Outreach
The parish community of St. Peter’s is a faith filled community of action, seeking to help those who are in need with the many God given gifts and resources available to us. At St. Peter’s we direct our social outreach efforts in primarily two areas: one, help for the homeless of Toronto in our “Out of the Cold” program and two, our financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
Our outreach efforts are an expression of our brotherly love toward those less fortunate, of living out a life of charity, something that all Catholics are called to do as Jesus said:
…Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 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, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me…
(Matthew 26:34-40)
Out of The Cold Program
During Christmas Season, our parish participates in the Out of The Cold Program, by providing Christmas dinner at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in downtown Toronto, an effort that is organized by the Secular Franciscans here at St. Peter’s parish.
St. Patrick’s Out of the Cold is part of the cooperative Out of the Cold Program in downtown Toronto. Each winter many faith and community based organizations band together to ensure that on any night of the week people can find shelter, a meal and a bed as an alternative to sleeping outdoors and going hungry. St. Patrick’s has been a part of this program for about fifteen years now and on a regular basis serves meals to about three hundred people and offers overnight shelter for seventy five people.
What keeps it all running smoothly week after week can only be attributed to the Holy Spirit and a committed group of volunteers who have been doing the job for so long it all usually goes like clockwork. Volunteers are from Catholic parishes and from all other Christian denominations. As well, as many other groups and individuals.
Financial Assistance
Understanding that there are individuals and families in need, we at St. Peter’s provide financial assistance. Please contact the parish office for details.