Help support the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy by taking up the cross this lent. We are looking for organizations, schools and churches to receive wooden crosses with nails in them. Each nail will contain a particular need for the House of Mercy both here and abroad. People can take the tags off the cross and return them with the material or financial assistance to help the poor experience the mercy and love of Christ.
Why We Do It:
There has never been a greater need for mercy than now. All around the world children and their families are experiencing hunger, cold, loneliness and sickness. The Lenten Cross Outreach is a ministry that reaches to the very heart of these people by getting people actively involved in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. It takes a tremendous amount of financial and material resources to continue our programs both here and abroad and the generosity of those who put love into action makes it possible.
Who Will Benefit:
The poor will benefit from this outreach program because of the tremendous almsgiving and charity of ordinary people like you who decided to make a difference in someone’s life. Through financial gifts and material assistance, children will receive needed items such as food, new shoes, free clothing, or new eye glasses, just to name a few.
Families and Children who participate in the program will also benefit. Every year during Lent parents and youth leaders ask us for ways for the youth to get involved and experience the true meaning of Lent-Prayer, Penance and Almsgiving. Service projects and volunteering are excellent ways to relieve the suffering of the poor while helping youth develop virtues in charity, generosity, almsgiving and penance. Lent becomes a both contemplative and interactive experience.
How It Works:
Getting started is easy. Just ask your pastor, youth leader or organization for permission to have a large cross (we use 6-foot railroad ties with 5 inch carpenter nails) in the vestibule or area where people gather. A small tag is then placed on each nail (you can be creative with this). It’s good to have at least 75 nails on the cross to give as many people a chance to participate as possible. People then take the tags and return them with the items requested. The tags can be for any need at the House of Mercy, spiritual, financial or material. Listed below are some examples of the kind of tags we use:
Stations
When Does It Start: Traditionally, the Lenten Cross Outreach has begun the day following Ash Wednesday, but it can be done throughout the whole season of Lent, for one weekend, or even a day. It is also possible to incorporate the cross into a retreat program any time of year. The important thing to remember is that the cross is a reminder for us to practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Whenever you decide to begin, your decision to get involved will have a tremendous impact on the families who need it most.
What You’ll Need: Getting organized early is the best way to make this outreach successful. Listed below are just a few tips to help you get started. If you need further assistance, you can welcome to contact us.
Sometimes you’ll have to work with the font on the tags, but if you use the 2 x 3 mailing labels it should not be a problem.