The Lenten Cross Outreach

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

  • Spiritual:
    • One Rosary and One Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the poor
    • of the Cross for orphans
    • 10 Memorares for the sick and dying
    • Divine Mercy Novena (make sure to have copies of novena, rosaries etc. available)
  • Financial:
    • $5 made payable to the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy
    • $10 …..
    • $100….
    • Sponsor a child for $360
    • New glasses for kids $66
    • Utility Assistance $50
    • Funeral Assistance $100
    • Aid for Africa $25
  • Material:
    • Beans, Rice, Oil, and Corn Flour
    • Canned vegetables
    • School supplies
    • New car seat
    • New portable crib
    • New undergarments girls (any size)
    • Diapers
    • Formula
    • Thermometer and baby supplies
    • Gift cards for new shoes
    • Gift cards for groceries
    • Gift cards for gas

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.  

  1. When you are ready to begin, download our flyers for your bulletin and handouts for people.  Have copies near the cross.
  2. Two large beams (railroad ties work well) along with 75-200 nails, depending on size.  We used black spray paint to make the cross look even in color and darker, giving it a more rugged look.
  3. 300-1000 tags.  The number of tags you use depends on the size of your church, school or organization.  We generally replace the tags daily to give everyone an opportunity to participate.  To make the tags we use 2 x 3 mailing labels and printed the different items from the computer.  This made it easier for people to read and save time.  We placed these tags on simple tags (old fashioned) from Staples or Office Depot.  These tags had string already attached to them.  Once the label was placed on the larger tag with string, it is ready to be placed on the cross.
  4. If you are having the cross for an event or after Mass, have people ready to answer questions.  Need more information, just give them our brochures or website to learn more about our programs.
  5. When asking people for financial donations, have the tags labeled with the address of the ministry so that people can mail their donations directly to the ministry.  This would also include gift card donations.  The following is an example:

    • $25 Donation MOLDM
      Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy
      10043 Nokesville Road
      Manassas, Virginia 20110
      703-659-1636

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.

  1. As items come in each week get kids to volunteer to pack them up and bring them to the House of Mercy. 
  2. Send us the names of the volunteers who participated and the number of hours they performed works of mercy and we will send each one a certificate of appreciation.
  3. START EARLY.  Get bulletin announcements in at least 2 weeks in advance of Lent and if possible, ask your pastor to announce the outreach program at the pulpit.
  4. Pray for the needs of the poor that the cross may be a symbol of hope for all this Lent.