LOVE IN OUR WORKS - BULLETIN DECEMBER 21, 2025

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today and throughout the new year, may we take care of our suffering brothers and sisters, bringing hope, not fear.

Please call the food pantry line directly at 708-289-0406 to enroll. You will need to provide ID and proof of residency in Our Lady of the Ridge - St. Linus parish boundaries. Pantry is on the second Saturday every month. For financial assistance call 708-289-4180.

Are you looking for ways to experience God? Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society invite you to share in their ministry. Volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul is a wonderful way to serve God through people in need, and when we see Christ in our friends in need we experience His grace. Please contact Patti Meslar at Meslar5@att.net if interested.

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NON-PERISHABLE FOOD DRIVE - November 4-5

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL GIVING TREE - ITEMS COLLECTION - Ongoing thru December 21

Our Youth Vincentians will be collecting blankets, socks, hand lotion, etc. to bring to a nursing home. Take a tag from the Giving Trees. There will also be tags for St. Margaret of Scotland School and our food pantry.

Bring St. Margaret gifts to the Parish Rectory Office by December 14 and the St. Vincent de Paul Gifts by December 21.

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NEXT FOOD COLLECTION - January 3-4

NON-PERISHABLE FOOD DRIVE - November 4-5

The St. Vincent de Paul Society sponsors a non-perishable food drive one weekend a month at all Masses for the Our Lady of the Ridge / St. Linus food pantry.

Next collection weekend on January 3-4, 2026.

Items we can use each month are:

• Peanut Butter and Jelly.
• Canned Foods: Fruits, Vegetables, Meats, Soups, Beans, Pasta Sauce, Tuna and Chicken.
• Boxed Items: Macaroni and Cheese, pasta, rice and potato dishes.
• Cereals: Hot and Cold.
• Household Items: Toilet Paper, Tissues, Paper Towels, Napkins, Baggies and Foil.
• Personal Hygiene Products: Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes and Deodorant.
• Cleaning Supplies: Laundry Detergent, Sponges, Windex and Pledge.
• Aldi Gift Cards for the pantry to purchase eggs, cheese, butter, bread, milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and meat - The gift cards can be placed in our St. Vincent de Paul Poor Boxes or brought to the rectory.

Please do not bring above items to the church gathering space / vestibule before the collection weekend.

Please be generous in helping the poor.

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPERIENCE GOD? - JOIN THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul invite you to share in their ministry of experiencing God in serving your neighbors living in poverty. We see Christ in our friends in need, and we see Christ in each other. Then we experience God in our everyday, ordinary lives. Please consider coming to our meetings on the first Monday of the month, or stopping by our pantry on the second Saturday of the month. We look forward to meeting you and seeing Christ in your face.

Our Lady of the Ridge - St. Linus St. Vincent de Paul Society is always in need of people to deepen their Vincentian spirit of friendship, and to be responsive to the Christian calling to help those in need. If you would be willing to share some of your time and talents in this work of charity, please join us! Our St. Vincent de Paul Conference meets the first Monday of the month in the St. Linus Cardiff Center at 7 pm.

We reach out to all parishioners young and old to consider helping our St. Vincent de Paul Conference in our many activities. Please send us an email at Meslar5@att.net or contact the Parish Reectory Office at 708-422-2400 if you are interested in becoming a member of our Conference or interested in helping at our Food Pantry. I can honestly say if you spend an hour or two with us, we guarantee you won’t regret it. Stop by for a visit and see our volunteers at work at our Food Pantry, second Saturday of the month between 7 am and 10 am at Our Lady of the Ridge Gym.

Sincerely,
Patti Meslar - President and Food Pantry Coordinator, SVdP local Conference