Outreach & Volunteering
Resources for Navigating the Immigration Crisis
Thank you to all those who attended the Holy Hour and the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice on Tuesday, Jan. 27. For those who were unable to join us, you can view the Resource Page PDF.
Outreach and Works of Mercy
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Ascension School
Holy Name of Jesus Parish has partnered with Ascension Catholic School and Parish in North Minneapolis for over 30 years. Ascension serves children from the surrounding neighborhoods, where the majority of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Many scholars enter behind academically, but with rigorous, individualized instruction, they often achieve more than a year’s growth in a single school year. Students also grow in faith, recognizing themselves as beloved children of God, and develop essential social and emotional skills that serve them throughout life.
Graduates of Ascension go on to earn high school diplomas and pursue post-secondary education. Holy Name of Jesus parishioners support this mission generously through prayer, volunteer service, and financial gifts.
How to Get Involved with Ascension
- Pray for Ascension’s students, staff, and community
- Volunteer as a tutor or in other roles
- Become a Tuition Partner to help make Catholic education possible
- Attend Ascension Catholic Academy’s annual golf fundraiser
For more details, visit ascensionschoolmn.org. Volunteer inquiries are welcomed by Maggie LeMay, Ascension Catholic Academy’s volunteer manager.
To learn about current opportunities, visit acamn.org.
Interfaith Outreach
Interfaith Outreach provides essential support to families and individuals in our local communities, offering housing assistance, transportation, child care, employment services, emergency shelter, food assistance, and more. Their work serves residents of Medina, Hamel, Wayzata, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Plymouth, Medicine Lake, and Orono.
Holy Name of Jesus Parish has partnered with Interfaith Outreach since its founding in 1979. Parishioners continue to support this mission in many ways, including:
- Volunteering in a variety of Interfaith programs
- Supporting the annual Sleep Out Campaign to raise funds for housing assistance
- Participating in a special parish collection each year
- Donating food at every weekend Mass for the food shelf
Visit Interfaith Outreach to learn more.
IOCP Food Drive, March 19-22
Our annual food drive for Interfaith Outreach will be March 19-22, 2026. Help fill the truck!
Please stop by the table in the Gathering Space March 14-15. You can speak with one of the HNOJ Outreach Committee volunteers to learn more about our partnership with Interfaith. And you’ll be able to take home an empty grocery bag (or two) and return it the next week, March 19-22, with your donations of food, baby formula, diapers, paper products, toiletries, and more. (See full list with the button below).
2026 Food Drive Collection Times:
Thursday, March 19, from 2-7 pm
Friday, March 20, from 4-6 pm
Saturday, March 21, from 4-6 pm
Sunday, March 22, from 4-6 pm
Thankfully, with your help, IOCP has been able to respond to the community’s needs:
• The food shelf distributed 900,000 pounds of food and goods to more than 1,000 households.
• The Resale Select thrift store continued to make specific items available to clients free of charge.
IOCP also offers integrated services and programs that equip households for ongoing stability.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) made it possible for 22 participating households to secure or maintain stable housing – a major step toward achieving ongoing stability.
• Our Neighborhood Program is available to 777 households across nine affordable apartment and townhome communities. Nearly half of these households engaged with our onsite staff to focus on resource navigation, community building, and youth engagement opportunities.
• Our Caring for Kids (CfK) program served 84 local children and their families, spending a total of $672,902 on childcare or early childhood education scholarships. We estimate the actual need in our community to be four times that number.
Thank you for your generous support of our neighbors in need!
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH)
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), meaning “Our Little Brothers and Sisters,” supports children in nine countries: Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. NPH provides nutritious food, clothing, education, medical care, and opportunities for economic stability. Most importantly, the children receive the love and stability of a family.
For more than 30 years, Holy Name of Jesus Parish has supported NPH through:
- Hosting fiestas and attending galas
- Sending teens and parishioners on mission trips to Mexico and the Dominican Republic
- Contributing financial donations and volunteer hours
- Providing opportunities to become godparents to the pequeños
What Parishioners are Saying
How You Can Help NPH
Interested in serving NPH but unable to go on a mission trip? There are many ways to make a lasting difference:
- Pray for the Pequeños
Pray for the children at all NPH homes, that they continue to receive the support and love they need. - Sponsor a Child
Child sponsorships and donations are always welcome. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, contact Holy Name of Jesus parishioner Karen Richelsen or visit the NPH website. - Support Fundraisers
Throughout the year, Holy Name of Jesus Parish hosts special fundraising events to support NPH. These may include community meals, family events, or parish collections. Proceeds directly support necessities for the pequeños. - Give Through Parish Collections
Each year, Holy Name of Jesus Parish holds a second collection at weekend Masses to benefit NPH.
NPH Mission Trip, Mexico 2026
June 12–18, 2026
Highlights/What to Expect:
- We stay at Casa Buen Señor in Cuernavaca, Mexico and visit the NPH home in Miacatlan.
- We collect donations of needed items to bring to the children – called pequeños. (We are waiting to hear what is most needed).
- We will do several fundraisers for the home like walking tacos, the Holiday BBQ, a second collection. (Dates yet to be determined).
- While there, we spend time with the pequeños and do a VBS style format with skits and songs, play games, do arts and crafts, and various activities.
- Daily Mass with Father Chris and nightly reflections.
Spots are filling up fast! For more information, contact Ann Benson.
A Community Caring for Life
“We are the people of life because God, in his unconditional love, has given us the Gospel of Life… and we are called to act accordingly…”
– Saint John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae
A Community Caring for Life (ACCL) works to increase parish awareness of the dignity of human life from conception to natural death and to support pro-life organizations in our community.
Since the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the need to support mothers, families, and life-affirming ministries in Minnesota has grown. ACCL responds with practical, local support.
How to Get Involved
Attend a quarterly meeting or contact Melissa Eckert to join the ACCL email list for life news and events.
You can also support families and promote life by volunteering at ACCL’s annual parish activities, which include:
- October: Baby Shower for local pregnancy centers
- January: Baking for Babies cinnamon roll bake and sale
- January: Rally at the Capitol
- May: Mother’s Day Rose Sale
- June: Father’s Day Prayer Cards
- Summer: Parish Potluck Picnic
- August: Walk for Life at French Park
Protecting the Beauty of Life
A Community Caring For Life presents Justice For All Workshop, March 21
Learn practical ways help unborn children, and learn three skills to transform your abortion conversations from a debate to a dialogue. Learn how to respond to common arguments for abortion in a productive and Christ-honoring way.
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Agenda:
8:30 am: sign in
9-11:30 am: part 1
11:30 am: lunch is provided for all in attendance
12-2 pm: extended training
Cost: FREE—Bring a friend!
Ages: All are welcome; suggested age is 12 and up (some sensitive topics/content).
ACCL Resources
In addition to parish activities, ACCL connects parishioners to a wide network of pro-life programs and resources offering assistance, outreach, and support.
Election Resources
Form consciences for faithful citizenship this election year. Visit mncatholic.org
Adoption
Holy Family Catholic Adoption Agency — 612-209-5869 — holyfamilyadoption.org
Adverse Prenatal Diagnoses
Prenatal Partners for Life — 763-772-3868 — prenatalpartnersforlife.org
Domestic Violence
Minnesota Day One Crisis Line — 866-223-1111 — dayoneservices.org
Educational Material
- Abortion Pill Information — 612-791-8267 — abortionpill.xyz
- Abortion Pill Reversal — 877-558-0333 — abortionpillreversal.com
- Pro-Life Action Ministries — plam.org/who-we-are
- Pro-Life Across America — prolifeacrossamerica.org
- 40 Days for Life — 40daysforlife.com/en
Housing and Support for Mothers
Enkrateia House of Hope — 507-516-2229 — enkrateiahouseofhope.org
Infertility and Natural Family Planning
- AALFA Family Clinic — aalfafamily.org
- In His Time — Email: [email protected]
- Integrated Fertility Care Center — integratedfertilitycare.com
Miscarriage and Child Loss
- Tiny Treasures Perinatal Loss Resource — teamtinytreasures.weebly.com
- Catholic Miscarriage Support — catholicmiscarriagesupport.com
Pregnancy Resource Centers
- Abria (Minneapolis) — 651-695-0111 — abria.org
- Abria (St. Paul) — 651-350-1154 — abria.org
- Robbinsdale Women’s Center (Minneapolis) — 763-531-9554 — mychoicetwincities.com
- Southwest Options for Women (Eden Prairie) — 952-938-4496 — southwestoptionsforwomen.org
- Options for Women Cornerstone (St. Michael) — 763-478-7367 — cornerstoneoptions.com
- Pregnancy Choices (Apple Valley) — 952-997-2229 — mypregnancychoices.com
Pregnancy Resource Directories
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis — archspm.org
- Elevate Life Options — elevatelifeusa.org
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — mccl.org
Post-Abortion Recovery
- Project Rachel – Marian Project — 651-291-4515 — themarianproject.org, archspm.org
- Rachel’s Vineyard Twin Cities — 763-250-9313 — rvineyardmn.org
Sidewalk Counseling
- Pro-Life Action Ministries — plam.org/who-we-are
Mary's Place
Mary’s Place, named after the Blessed Mother, was built out of love, compassion, and concern for women and children in poverty. This beautiful complex provides 92 fully furnished apartments, offering safety and hope to more than 500 people in need.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Tutor homeless children at Mary’s Place (training provided)
- Be present and serve Christ’s neediest children through your time and care
Meals On Wheels
Holy Name of Jesus parishioners serve with Meals on Wheels by delivering meals during the months of April, August, and December. Volunteers bring hot lunches to individuals who are homebound, suffering from chronic illness, or recovering from surgery. For general program details, visit Meals on Wheels.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Deliver meals during the noon hour (three-hour commitment, one day every five to six weeks)
- Pick up meals at the Carlson Company cafeteria and deliver four to six meals along a set route
- Bring your children or volunteer with a friend — one can drive while the other navigates
To volunteer, call or text Eileen Stewart, interim coordinator, at 612-518-4948.
Sharing and CAring Hands
Sharing and Caring Hands is a compassionate response to the needs of the poor. All services are offered with dignity, affirming God’s love for every person regardless of circumstance.
Services include:
- Meals and clothing
- Showers and shelter
- Transportation assistance
- Rent deposits and rent help
- Medical and dental care
- Furniture and household needs
- School expenses
- Funeral assistance
- Other miscellaneous needs
How You Can Help
- Donate household items through Holy Name of Jesus Parish. Please no books, out-of-season clothing, or broken items.
- Small donations may be placed in the designated closet just inside Door 2 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish.
- Learn more by visiting the Sharing and Caring Hands website.
Help at Your Door
Since 1984, Help At Your Door has provided a friendly hand to older adults, supporting independent living at home across the seven-county Twin Cities area. Services include:
- Grocery ordering and delivery right to the kitchen
- Help with household chores and minor repairs
- Transportation to appointments, errands, and social gatherings
With pricing based on income, Help At Your Door brings dependable, affordable support with heart.
Volunteer Opportunities
Help At Your Door offers flexible scheduling, welcoming community connections, and meaningful ways to make a difference through hands-on help and friendly visits.
Whether you are interested in volunteering or requesting a service, call 651-642-1892 or visit helpatyourdoor.org.
Parish Volunteer Opportunities
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Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
Core group facilitators and sponsors are needed to walk with the candidates on this journey. Meet Tuesday evenings October through April with the candidates and catechumen to help them feel welcome and supported. Ministers of hospitality are also needed to help provide refreshments for weekly gatherings and special events. Prayer partners also needed to pray daily or weekly for the specific intention of an individual.
Contact: Chris Kostelc, 763-745-3489
Special Needs Ministry
Special Needs Monthly Faith Sharing sessions take place on the third Sunday of each month from 9:30-10:20 am in Emmaus A. Sessions consist of prayer, a discussion focused on biblical figures, scripture or the Catholic faith and an activity related to the lesson or the season. Sessions are scheduled from September – May.
Special Needs Faith Sharing is open to individuals of all ages and abilities. Lessons will be differentiated and adapted to individual unique needs. If you have questions about First Communion or Confirmation prep for special needs, contact Michele Kirchoff. To register a participant, contact Tom Silver.
All are welcome including those interested in volunteering to be a part of the special needs ministry. As a volunteer, your role is to share your faith, participate in the activity and promote a culture of inclusion and belonging. All volunteers are required to complete Safe Environment training. For more information about volunteering, contact Michele Kirchoff.
Adult Faith Formation Group Facilitators
Volunteer facilitators are invited to lead groups for several different adult faith formation opportunities, the goal of which is to build small Christian communities. Programs include:
- Small Groups at HNOJ
- MomCo/MomCo Next
- Men’s Ministry – Events and Breakfasts
- Women’s Wisdom on Wednesdays (WWW)
- Book Discussions
- Men’s Community Bible Study
Contact: Chris Kostelc, 763-745-3489
Cana Dinner
Couples are invited to volunteer for this annual marriage celebration occurring around Valentine’s Day. Serve on the planning committee or the day of this fun event. Volunteers are needed for:
- Planning Committee
- Serving as host/hostesses
- Cooking the meal
- Serving dinner
- Decorating
- Giving out prizes
Contact: Chris Kostelc, 763-745-3489
Children's &
Youth Ministry Volunteering
Our children’s and youth ministries depend on caring volunteers who help young people grow in their faith through teaching, mentoring, and community. Whether you’re leading a small group or assisting at events, your time and talents make a lasting impact on the next generation.