Works of Mercy

The mission of the St. Gregory the Great Works of Mercy Emergency Fund is to assist individuals with temporary emergency assistance to those less fortunate and/or have an unexpected emergency by providing one-time limited assistance. Applicants must reside within the physical boundaries of St. Gregory the Great Church as established by the Diocese of Trenton or a registered member of our parish for at least 6 months.

This fund will assist with gas and electric bills, water and sewer bills, health insurance premiums, homeowner’s insurance, rent, mortgage, taxes and food supplements. The person requesting assistance will need to fill out an application and provide the necessary documentation for the requested funding i.e., shut off notice from the utility company, medical bills, lease, etc. Food supplements will be provided through our food pantry. Gift cards will not be provided. If you are in need of assistance at this time, kindly contact Peg Kowalski at [email protected] or call
609-587-1131 Ext. 262

The Works of Mercy Ministry at St. Gregory the Great Parish was formed in January 2018.  Under the leadership and guidance of our former pastor, Rev. Michael McClane, the parish Ministry Volunteer Coordinator pursued formalizing this ministry.  A group of five invited parishioners with professional backgrounds in social services, law, business and education to form the core team of this ministry.

The Mission Statement of the Works of Mercy is as follows:

“To help restore hope and dignity by providing one-time, limited monetary assistance to any individuals who live within the St. Gregory the Great parish boundaries and to parishioners who live outside these boundaries who are experiencing adversity, trauma or emergency that affects their general well being and who qualify to receive assistance from this fund.  Mission includes restoration of self-sufficiency, referrals to resources, respect for all whom we serve, and confidentiality in all circumstances.”

We have developed a process that we believe will best serve the individual.

• When someone calls for assistance, a volunteer with the Works of Mercy ministry will make an appointment to meet on the grounds of St. Gregory the Great at their earliest convenience. If transportation is an issue, we will make every effort to meet with them at their home.
• An intake form is completed, and copies of their lease and/or their outstanding bills that they are requesting to be paid are attached.  The applicant along with the ministry representative will both sign the intake form.  We also require them to bring their driver’s license for verification of identity.  If the applicant has received a utility shut-off notice, we will notify the utility company to make plans for immediate payment.
• Upon completion, the ministry representative informs all members of the ministry of the case and seeks approval in a timely manner.  When all five members have approved the request for support, a check request is submitted to the business manager at St. Gregory the Great for immediate payment.
• The approved funding is sent directly to the billing company i.e., landlord, utility company, etc. and not the individual.  All requests for assistance are strictly confidential. 
• Within 6 to 8 months following each request, a follow-up letter is sent to each person inquiring how they are doing, inviting them to participate in Mass at St. Gregory the Great, and requesting that they “pay it forward” either by volunteering or making a monetary gift when they are able.

We have capped our requests at $500 at this time. If additional support is needed, a ministry representative will assist in a referral to a respective agency such as Catholic Charities, HomeFront, Mount Carmel Guild, Energy Assistance programs, etc.

This ministry has been supported through some very generous anonymous donations totaling $3,870 to start this ministry.  Since January, 2018, $2,986 has been allocated for rent, electric bills, food, emergency shelter and other special needs.  In July 2018, the parish of St. Gregory the Great, contributed over $1500 to assure that any requests that meet our guidelines are not declined.

In concert with the Knights of Columbus #7677 and our parish food pantry coordinator, Works of Mercy Ministry answers any immediate food needs through in-kind contributions from our food pantry.  The same guidelines detailed above are followed for food requests.

As the Works of Mercy Ministry becomes known throughout our parish family, we are certain that the number of requests for assistance will increase.  We have made a request to our Social Concerns Ministry for monetary donations to the Works of Mercy Ministry during their Stars for Jesus campaign in December, 2018.  History dictates that this sum may be around $750.

Last year 40 boxes of food each with a value of $200 were distributed to families in need at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter through the gracious donations of our parish family.  There are several ministries and groups that assist with this endeavor; these include the Knights of Columbus Council #7677, Food Pantry committee, Social Concerns Ministry and the Works of Mercy Ministry. Each box of food contains a turkey or ham, stuffing, vegetables, a 5 pound bag of potatoes, paper products, and other items including a tray of cookies for dessert.