network of hope for the people of Paterson. Eva’s Kitchen, one component of the group, feeds the growing number of homeless and working poor of the area. They serve a hot lunch for up to 400 walk-ins. In addition to these lunches they serve lunch to participants in their outpatient program each day and breakfast, lunch and dinner to all of those staying in their recovery and sheltering programs. This amounts to more than 1,200 meals per day. They are able to do this with the help of local parishes. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Eva's Village directly.
Eva's Village: evasvillage.org
Fr. English Center
St. Patrick Church has partnered with the Father English Center for many years. We minister with them regularly around their food pantry, and Christmas giving programs. The Center is a social services agency of the diocese of Paterson serving the changing needs of the poor. They serve as a resource for other professional agencies, parishes and the wider community.
The Father English Center: fatherenglish.org
Contact: Vonnie Gibbons - 973-635-0625 x155 vgibbons@st-pats.org
Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry Committee coordinates the vital work of providing food and financial support to local families, the Father English Center and our sister parish - Our Lady of Victories. Parishioners are invited to donate non-perishable foods the first weekend of every month. On these Forget-Me-Not Weekends, donations can be dropped at thepriests' garage. For local needs, our small pantry is kept stocked and up to date. Turkeys are collected in November and Easter foods collected annually. Many volunteers work together to coordinate, gather and assure the delivery of these gift.
Staff Contact: Holly Gilligan - [email protected] 973-635-0625
Family Promise
Family Promise is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Morris County. Family Promise provides temporary shelter and meals while providing services such as referrals, job training and more. All of this is done through the generosity of individual communities. Currently, guests are housed in motels and local churches have comnmitted to assist these individuals and families by providing meals, supplies, personal engagement and support. St. Patrick Parish commits to support Family Promise two weeks per year. Information will be provided in both the bulletin and our weekly electronic newsletter when St. Patrick Parish is scheduled to assist.
Family Promise of Morris County: www.ichmc.org
Staff Contact: Vonnie Gibbons - [email protected] 973-635-0625 x 155
Operation Appalachia
Originally the Appalachia Toy Drive, our parish has collected donations of toys, clothing, household items, etc., for over 35 years! In partnership with Chatham Moving and Storage, all donations are transported to the Appalachian region of Kentucky. Donations are collected at Chatham Moving & Storage on North Passaic Ave. in Chatham.
Staff Contact: Vonnie Gibbons - [email protected] 973-635-0625 x 155
Respect Life Ministry
The purpose of this ministry is to actively and openly demonstrate our parish’s commitment to the “Sanctity of Life’ through activities, programs, projects and support of prolife organizations. The group relies on information and direction from, the USCCB, the National Committee for Human Life Amendment and the Bishop’s Pro-Life Office.
"We, the Respect Life Committee of St. Patrick Parish, work to serve our Parish and community through prayer, education, and action in defense of life from conception to natural death. We are committed to observing and promoting the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on all life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, assisted suicide, stem cell research, and those ever evolving issues that challenge respect of any form of life."