1 Who are the Benedictines of Jesus Crucified and where is the monastery?

The Benedictines of Jesus Crucified, Monastery of the Glorious Cross in Branford, Connecticut is a place in which a cloistered congregation of nuns share a communal life of prayer and self sacrifice.

2 What is so special about this community?

Since its foundation, the community has welcomed women with disabilities. Despite substantial impairments and often chronic pain, the sisters spend their days in prayer and sacrifice. At this time, the sisters' disabilities are compounded by advancing years. The average age of our sisters is 73 years old.

3 What are our needs?

The community savings is slowly being depleted while health care needs, living expenses, and building maintenance costs are increased. Although a dedicated group of volunteers helps in many areas, they are unable to meet all the needs. We know that our cause is but one of many to which you are asked to contribute. We have never in the past collected funds even during masses. Our situation is now such that we pray for your charity in whatever amount you are able to give. You will be in our prayers.

Please also visit our website http://www.benedictinesjc.org to learn more about our community.

Labels: Charities

I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I do know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask, "How many good things have you done in your life?," rather he will ask, "How much LOVE did you put into what you did?"

Mother Teresa

Labels: Mercy thoughts

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Let this be the pattern for all men when they practise mercy: show mercy to others in the same way, with the same generosity, with the same promptness, as you want others to show mercy to you.

St. Peter Chrysologus

Labels: Contemplations on Mercy, Mercy thoughts

Food For The Poor (FFP) ministers to spiritually renew impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1982 as a 501(c)(3)corporation, our goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children we serve.

Food For The Poor raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need. In this way, the organization serves the poor with dignity and ensures the most appropriate use of donors' funds.

Our ministry reflects God's unconditional love, which surrenders all, inspires trust and faith, and embraces all people regardless of race, status or creed. We believe that Christ is alive, and that we can best serve Him by being of assistance to those in greatest need (Matthew 25:31-46). Finally, we stress the need for regular prayer to guide and maintain the purity of our mission.

Our mission is to link the church of the First World with the church of the Third World in a manner that helps both the materially poor and the poor in spirit. The materially poor are served by local churches, clergy and lay leaders who have been empowered and supplied with goods by Food For The Poor. The poor in spirit are renewed by their relationship with and service to the poor through our direct ministry of teaching, encouragement and prayer. Ultimately, we seek to bring both benefactors and recipients to a closer union with our Lord.

Homepage Here

Labels: Charities

If you can knit, crochet, or quilt, then Reaching Out needs you!

Reaching Out’s Warmth Around the World project will donate children’s sweaters, hats, mittens, blankets, and quilts to orphanages in countries such as Russia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Nepal, and Kazakhstan. Orphanages in many of these countries are struggling to provide for the overwhelming number of children in their care. These countries often experience very cold winters and keeping all the children adequately bundled up can be a daunting task.

We’re looking for willing hands to help us make child-sized sweaters, hats, mittens, blankets, and quilts for orphanages abroad. Dust off your needles and recruit your friends and family, churches and schools! Your time and talent will help to warm a child in need!

Sweaters can be made from the simple patterns below or from a pattern of your choice. All children’s sizes are desperately needed and greatly appreciated. Donations of yarn are also appreciated and will be used by the knitters here at Reaching Out.

Blankets and quilts can be the size of a baby blanket up to twin bed sized and can be made from any pattern of your choice.

Hats and mittens should be sized infant through adolescent. They can be made with any pattern of your choice or store bought. Used hats or mittens should be clean.

Website has contact information and patterns you can use

Website HERE

Labels: Charity Crafting

Operation Rice Bowl

Operation Rice Bowl is the official Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services. Each Lent, parishes, school and other faith communities participate in Operation Rice Bowl to learn more about the work of CRS and put their faith into action. As a Lenten solidarity program, Operation Rice Bowl calls Catholics to reach out to assist our brothers and sisters around the world through the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving while learning about their lives overseas. This year, join over 15,400 groups in the United States participating in Operation Rice Bowl and foster solidarity between your community and those who struggle with hunger and poverty around the world.

The Operation Rice Bowl 2007 featured countries are Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Cambodia and Niger . Through stories, photos and recipes from these featured countries, participants learn about the joys and challenges in the lives our brothers and sisters overseas. By signing up for the Operation Rice Bowl Online Community, participants also receive weekly emails during Lent which contain reflections on the 2007 featured countries.

To create an enriching Lenten experience for your entire faith community, Operation Rice Bowl provides resources to help coordinate and publicize your community's participation, including public service announcements for television and radio.

Operation Rice Bowl has served as a tangible way for Catholics in the United States to connect in solidarity with our brothers and sisters overseas for over 30 years. Find out more about Operation Rice Bowl's History, receive answers to your Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us to learn more about how you can become involved in this Lenten tradition.

Your support helps families around the world through Catholic Relief Services' development projects.

75% of Rice Bowl proceeds come to Catholic Relief Services and help fund development projects designed to increase food security in communities in over 40 countries around the world.

• Agriculture projects help farmers improve crop yields.
• Microfinance projects encourage the growth of small businesses.
• Mother and Child Health projects provide basic health and nutrition services.
• Education projects provide resources and training.
• HIV/AIDS projects support the local Catholic Church in communities around the world in addressing the many needs of people affected by this disease.

25% of contributions support hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in dioceses in the United States.

Webpage

Labels: Charities

Remember that the Christian life is one of action, not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.

- Saint Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)

Labels: Mercy thoughts