Seventh grade students reached out to St. Angela Merici parishioners on Sunday to ask if the Church community would consider making a small commitment to those around Metairie and New Orleans that need them most. The students presented “blessing bags” made by students in the Junior St. Vincent De Paul Society, which are full of helpful items to give to someone homeless or in need. St. Angela parishioners took all 200 blessing bags full of snacks, water bottles, rosaries, masks, hand sanitizers, socks, and a list of resource phone numbers for those who may need extra help.
We have already heard from multiple parishioners who have found someone to bless, rather it be a pleading bystander at a red light or someone looking down on their luck outside the grocery store.
We are called to live out Jesus’ mission and spread the good news, and these blessing bags are an easy way to not only remind and enable community members who are in a position to help, but to provide helpful and potentially life-saving items to those who need it most. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” We should all seek to be like Jesus, serve the Lord, and follow the example of our Patroness, Saint Angela Merici. We would like to thank all parishioners who took a blessing bag and wish you luck in finding someone in need. We plan on continuing to make blessing bags and hand them out multiple times each year.