St Maurice Hunger Program

HISTORY OF THE HUNGER PROGRAM OF ST. MAURICE

International Hunger Facts: About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five. Although famines and wars cause 10% of hunger deaths, the majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families simply cannot get enough to eat.
It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

Hunger in the United States:
It is estimated that approximately 12 million American children are food insecure.
It is estimated that more than eight million children in the U.S. live in working poor families.
It is estimated that many senior citizens in this country must choose between buying food and buying needed medicine.

It was facts and information like the above that brought the Pastor, Father Sean, and a group of parishioners together in the fall of 1976 to discuss this human tragedy. As a result of those discussions, the Hunger Program was launched to help in the eradication of world hunger.

The first step taken was a concerted effort to educate the entire parish community about this specific humanitarian need. It was not long after this that a barrio outside Bogata, Colombia was adopted as the first international hunger mission. A short time later Rice Thursday was started and many in the parish made a commitment to eat only rice on each Thursday and then to donate the money saved from the sacrifice to the Hunger Program.

Later on, it was decided to donate part of the monies from Country Fair to the Program. That idea became very popular and led to the decision to donate 100% of the profit to this worthy cause.
When Father Sean left in 1998, the Hunger Program had grown and missions across the U.S. and the world were receiving funds to help them feed hungry people. In order to ensure the continuity of the Program, Father Sean established a Hunger Board made up of members of the Parish. These people are responsible for the administration of the monies generated.
It can be said that the Hunger program is one of the pillars of our parish and, with the grace of God, we will fulfill our gospel commitment to feed the hungry in this country and across the world.

Hunger News
When we began our Lenten journey, Father Dennis challenged us to focus on the positive aspects of sacrifice.  By doing so, we experience a spiritual renewal and also renew the lives of those we touch.  We would like to recommend to you that you and your families include the practice of Rice Thursday in your Lenten sacrifices.  You could incorporate a mini-liturgy at your evening meal.  Light a candle, read from the Bible ( Matthew 25: 31-40 or Isaiah 58:6-12, and have your rice meal.  Not only will your family be spiritually renewed, but by donating the money saved from not eating meat to the Hunger program you will renew the lives of those that you feed.  Consider this- a donation of $10.00 can feed a noon meal for 49 destitute elderly people in Haiti, or lunch for 20 school children in the Dominican Republic, or feed 12 refugees in Uganda.

Just a small sacrifice on your part, can have such a positive effect on the lives of hungry people.

Two new projects were presented to the members of the Board of Directors at the board meeting on February 23 to be considered for funding.  The first project is the At Risk Children Foundation which is in two locations:  Cape Rouge and  Cayes in Southern Haiti.  The children being cared for are orphans or children that have been abandoned The cost for food  is $1.50 to $2.00 per child per day, as inflation has greatly increased the cost of food in Haiti.  The second project is Ecole Joseph De Pevedic du Limbe which is located in Oimbe, Haiti.  The money donated to this project will help with the cost of providing lunch to very poor school children.  When Ramona Rung and Jim Worl visited this project in December, Ramona asked one of the mothers how we could help them.  She said, “Help us feed our children.” Without adequate food the children cannot learn. As we reported previously, two of our projects, one in Bolivia and one in Kenya no longer need our help.  Therefore, we are able to take on these two new projects.

We ask that God bless your Lenten sacrifices and reward you with a blessed Easter.

The Board of Directors of the Hunger program

Mass Schedules

Mass Schedules

SUNDAY EUCHARIST
Saturday Vigil: 4:30 p.m. (English)
Saturday Mass:6:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Sunday: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (English)
French Mass – Sunday 5:00 pm (Seasonal)

WEEKDAY EUCHARIST
Monday – Friday: 7:00 & 8:30 a.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m.

RITE OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel

PARISH OFFICE
Hours 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday

Welcome to St. Maurice Church

We would like to welcome you to St Maurice Church.