Service

A parish-based food pantry that is open on:

 Tuesday mornings from 9:30am to noon
Wednesday evenings from 4:30 to 7:00pm
Thursday mornings from 9:00am to noon

The Basement serves from an increasing number of  families per month by giving groceries to those who come to us. Our goal is both to feed and to nurture the spirit by our welcome to those who pass this way.

STATISTICS:

Jan, 2005: 283 families, 713 people
(280 children, 370 from age 19-59, 63 seniors)
Feb, 2005: 229 families, 582 people
(230 children, 284 from age 19-59, 68 seniors)
Mar, 2005: 277 families, 740 people
(304 children, 365 from age 19-59, 71 seniors)
Apr, 2005: **352 families, 761 people
(307 children, 380 from age 19-59, 74 seniors)
**all time largest number of families!
May, 2005: 302 families, 811 people
(336 Children, 386 from age 19-59, 87 seniors)

If you would like to see statistics from 2001 through 2004, click here.

 Please pray for an end to poverty!

People of all ages help support the Bountiful Basement. Below are some parishioners, and a teacher and students from nearby Carl Shuler Middle School carrying boxes and helping to pack groceries

The Peace and Justice commission include members of our parish who hold principles of peaceful reconciliation both locally and globally. One of the annual projects of the organization is the Advent weekly collections that benefit various agencies as well as our own parish members. The free meal program at St. Patrick’s bimonthly serves a hot meal to the poor and homeless. In fulfilling our mission statement, we are both a caring and teaching organization working to follow the path of nonviolence.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an international lay organization of Catholic men and women. Founded in 1833 in Paris, France, by a college student named Frederick Ozanam, it was placed under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. It quickly spread to other countries including the United States in 1845. Ascension parish has had a St. Vincent de Paul Society since 1950. Members meet twice a month for prayer and discussion of our "cases." We are here to help all people in our parish area, but on a temporary basis. It can be spiritually, in their home, nursing home, hospital, or temporarily in the form of food to those who are needy, and / or clothing and furniture from our Thrift Stores when necessary. Our members always go in pairs to talk to those we serve in a non-judgmental way, and anything discussed with them is strictly confidential.

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization, relying on volunteers to keep this effort going. It has been in existence for a number of years serving the elderly and handicapped in the Bellaire-Puritas area. This has been a combined effort of Annunciation, Ascension, Puritas Lutheran, St. Paul AME parishes along with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Volunteers are always needed.

Our Legion of Mary is a group dedicated to Mary under the title of "Our Lady of Good Counsel." We meet one morning per week. After our meeting, we proceed to Aristocrat West Nursing Home and West park Health Care Center for Mass or to distribute Communion to the patients. We donate Catholic literature to the nursing home patients. When possible, we visit housebound parishioners and the sick at other nursing homes. As a group we attend outside religious functions, such as St. Joseph Christian Life Center, monthly traveling Mass for vocations, and various pilgrimages throughout the year. The Legion of Mary sends out get-well cards to those in the hospital in the name of the parish as well as condolence cards to bereaved families. In addition to all this we are a group that likes to have fun together.

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