MBS has been providing monthly dinners for the Family Promise Walk-in for many years. The program includes a walk-in dinner program in Hackensack, an overflow shelter at the Presbyterian Church in Franklin Lakes and the Emergency Family Shelter in Englewood However, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, all meals are currently being prepared “to go”, and MBS has been working with a local restaurant to cater each month’s meal. Parish families are therefore being asked, at this time, to donate $10 per meal and/or desserts and bottled water. For additional information, please contact Eileen and George Pomianek (973-897-1055, [email protected]) or Trisha Howland (201-874-2296, [email protected]).
 

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Eva’s Kitchen has had to suspend its dining room meal service and instead, is assembling and distributing nearly 300 take-away bagged lunches every Monday through Friday.   MBS has been providing volunteers to assist with this service every other Tuesday from 9:00-1:30.  If you are interested in additional information, please call or text Michelle Alexander at 201-914-2673.

During the month of December, parishioners of MBS are encouraged to take a tag from the parish Giving Tree and return the requested gift prior to Christmas.  Several different agencies benefit from these donations, including the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (Paramus), the Little Sisters of the Poor (Totowa), the Martin De Porres Village (Paterson), Several Sources Shelters (Ramsey), the Community Hills Early Learning Center (Newark) and the Mission of St. Joan of Arc (Philadelphia).  The Giving Tree program is coordinated by Liz Harkins, who can be reached at [email protected].

MBS has joined with more than a dozen local parishes in providing a monthly dinner to Harrison House, a secure ‘home’ for people living with HIV/AIDS.  Local church groups, organized by the Catholic AIDS Network of the Archdiocese of Newark, deliver dinners daily.   MBS is currently providing dinner for eight people on the second Wednesday of each month.  Dinners include a cooked entrée, beverages and desserts.  Deliveries are made in the late afternoon, and are left outside the House so there is no direct contact with any residents or staff.  Anyone interested in finding out more about this new ministry should contact Director of Communications Barry Donnelly at [email protected].

The Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament collects food to support the Mercy House pantry.  Cereal, pasta, rice and other non-perishable items and canned good are collected, at Mass, on the second Sunday of every month and then delivered to the pantry.  This ministry is directed by Michael and Susan DeMarco.  Anyone seeking additional information about this effort should contact them, via email, at [email protected].

During the months of October and November, Most Blessed Sacrament collects food items and supermarket gift cards in support of the parish’s annual Thanksgiving Basket Project.  Baskets are assembled during the week prior to Thanksgiving, and are distributed to families in need.  Agencies that benefitted from last year’s program included Access Family Services, the JFK Recreation Center in Newark and the Paterson Coalition for Housing. For more information, or to volunteer your help in assembling baskets, please contact Elise Albanese at 201-686-8443.

The mission of the Respect Life Group of the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament is to advance the culture of life in our parish and beyond.  All parishioners are welcome to participate at any level.  We encourage everyone to pray daily for expectant mothers and their families, for an end to abortion, and for Christ's forgiveness and healing of everyone who repents over being involved with an abortion.

There are a number of excellent resources available in support of the Respect Life Group.  If you would like to join the group or obtain additional information, please contact Maggie Sori by phone at 973-557-3963 or by email at [email protected].

Good quality used and new clothing and bric-a-brac are collected from the parish community to be sold at the Community Thrift Shop in Midland Park.  All proceeds are donated to the Sisters of Saint Joseph.  At the current time, donations should be made directly to the Thrift Shop; when making your donation, please indicate that it is done in the name of the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament so that any proceeds are directed to the Sisters.  The Thrift Shop is located at 85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey and their number is 201-652-7661.   For more information, contact Jerry Caporuscio at [email protected].