Community Outreach
Our Parish community has been committed over the years, through our Outreach Program, to helping those in need both in our community and at large. Both the Gospel message and Catholic tradition call upon us to aid the poor and less fortunate. We respond to our commitment thru the monthly collection on Outreach Sunday and by volunteering to help where we can.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to ending poverty housing in our communities by building decent and affordable housing. It was founded in Georgia in 1976 and the Orange County affiliate was founded in 1988. Habitat for Humanity's feels strongly that home ownership is a key solution to family and community stability. Since its inception Habitat for Humanity-Orange County has completed 99 homes. Through their tithe to Habitat International they have sponsored more than 161 homes around the world.
For more information, contact them at (714) 434-6200 or visit www.habitatoc.org.
Casa Teresa
Casa Teresa provides a temporary home and ongoing support for pregnant women 18 years and older who are alone. Counseling and educational programs prepare these women to make loving and informed decisions for themselves and their babies.
Casa Teresa offers these programs:
- Prenatal Care, parenting Education, Counseling, Self-image Development, Education, and Specialized Programs.
- Residents required to enroll in school or become employed.
- Women are allowed to remain at Casa Teresa for up to tow months after the birth of their babies.
- Over 20% of average resident population place their babies for adoption.
- Over 100 past resident continue to receive counseling and use Casa Teresa's program
For more information, contact them at the numbers below or visit www.casateresa.com
Lissa Callaghan, Executive Director
Casa Teresa, Inc.
P.O. Box 429
Orange, CA 92856
(714) 538-4860 Ext. 14
Pamela Sailor, Marketing and Special Events Manager
(714) 538-4860 Ext. 19
Jennie Thomas, Volunteer Coordinator
(714) 538-4860 Ext. 18
Southwest Community Center
Southwest Community Center was founded in 1977 by Annie Mae Tripp as a personal effort to provide emergency assistance to the economically disadvantaged individuals and families in the Santa Ana community. Today the Center continues to provide assistance to economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Orange County and to encourage those whom we assist to attain self-sufficiency.
The Center serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week and dinner on Saturdays. In total it is serving approximately 10,000 hot meals a month. It also distributes food bags and clothing to families, seniors and homeless individuals. The Center provides variety of other services such as emergency housing assistance for families and youth volunteer opportunities.
For more information, contact them at 1601 West Second Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703 or (714) 547-4073.
Second Harvest Food Bank
The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County was founded in 1983 and is an activity of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and an affiliate of the America's Second Harvest, the nations largest domestic hunger relief organization. To alleviate hunger, the Food Bank develops programs to increase awareness of the hunger problem and provides an opportunity for volunteerism and community involvement. In partnership with its member charities, the Food Bank helps feed more than 215,000 individuals each month.
The Food Bank solicits and collects commodities and then distributes them to non-profit agencies, which feed the needy. Food sources include local grocery stores and supermarket chains, food manufacturers and distributors, the government, restaurants, trade shows, gleaning efforts, food drives and private donations. It started with a 10,000 square feet in a former orange packing warehouse, the Food Bank has added 42,000 square feet, including 80,000 cubic feet of refrigeration and freezer space.
For more information, contact them at (714) 771-1343 or visit http://www.feedoc.org/
UCI Catholic Community & UCI Interfaith Center
The UCI Catholic Community serves the entire campus community of students, faculty and staff. It functions with the assistance of the UCI Interfaith Center, which was established when the University opened in 1965. Both are supported entirely by donations from businesses, churches, and community members and are not funded by the University.
For more information, contact them at (714) 856-0211.
Mercy House
Mercy House was founded to help end local homelessness by providing housing alternatives, programs and supportive services. It was started in 1988 by Fr. Jerome Karcher. They provide transitional housing with supportive services to single men, and single women with children. They also have the Mercy House Center which is a walk-in emergency center and resource center. In 2000 they opened the Halcyon Shelter to include families and single parents with children. In 2001 they opened Emmanuel House which serves adults living with AIDS/HIV. There are a total of five houses now, with a sixth in the design stages and scheduled for completion in Spring 2004. Mercy House serves almost 1000 clients annually in the various programs they offer which include: Homeless Prevention, Emergency Services, Motel Assistance, School Partnership, Child Transition, Case Management, Life Skills Education, Resident Advisory Council, Permanent Housing, Aftercare Housing. Mercy house staffing includes 14 staff members and 435 community and professional volunteers.
For more information, contact them at P.O. Box 1905 Santa Ana, CA 92702 or (714) 836-7188.
Life Centers of Orange County
Established in 1975 they have continuously served women facing CRISIS pregnancy. They serve adolescent through adult and have had over 38,000 women, family members and prospective fathers come to them for assistance. Life Center charges no fees for services provided. They provide pregnancy testing, counseling and pregnancy options for those with positive results. They are a pro-life program and assistance or referral for abortion is not provided. Life Center provides information on all pregnancy options in order for the client to make knowledgeable decisions. When counseling, abstinence for single clients is encouraged, and information on fertility awareness is available. Counseling is also provided for post abortion and pregnancy loss women. Prenatal care is provided by referring to local maternal health clinics that work with Life Centers. Low or no cost ultrasound exams referrals are provided, along with financial assistance programs and vouchers are provided in special circumstances. Life Center encourages adoption and refers clients to licensed agencies.
For more information, contact them at 1125 E. 17th St. #358N, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
S.P.I.N.
SPIN assists low-income and homeless people with financial assistance for housing costs and through a network of comprehensive support services, enables them to become self-sufficient and no longer dependent on public support. SPIN was founded by Sam Boyce, an OLQA parishioner, in 1987 with 6 volunteers.
SPIN offers 3 different programs:
- GAPP (Guaranteed Apartment Payment Program) which offers low-income and homeless families with children (1 adult must be working full-time) with move-in costs to permanent housing. The program also requires mandatory, comprehensive case management lasting up to 2 years which includes family advisors, tutors for children, childcare cost subsidies, personal and job counseling and budgeting skills.
- The SARP ( Substance Abuse rehabilitation Program) program offers participants move-in costs to a recovery home, counseling, bus passes to locate employment and eligibility to the GAPP program if sobriety is maintained for 12-18 months.
- The Street Services Program involves volunteers preparing and delivering a sack meal, hygiene kits and seasonal clothing to the homeless living on the streets.
For more information, contact them at 2900 Bristol St. h-106, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 or (714) 751-1101.
Boys Hope Girls Hope
"Saving Kids One Life At A Time". Organization started in 1975 by Father Paul Sheridan a Jesuit. Provides 30 houses (16 in U.S.). Orange County has 2 homes opened in 1991 & 1996 serving 6 children each. Serves children at risk, yet academically capable to realize their potential. Provides family like homes and long term residential care as well as quality education through college scholarships, providing primary & secondary education and after care services. 30 children directly served, 100% have gone to college attending Loyola, Mt. St. Mary's, St. Louis, US Air Force Academy. 62% graduate in 5 years.
For more information, contact them at 12912 Brookhurst Street, Suite 400A, Garden Grove, Ca 92840.
Catholic Worker
Movement began in 1933 by Dorothy Day providing houses of hospitality. Over 100 houses exist. Isaiah House in Orange County has served poor people since 1987. Located in the barrios it is open to people in need. Offers formal meals to the homeless daily serving more meals than Casa Garcia, Rescue Mission and Salvation Army combined. Provides shelter for homeless families and women and is only "kids based shelter" in Orange County. 300 Meals/Week & a place to sleep for 150 people per night. Also provides bags of food & clothing & showers. They have over 1,000 volunteers and 3 nights a week Catholic High School students serve and work.
For more information, contact them at 316 S. Cypress, Santa Ana, California 92701 (714) 835-6304
Taller San Jose
Founded by Sisters of St. Joseph a nationally recognized organization that focuses on helping at Risk Youth that are unemployed, drawn to drugs and alcohol abuse, and sometimes to crime and gangs. Provides educational & job training programs thereby providing students future stability and success. Assists with helping get a High School diploma, computer technology, nursing assistant training, mentoring, and has an outstanding technical institute. Their goal is to help each youth reach seven goals including:
1. DHS Diploma
2. Open and use bank account
3. Get valid drivers license
4. Remain alcohol and drug free
5. Register to vote
6. Enroll in computer class
7. Find a job above minimum wage
For more information, contact them at 801 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, California 92701 714/543-5105
The Norbertine Sisters of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph
The Norbertine Sisters were founded in 1996 and are affiliated with the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey. There are currently 17 sisters, representing nearly all the continents of the world. The sisters live the Monastic life focusing on the three observances of charity: love of God, love self and love of neighbor, which are enfleshed in traditional monastic architecture. They also have a "guest cloister" where the Sisters exercise hospitality to those seeking a more intense period of prayer.
They take on an intense responsibility of prayer and worship within the Division of Labor in the Mystical Body. As such… If a missionary has to speak for one hour to men, he wishes first to speak two hours to God about himself and about those to whom his is going to speak. But since this is often impossible, we can make a "division of labor" also in the spiritual realm, so that those who have otherwise no connection with mission work, pray, figuratively speaking, with uplifted arms to God (like Moses) while the missionary is fighting the battles of the Lord. The division of labor in the spiritual realm and the part assigned to the contemplative is a "life of prayer." The contemplative's union with God will infuse blood (charity and divine life) generously into all the members of Christ's Mystical Body. -cf. Missionary Rev. Bernard Huss, C.M.M.
If you have any prayer requests for the sisters please send to:
Mother Mary Augustine and the Sisters at "pray_req@cybersurfers.net"
For more information, contact them at 17831-A Water Canyon Road, Tehachapi, CA 93561-7686 or (661) 823-1066
Marian Homes, Inc.
Founded in 1987 by a group of Catholic parents to establish and maintain homes for adults with developmental disabilities in Southern California, out of concern that their children might find placement in a caring environment which matched their own beliefs and values.
They now have 2 homes in San Gabriel Valley and 2 homes in Orange County. One home is in Anaheim called Alleluia House (6 women) and one home is in Garden Grove in the planning stages to house and take care of six (6) Level IV non-ambulatory medically disabled adults. There is also an apartment in Fullerton which houses nine (9) developmentally disabled adults a without daily support. They have a waiting list of over 100 plus.
For more information, contact them at 3424 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90010 or (213) 637-7243
SOS - Share Ourselves
Founded in 1969 by Jean Forbath and a group of parishioners from St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa. Became a non profit in 1978 located in commercial building owned by the agency near Hoag Hospital. SOS is the largest, most comprehensive, volunteer support agency serving the poor in Orange County providing the following:
- Emergency services - second largest food bank
- 200 bags of groceries per day (60% donated)
- 50 Checks per day ($500,000 per year)
- Free medical clinic - only free clinic in Orange County providing treatment, lab work, education, and access to specialists and medication.
- 5,000 per year
- 15,000 visits per year
- Free dental clinic - only free service for adults in Orange County
- 2,000 per year
For more information, contact them at 1550 Superior Avenue Costa Mesa, California 92627
Meal-a-Month
Since 1971, Meal-A-Month delivers, prepares and serves a complete luncheon meal on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) for the benefit of the needy and homeless at the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana.
Membership: There are approximately 27 members who provide food, etc. to parish center and one member who delivers, prepares and serves each month. We are always looking for more members.
For more information, contact John Farmer at (714) 721-5790.
Red Cross Blood Drive
For more information about blood drives, contact http://www.givelife.org/ or http://www.socalredcross.org/ and type in sponsor code: angels.
For more information, contact Laura Rudd - OLQA Rep at (714) 427-2690 or
ruddla@usa.redcross.org
Corpus Christi Fellowship
Looking for a place to enjoy sharing your faith & talents? CCF, a Catholic Adult Fellowship, offers spiritual, social and service activities to expand & energize our faith journeys. Attend one event or attend them all! Your energy & ideas are needed so others can keep growing, too!
Contact messenger@ccfcatholics.org to receive wkly email updates, or visit ccfcatholics.org for more information. (949) 219-1499
