The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time,
especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes,
the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.
Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts.
For theirs is a community of people united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit
in their pilgrimage towards the Father's kingdom,
bearers of a message of salvation for all of humanity.
That is why they cherish a feeling of deep solidarity with the human race and its history.
(Gaudium et Spes, 1)
Outreach Committee at St. Elizabeth
The Outreach Committee brings together parish members who are interested in reaching out to individuals and agencies in need. They promote Outreach programs with an emphasis on social service, social justice and community ministries. Outreach cooperates with other churches and civic organizations in projects aimed at community involvement. The Outreach Ministry at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church seeks to reach out to those in need and expand our faith community through prayer, living the sacramental life, education, sharing the “Good News” and service in Christ. As the Body of Christ, we each have different ‘gifts’ to serve our community in mind, body and spirit. We invite you to explore our diverse Outreach and related ministries to find your own calling.”
Sandwich Line
Jesus asks, "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep" (John 21:17).
The Sandwich line ministry is the largest and oldest ministry at St. Elizabeth’s.
As part of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary mission statement, we as a community serve the poor with a daily soup and sandwich line for the homeless. By the grace of God and the generosity of the parishioners, we feed, clothe and nurture the less fortunate.
Each day around 9:00am, a team of volunteers assembles in the kitchen to begin the cooking process. We make approximately sixty cups of coffee and a minimum of seven quarts of juice. There are 120 sandwiches to be made, mostly meat and cheese. Hotdogs and egg salad sandwiches are often included. The soup maker prepares two big cauldrons of homemade soup each day, enough to feed any where from 70-150 men and women who are in need of a good meal. Dessert is served daily and can be cookies, donuts, pies, cakes, and/or granola bars. Some days there are two or three varieties.
Helping the poor is an important part of the St. Elizabeth's community. In order to meet the needs of the homeless, volunteers gather coats, gloves, hats, blankets and sleeping bags to provide warm in the winter. We treat each person with respect and dignity. We pray for them and welcome them into our church for spiritual nourishment. Jesus gave us a mission when he said, "Do you love me? Then tend my sheep."
Donations of food, clothing and financial support are always welcomed.
St. Elizabeth belongs to the Food Bank of the Rockies and the Coalition for the Homeless.
Check out the current Sandwich Line Schedules: Sandwich Line July 2011; Sandwich Line August 2011
For more information and to get involved, contact: Tim Lenahan: timlenahan@msn.com
Christmas Baskets
Every year this ministry touches the hearts and lives of over 130 families throughout Denver and in the Eastern Plains.
Families can connect with those in need by simply picking up a basket at Christmas and filling it with goodies for one person or a family.
It’s an opportunity to join together as a family and bring joy to people in need.
Peace and Justice
St. Elizabeth’s Peace and Justice Group informs fellow parishioners about forums, events and speakers in the Denver area on issues regarding Catholic social teaching. E-mail notifications cover events not noted in normal parish communications. Any parish member may join this e-mail list.
Contact: Gerry Prus at: prusgt@juno.com