S.E.E.D.S.
(Sacraments. Education. Encounter. Discipleship. Service.)

Why is it essential to our faith formation? Service is the gift of identifying the needs and problems of others to work with them in whatever way needed, no matter how small or big the task.

 

Goal: To serve in some capacity all 7 Works of Mercy within 6-11th grade. 

 

The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy

1. Feed the Hungry

• Avoid wasting food.

• See to the proper nutrition of your loved ones.

• Set the table, do the dishes, or help cook dinner for your family.

• Support, donate, and volunteer for food pantries, soup kitchens and agencies that feed the hungry.

• Make a few sandwiches to hand out as you walk through areas where you might encounter people in need.

• Educate yourself about world hunger.

• Give food to a homeless person.

• Pay for the person behind you in the drive through.​

​

2. Give Drink to the Thirsty

• Donate water to shelters or in an emergency situation.

• Take extra water/drinks with you to a sporting event and share.

• Run a lemonade stand and donate the profits, or just give the drinks away for free.

• Offer to get drinks for your friends or family members.

​

3. Shelter the Homeless

• Help neighbors care for their homes and do repairs.

• Support and/or volunteer at a homeless shelter.

• Support and/or volunteer for charitable agencies who care for the homeless, build homes, and provide support in the wake of natural disasters.

• Advocate for public policies and legislation that provide housing for low-income people.

• Consider becoming a foster family.

• Donate old furniture, pillows, blankets, etc. to those that need it.

• Know where safe places are and tell people about them.

• Invite people you know to stay with you when in need (traveling, buying a new house, in an emergency, foreign exchange student).

• Pay for a hotel room for someone who needs it or help pay someone’s rent.

 

4. Clothe the Naked

• Go through your drawers and closets and find good-condition clothes and shoes to donate to agencies that provide assistance for those in need or even a family you know.

• Participate in programs that provide towels and linens for hospitals in distressed areas.

• Volunteer to work at a clothing drive or at a shelter where clothing is distributed to those in need.

• Support the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

• Buy and donate coats for people who need them.

• Collect baby items for moms in need.

• Make your own things to donate – hats, scarves, etc.

• Have a garage sale and donate the money.

 

5. Visit the Sick

• Spend quality time with those who are sick or homebound.

• Take the time to call, send a card or an email to someone who is sick.

• Volunteer to drive patients to medical appointments and treatment facilities.

• Volunteer at a hospital.

• Assist those who are full-time caregivers for family members.

• Cook and deliver meals to the sick and homebound.

• Ask a priest to visit the sick person.

• Make sure that someone bring them Communion and Anointing of the Sick.

• Make a card, call them, bring a thoughtful gift like pillows, games, books, etc.

• Bring someone who is sick a home cooked meal.

• Help them with their medicine or even help pay their medical bills.

• Be extra nice to family members when they are sick.

 

6. Visit the Imprisoned

• Support and/or participate in ministries to those who are incarcerated.

• Support programs sponsored by agencies that advocate on behalf of those who are unjustly imprisoned.

• Support job-training and educational programs designed to rehabilitate prisoner.

• Prayer for the families of inmates.

• Support programs that provide holiday gifts for prisoners and their families.

• Support efforts that seek the abolition of the death penalty.

• Encourage your priest to visit someone in prison.

• Visit someone who is in prison, who is homebound or hospitalized.

• Send cards or care packages to the prison, homebound or hospitalized/residential care.

• Cook for someone who is homebound.

• Go caroling, play instruments, play games, read out loud to the homebound.

 

7.  Bury the dead

• Be faithful about attending wakes/visitation.

• Support or volunteer at a hospice.

• Participate in a bereavement ministry.

• Spend time with widows and widowers.

• Take friends and relatives to visit the cemetery. Visit a gravesite to pray.

• Offer daily prayers for those with terminal illnesses and for those who have died.

• Send Mass cards, food, or flowers to families of those who have died.

• Donate to a cause that is special to the family.

• Help clean out the home of the deceased.

• Help pay bills related to the funeral.