Food Drives

St. Mary hosts several food drives throughout the year for parishioners to share their bounty with our sisters and brothers experiencing food insecurity. Benefiting organizations have included Catholic Charities, Food Gatherers, Hope Clinic, and Salvation Army.

Crossroads Easter Meal

Each Easter season, St. Mary partners with Crossroads to provide and serve a holiday meal for individuals and families in need. Volunteer opportunities and donation details are shared closer to the date.

Eco-Workdays

Each Fall and Spring, the Care for Creation Team hosts multiple eco-workday outings at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and the Nichols Arboretum. These are wonderful opportunities for parishioners of all ages to come together in a beautiful setting, connect with nature and one another, and respond to Pope Francis' call to be stewards of God's marvelous creation.

Mercy House

Mercy House is a house of hospitality located near downtown Ann Arbor at 805 W. Huron Street. Mercy House provides meals, clothing, laundry, showers, and community for individuals who are unhoused. Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays and Saturdays to assist with preparing and serving meals, delivering meals to individuals who cannot get to Mercy House, cleaning, and other projects as needed.

Alpha House

For one week in September and March, St. Mary supports the work of Alpha House by preparing and serving meals for residents, planning and facilitating enrichment activities for children, and assisting with other projects as needed. Alpha House provides temporary shelter, food, and support services to unhoused families. St. Mary's assigned dates are September 21–27, 2026 and March 8–14, 2027.

Men's Rotating Overnight Shelter

Each November, St. Mary partners with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County to host the Men's Rotating Overnight Shelter for up to 25 men facing housing insecurity. Volunteers are needed to welcome guests, serve as overnight hosts, and provide snacks and meals to guests. St. Mary will host the shelter November 9–16, 2026. Contact Julia Novotny at [email protected] with questions.

Daytime Warming Center

Each Winter, in partnership with the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC), St. Mary hosts the Daytime Warming Center (DWC) for individuals who are unhoused. The shelter runs Monday through Friday from 8am – 4:00pm in Newman Hall. We strive to provide a welcoming and safe environment where guests can find food, friendship, and basic needs. Food and clothing donations are collected during the time we host. Volunteers are also needed to welcome guests, prepare and serve meals, and assist with other projects as needed. St. Mary will host the DWC from January 4–29, 2027.

Advent Giving Tree

Each November, St. Mary collects gifts and monetary donations to support and share holiday cheer with individuals and families at benefiting organizations. Parishioners are invited to choose from a wide range of organizations and needs. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Contact: Julia Novotny, [email protected].

Feast Day of Service

Each December, in honor of Mary, our patroness, the Faith Doing Justice Ministry hosts a parish-wide Mass and day of service. Parishioners of all ages are invited to sign up for a wide range of service sites across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Flint. This year, the Feast Day of Service will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The day begins with Mass at 10am, followed by lunch and an afternoon of service. Contact Faith Doing Justice Coordinator, Julia Novotny ([email protected]), with questions or for more information.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB)

The Alternative Spring Break Program (ASB) is a service immersion program for undergraduate students during Spring Break. Through this week-long immersion, students go to the margins to learn from communities impacted by injustice and deepen their understanding of Catholic social teaching and the root causes of complex justice issues. The trips explore a wide range of justice issues, including: poverty, food insecurity, racism, homelessness, education, immigration, the criminal justice system and restorative justice, and environmental justice, among others. Through this experience of encounter, solidarity, and mutual giving, students find God in all things, build community with one another, and are challenged to go forth from their trips to live a faith that does justice.

Alumni of ASB have described these trips as:

“Life-changing”

“Unforgettable”

“I saw God each and every day”

“ASB reinforced what I want to do with my life”

“I grew deeper in my faith and relationship with God”

“I returned from the trip with a whole new perspective, and full of zeal for my faith”

International Samaritan Immersion

Each May, a group of student and resident parishioners travels to Central America for a week-long immersion to be in solidarity with and learn about the reality of individuals living and working in garbage dump communities. This is a powerful week of encounter and a spiritually enriching experience for all who attend. Information sessions are held in January and February, with applications due in February. Leading up to the trip, participants engage in a formation process over several sessions to prepare for the trip. To learn more, contact trip leader, Tom McDonough, at [email protected].

Post-Grad Service Programs

The Faith Doing Justice Ministry is connected with a number of domestic and international Catholic post-grad service programs. If you are approaching graduation or a recent grad and are interested in a year of service and would like to learn more, please reach out to Faith Doing Justice Coordinator, Julia Novotny at [email protected].

Monthly Newsletter

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Upcoming Opportunities

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FDJ Google Calendar

Access the Faith Doing Justice Google Calendar for all upcoming events and dates.