Blood Drives
Conrad Lamb, conradelamb@gmail.com
The first blood drive at Holy Spirit took place in early 2002. With only 14 donors, it was much smaller than it is today. Even so, the seed was planted and these Sunday morning blood drives have helped to collect an average of 40 pints per drive.
Some of the original blood drive donors have moved on, so we need “new blood.” The need is enormous but the requirements are quite minimal. A donor must be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 110 lbs. For screening purposes and as benefits to you, your blood will be examined and you will be advised of any problems. You will also be advised on your cholesterol level.
Blood drives are announced in the Parish Bulletin several weeks before they take place.
Christmas Giving Tree
Each year around Thanksgiving, Holy Spirit joins with Lee’s Summit Social Services to provide Christmas gifts for those in need. Parishioners choose a gift tag from the tree, purchase the item, and place it, unwrapped, under the tree the following week. A group from Holy Spirit transports the donations to Lee’s Summit Social Services in time for Christmas.
Summer Lunch Program
Each year, our parish provides free lunches for school-aged children during their summer break. Many volunteers are needed to make this program possible. To volunteer or contribute, contact Kathy Wittman.
Food Pantry Collection
On the third Sunday of each month, Holy Spirit collects non-perishable items for Lee’s Summit Social Services. Particular needs include canned meat, stews, soups and pasta, cold cereal, peanut butter and paper products such as toilet paper. Place your donated items in the grocery cart in the back of the church.
Funeral Dinners
Joan Vehige, 816-522-5915
Parishioners provide a funeral luncheon, upon request, for funerals held at the Parish.
Social Justice
Roman Catholic Church’s Social Justice Teachings:
“Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. This social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist.” (USCCB Catholic Social Teachings)
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren.” (Catholic Catechism, no. 1397).
Catholic Church’s social justice themes, topics and reflection/discernment resources:
USCCB Catholic Social Teachings
USCCB Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Vatican Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church
Sick & Homebound
Deacon Tyrone Gutierrez, 816-537-6990 x305
Please be sure to contact the parish when someone in the family is hospitalized; hospitals are not permitted to notify the parish without the prior consent of an admitted patient. If surgery is anticipated, you are encouraged to receive the sacrament of Anointing the Sick, preferably before entering the hospital. While most hospitals do provide communion for their patients, Ministers to The Homebound will be more than happy to bring the Eucharist to you if the hospital does not offer this service. We are also willing to bring communion to anyone who is at home and unable to come to Mass. Communal anointing at weekend Masses occurs once or twice a year.
Soup Kitchen
Kathy Schultz, 816-392-8315
Our parish serves a meal at One City Cafe at 39th and Troost in Kansas City on the 2nd Friday of each month. Ten volunteers are needed to serve the meal and clean up afterward. The volunteers typically leave Holy Spirit at 3:30 PM and return at 7:00 PM. This ministry is for age 13 and up. Daytime help sacking groceries in the pantry is also needed, as well as help with special projects. If you would like to volunteer, please call Kathy Schultz at 816-392-8315.
Spirit of Giving
Anna Vahrenberg, Email here
Spirit of Giving is a program designed to provide assistance to less fortunate families in our community. Spirit of Giving has partnered with the Great Beginnings Early Childhood Education Center, which is part of the Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, to identify families in our area in need of assistance. The primary project for this group consists of identifying volunteers to adopt a family during the Christmas season. The volunteers provide donations for their adopted family including toys for the children, clothing, and basic household items such as cleaning supplies.
Spirit of Giving has expanded to help families throughout the year with programs including collecting backpacks for Back to School and collecting coats for the winter season. The Spirit of Giving committee is also building an email network to address occasional needs for families as they arise throughout the year. If you would like to become a part of the email network or would like additional information about the Spirit of Giving program, please send an email to Anna Vahrenberg by Email here.