Brown Bag Lenten Project
About
This is our Lenten service project that allows us to pray for and give alms to Houston-area organizations.
Have Questions?Donate to the Brown Bag Lenten Project
During Lent, individuals and groups may pick up a brown bag each week and buy items for the assigned charity of the week.
You are also welcome to donate online.
Donate OnlineOpportunities to Serve
Pick up a Brown Bag at the completion of Ash Wednesday Services or after Mass the following weekend through March 30th or you can your own bag. Brown Bags with booklets are located at every Church exit and in front of Mercy Center.
Click here to sign up to Volunteer on Ash WednesdayAdditional questions and volunteering opportunities, please contact Susan Gallagher (SGallagher@POPHouston.org).
Read the booklet! The complete instructions are there for you.
During the first four weeks of Lent, leading up to Holy Week, pray for the “Charity of the Week”. Learn about how these charities serve people in need – those who are poor, sometimes those who are poor in spirit, who are lonely or sad.
At the end of each charity’s designated week, select an item(s) from their list of needs and place your donation(s) in the brown bag and bring them to the drop-off locations: front entrances of the Main Church or the front of Mercy Center. Volunteers will be available to accept your donations.
Click here to sign up to volunteer- The last days for returning your bags are Saturday evening April 5th or Sunday, April 6th before or after Masses.
Approach Holy Week with a feeling of accomplishment, knowing that our Father in Heaven is well aware of your sacrifices and your mercy for other people!
Rejoice on Easter Sunday for a Lenten journey that was well done, worthy servant of the Lord!
2025 Charities/Ministries
Elijah Rising is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sex trafficking through intervention, awareness, and restoration. They serve survivors by providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, and life-skills training. Through outreach programs and advocacy, they empower victims to heal and rebuild their lives, breaking the cycle of exploitation and abuse.
Father, we pray for those who are trapped in human trafficking right now. May you keep them from harm and draw their attention to you. Break through the darkness and oppression and deliver us from evil. Let them sense your love and presence. Lord, shield them from all threats, violence, and curses spoken against them. Each day, draw them closer to freedom. Lord, you desire that none should perish but that all should come to know You. Reveal yourself to them in a unique way. We pray that this injustice will not define their lives—let them be set free in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Donation Drop-Off Date: March 15-16
Elijah Rising Wish List
All New Items Needed. The new residents are 18 years & older. No children’s items, please.
Personal Care Items
- Individually Bagged
Face Wipes
- Sanitizing Wipes
- Small Lotions
- Small Makeup
- Nail Polish
- Fake Eyelashes
- Bath Bombs
- Perfume
Lip Care
- Lipstick
- Chapstick
- Lip Gloss
Hair Accessories
- Hair Ties
- Scrunchies
Clothing & Comfort
- Cute Socks
Snacks & Treats
- Candies
- Snacks
Gift & Transportation Cards
- Uber Cards
- Walmart Cards
- Bus Cards
The Archdiocesan Office of Correctional Ministries is here to support the spiritual needs of those in jail or prison, as well as people affected by crime and violence. Through this ministry, the Church offers God’s presence and reminds us that faith and redemption are always possible. Our volunteers serve in federal and state facilities, leading Catechism, RCIA classes, and Bible study programs. They also partner with Isaiah, Providence and Kolbe Houses, which help men recently released from prison get back on their feet and build a better future.
Loving Father, we lift up those behind prison walls, asking You to console them in loneliness, strengthen them in their struggles, and fill them with hope. Bless and protect the chaplains, volunteers, and all who minister to the incarcerated, granting them wisdom and compassion as they share Your love. Bring healing and reconciliation to all affected by crime, touching the hearts of both those who have caused harm and those who have suffered. May Your presence fill every prison, bringing peace, hope, and transformation to those in need. Amen.
Donation Drop-Off Date: March 22-23
Isaiah, Providence, and Kolbe Houses Wish List
- New or gently used work clothes
- New packages of underwear, socks, and t-shirts (or gift cards)
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
- Irish Spring Soap!
- Razors & Shaving Cream
- Hairbrushes/Combs
- Laundry Detergent
- Metro Q Cards for public transportation
- Reams of White Printer Paper
- New Wallets for a fresh start
*Employers with “second chance” job opportunities for our residents are greatly needed!
The Office of Aging Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves those 50 years and older of all faiths, fostering love, value, and engagement. Their purpose is to extend the love of God to each person they meet. SAINTS University offers faith-based learning, events, activities across communities, and classes in the following subjects: Faith, Health, Life, and Heaven. Retreats and resource fairs, promoting fellowship and spiritual growth year-round are also offered.
Lord, bestow your Grace upon the ministers who honor our elders. Allow all of us to celebrate our aging community who through their wisdom, experience, and faith have paved the way for us, teaching us through their lives the perseverance of love, and trust in God. As we join our hearts in prayer, let us acknowledge the invaluable contributions they have made to our lives and the life of the Church. Together, let us seek God’s blessing for them, that they may continue to be surrounded by His grace, comfort, and love. Amen.
– Fr. Dan Ryan
Donation Drop-Off Date: March 29-30
The Archdiocesan Office of Aging Wish List
All New Items Needed.
- Prayer Journals
- Daily Devotionals/Daily Scripture Readings
- Lotion for Sensitive Skin
- Socks with Grippers
- Sugar-Free Candy
- Large-Print Word Search, Sudoku, Crosswords
- Small Pot and Flower Seeds
- Decorative Pocket Folders
San José Clinic, established in 1922, provides high-quality, accessible healthcare to uninsured and uninsurable individuals in the Greater Houston area. Their comprehensive services include primary and specialty medical care, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral health, and laboratory services. By offering compassionate care, they serve as a vital safety net for underserved communities, ensuring dignified healthcare for those with limited access.
Father God, we lift up to You all those seeking healing and care at San José Clinic. Bless them with strength, comfort, and renewed health. Guide the hands of the doctors, nurses, and staff who serve with compassion. Provide for those in need, granting them hope and peace. May Your love be their refuge and Your mercy their healing grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Donation Drop-Off Date: April 5-6
San José Clinic Wish List
All New Items Needed
Personal Care & Hygiene
- Soft Toothbrushes (ind. packaged)
- Sensodyne & Crest Pro Health Toothpaste
- Dental Floss (All Kinds)
- Denture Paste/Adhesive
- Denture Cleaning Tablets
- Bar Soap (individually wrapped)
- Deodorant (solid, no aerosol)
Medical & Health Supplies
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
- Band-Aids and First Aid Kits
- Wrist Blood Pressure Cuffs
- Pill Boxes (7 day & AM/PM Boxes)
- Thermometers
Comfort & Support Items
- Reusable Sports Water Bottles
- Healthy Snacks (individually packaged)
- Socks (new, adult and children’s sizes)
- Blankets or Lap Throws
- Reading Glasses (various strengths)
Office & Miscellaneous Supplies
- Notebooks and Pens
- Travel Tissue Packs
- Lip Balm (unscented)
- Pocket-Sized Calendars or Planners
- Reusable Tote Bags
Volunteer for the Brown Bag Lenten Project
All are encouraged to volunteer and donate. Families are welcomed to volunteer to staff the “donation baskets” the each of the 4 weekends in Lent after any weekend Mass.
Volunteers help accept, sort and pack the donations for each non-profit organization.
The four Sundays of Lent, volunteers may sign up to collect and sort donations after Mass(es).
Because you will be able to make a difference in people’s lives by providing essential items and food to those in need.
If you are 18 years old and above, our archdiocese requires all adult volunteers to complete safe environment training.
This short one-hour online training teaches people how to create a secure and protected environment for everyone, especially children, by recognizing and preventing potential risks or harm.
Click here to register for Safe Environment Training.
Contact Us
Susan Gallagher
Director of Mercy Ministry
Manuela Rodriguez (Bilingual)
Mercy Ministry Receptionist
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."