Class Service Projects

Freshman Class Service Project-Catholic Charities Christmas Store

Located at the Xavier Center at 1435 N. Illinois St, 46202, the Catholic Charities Christmas Store served 585 families in 2008 and plans to serve even more this year.  The families are referred to the store by many Indianapolis social service agencies for the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts for their family members.  They are invited to shop and, if possible, to pay $2.00 per person for their family members, maximum $10, for the opportunity to pick out two outfits, underwear, socks, gloves, hat, two toys, a Christmas stocking for each child and a household item for each family.  They select their choices from new merchandise which has been donated by local schools, churches, and businesses.  Shopping and organizing for the Christmas store is a year long process that involves many volunteers.  The Freshman class students will help in the following ways:
   1. Donate womens and childrens socks on October 15, 2009 at the Freshman Day of
          Recollection.
   2. Assist Christmas Store preparation by packing stockings and wrapping family
          ornaments on Nov. 19 (Open House day from 12:15-4 PM) and on 
          Nov. 20 (11:45-3). Nov. 19 help takes place at The Xavier Center and on Nov 20
          work will be at Cathedral in the SLC.
   3. Assist Client Shopping at the Christmas Store during the Christmas season: 
           Sat, Dec 5  and Sat. Dec 12.  (The hours are 1:50-6:30 PM on Saturdays.)      
   4. Help prepare for the 2010 store by helping on Wednesdays on January 14, February
           11, March 4 and April 12 from 3:15-6:15 PM.
Click here for the detailed description of the Freshman Class service project.   Click here for the permission slip.  Each freshman is warmly invited to help assist the Catholic Charities Christmas store which serves 580 disadvantaged families. 

Sophomore Class Service Project-The Lord's Pantry ( Anna's House)

The Sophomore class service project will be working with the ministry started by Lucious Newsom.  Who was Lucious Newsom?  He was a street minister who provided food and support services to underprivileged families in Indianapolis.  “Just before 5 in the morning, Lucious Newsom climbed out of bed and into his blue bib overalls, starting another day as "the Lord's beggar for the poor." …Just as he has done for the past 21 years in Indianapolis, the retired Baptist minister-turned-Catholic drove across the city, stopping at supermarkets, bread stores and produce companies to pick up or buy food that he then delivers to people in need.”  This last year we sadly said goodbye to Lucious when he died on August 18, 2008.  Lucious still needs our help to continue his work.  The sophomore class will be able to help at Anna's House,  303 Elder St 46222, in the following ways:
1.  Monthly Spaghetti Dinner-Fourth Wednesday
Starting with August 26th, on the fourth Wednesday of the month, the sophomore class will help cook and serve a tasty spaghetti dinner to about one hundred  families from Lucious Newsom’s ministry.   We have set up the additional dates of September 23, October 28, December 9, January 27, February 24, March 10, and April 28 as the Wednesdays for this dinner.  Sophomore students applied for and were awarded a grant for this monthly spaghetti dinner last year.  Please email Mrs. Halstead at chalstead@cathedral-irish.org with your interest in cooking and serving at one of these Wednesday dates.  Mrs. Egan's spanish classes are helping with reading on Wednesday nights.
    2. Saturday Food Distribution at Anna’s House
          The sophomore class officers will be helping to distribute food at Anna’s house each Saturday
          this year from 9-12 PM.
    3. Collection Drives
          The sophomore class will be holding a toy drive in conjunction with the Sophomore Ring
          ceremony on December 6, 2009.  They may also host a snack drive. 
    4.  Lenter Prayer Partners/St. Patricks Day Dinner in a Box
          During Lent, Cathedral families will be invited to sponsor a $25 lucky dinner in a box and to unite
          as a Lenten prayer partner with a special family from Lucious Newsom’s ministry.  The
          Sophomore class will deliver the dinners, along with an Irish blessing prayer, to the recipients on
          Monday, March 16, 2010.

Working with Lucious's ministry is always a priviledge.  Click here for the detailed description of the Sophomore Class service project.   Each sophomore is joyfully appreciated for their interest in helping to continue Lucious' ministry. He continues to shepherd us in wonderful ways.

Junior Class Service Project-Wheeler Mission and Cathedral Soup Kitchen

Wheeler Mission serves the homeless, the poor, and the underprivileged men, women and families, as well as single women in our community.  A Christian, faith based organization, their services range from housing, meals, counseling, classes, bible study and support for all sectors of needs.  Wheeler Mission’s facilities are extensive and include meal and housing services at the Men’s Mission on North Delaware, the Wheeler Center for Women and Children on 3208 E. Michigan St. 46201, and the Lighthouse Mission at 520 E. Market Street.  In addition to serving meals at the centers, the Juniors champion participation in the Turkey Dash held each Thanksgiving Day in the morning in Broad Ripple.   In another opportunity to help the homeless, juniors have helped to launch a Saturday lunch for the Cathedral Soup Kitchen at 1350 N. Pennsylvania 46202 on the second Saturday of each month. We cook and  serve this Saturday meal once a month with fondness and efficiency.