Service and Outreach
Being a Christian is a statement about what Christ did for me. Being a disciple is a statement about what I am doing for Christ. Our Lady of Angels supports over a dozen local Outreach initiatives, including six local charities and Amigos de los Capuchinos, our mission in Northern Mexico. While many of these efforts come to a big crescendo over the holidays, the communities we serve need our support all year long. We are so grateful to our many volunteers who participate. Thank you for your continued generosity. Our theme “Fall Into Discipleship” captures this generous spirit – calling on all of us to open our hearts to the things we are called to do.
We encourage you to make Outreach a regular, monthly event. Explore the opportunities and programs included below and let us know which ones you’d like to join! You can opt to spend a few minutes or a few hours each month, depending on your schedule.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
OLA Senior Outreach Program
We have been providing this very special experience for the seniors in our community for over 20 years. Once a month, parent volunteers prepare and serve a delicious home cooked meal, OLA students from Kindergarten through 5th grade entertain our senior audience as our middle school students help with service and clean-up. Mass is celebrated prior to lunch.
Senior Social Club
Join us! The OLA Senior Social Club offers seniors the opportunity to attend monthly meetings, get to know and form other senior friendships and to participate in a variety of outings.
For more information, please contact Liz O'Connor.
OLA Friends of the Capuchins in Northern Mexico
The Amig@s de los Capuchinos accompany the Capuchin Franciscans in living the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in their mission of serving the Church and the most needy in Northern Mexico. As Amig@s, our three-prong effort is to walk in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Northern Mexico while increasing our understanding of the Spirituality of the Franciscans, Culture of the Northern Mexico people and the Financial needs of the Mission.
Join us! OLA Amig@s meet the 1st Friday at 8:45 am in the OLA Friary - right behind church on Cortez Avenue. All are welcome, no reservations needed. Contact Kathy Holmes or Barbara Trainor for more information.
Dear Friends,
Peace and joy of Christ! May God bless you always with His peace and love in abundance!
- Father David, OFM, Cap.
Answering the Call, Serving Others
CALL Primrose is a non-profit corporation providing grocery assistance to low income families and individuals in San Mateo County. Founded in 1983 as an information and referral hotline for those in need within our community, CALL (Christian Action Life Line) soon became a drop in location in downtown Burlingame for those seeking emergency assistance.
OLA assists CALL ( Christian Action Life Line) Primrose through volunteers to stock and staff the food storage facility. Parish families donate food baskets during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays.
For more information, contact Jovie Soliman or call C.A.L.L. Primrose directly at (650) 342-2255.
Catholic Worker House provides housing for ten homeless individuals at a time. Each evening, volunteers prepare dinner for the House’s guests. OLA volunteers have assumed responsibility for purchasing, preparing and serving Tuesday evening meals each week.
We hope you join us! For more information, email Laura and Jim Blue.
St. Vincent de Paul's Catherine's Center is a Restorative Justice Program of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo and the Sisters of Mercy, West-Midwest Community. The mission of the Center is to help women leaving incarceration to change their lives by developing new behaviors, reconnecting with children and family, and preparing for a productive life in society through education and training.
For more information, contact Linda Wondra.
The OLA Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) has a pre-scheduled "5th Sunday of the Month" collection. Mass collections are their primary source of funding to help neighbors in need.
- Please put your donation in either the normal parish collection envelope for SVdP or in a plain envelope marked "OLA SVdP Donation" on the outside. Cash or checks are welcome.
- Mail to the Rectory or drop your donations off in the Rectory mail slot or the Sunday collection basket.
- OLA SVdP helps local families in need with all kinds of support. Most often we help with groceries, rent or PG&E assistance. Our clients are often single moms, the elderly, the disabled or those with severe mental health challenges.
- We anticipate a significant increase in demand and are counting on your generosity so that we don't have to turn anyone away without some assistance.
- Thank you for your past support and for doing what you can to help us today.
Mission
In support of love and justice, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo provides person-to-person services of time, talent and resources to help our neighbors in need. The principal function is providing assistance to the poor in the form of food, vouchers for food or lodging, clothing, household goods, rent assistance and transportation. For more information, contact Len Privitera.
Learn more about our Ministries:
- Brown Bag Sundays
SVdP BROWN BAG SUNDAY is the First Sunday of every month in the Lower Hall. Parish volunteers make non-perishable bag lunches for weekend distribution at the"B" Street Center. We meet in the Lower Hall on the First Sunday of each month. Set-up begins at 8:00 am. Please come and help in this very necessary, wonderful, and fun ministry.
- Phone Volunteers
Need Spanish/English speaking volunteers to answer phones in 2-3 hours shifts between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm at their offices, 50 N. B Street, San Mateo. Volunteers do intake of clients’ requests, log the call and enter into Access based computer data system. Contact the San Mateo County Office directly at (650) 255-7832.
- Recycling Program
SVdP is now recycling small appliances, working or not: stereos, speakers, computers, monitors, printers, TVs, DVDs, VCRs, microwaves, small kitchen appliances, etc. Items can be picked up by calling (650) 871-6844. Items can be brought to any of our stores located in San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City or SSF. All proceeds from the recycling program benefit the needy in San Mateo County.
- Restorative Justice Ministry
Under the guidance of Chaplain Martin Schurr, the Restorative Justice Ministry provides Catholic Services to the incarcerated men, women and children within the San Mateo County justice system.
A commitment of once to twice a month on Sundays from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm and a background check from your parish and the Sheriff are required.
Monthly meetings are held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redwood City on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm. (This is where you can learn more and get a feel for if the program is right for you.)
“This program is not for everyone, but if you have that gift to give back to the incarcerated, you will find this is one of the most rewarding ministries within Saint Vincent De Paul. The exchange of fulfillment from what you give and what comes back is like nothing else.” - Gene Condon
For any questions you may have about this ministry, please feel free to contact Gene Condon or (650) 255-7832.
San Mateo County
San Mateo County Office
50 South B Street
San Mateo, CA
(650) 373-0620
Lift Up Your Hearts
The Letter Writers is an OLA Outreach Initiative aimed at those within our community and beyond who are in need of encouragement and hope through the gift of a handwritten letter scribed by volunteer parishioners. Join us on the fourth Sunday of the month from 8:00 am - 10:00 am in the Lower Hall.
Please contact Kathleen Flynn or Patti Merrigan for more information.
Respect Life at Every Stage
To promote respect for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. For more information, contact Kathy Holmes.
Reflections from Pope Francis
Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this. Frequently, as a way of ridiculing the Church’s effort to defend their lives, attempts are made to present her position as ideological, obscurantist and conservative. Yet this defense of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right. It involves the conviction that a human being is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at every stage of development. Human beings are ends in themselves and never a means of resolving other problems. Once this conviction disappears, so do solid and lasting foundations for the defence of human rights, which would always be subject to the passing whims of the powers that be. Reason alone is sufficient to recognize the inviolable value of each single human life, but if we also look at the issue from the standpoint of faith, "every violation of the personal dignity of the human being cries out in vengeance to God and is an offence against the creator of the individual".
Precisely because this involves the internal consistency of our message about the value of the human person, the Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question. I want to be completely honest in this regard. This is not something subject to alleged reforms or "modernizations". It is not "progressive" to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life. On the other hand, it is also true that we have done little to adequately accompany women in very difficult situations, where abortion appears as a quick solution to their profound anguish, especially when the life developing within them is the result of rape or a situation of extreme poverty. Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations?
- Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium on the Sacredness of Life
For many, these are tough times.
Some of us feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and maybe even hopeless.
Talking over your concerns with a caring person can help you gain some perspective. Praying with someone can help you place your confidence in God who cares for you and your future even more than you!
The San Francisco Archdiocese's Mental Health Ministry Network has a helpline,
as well as information on Mental Health Resources and Support in the Bay Area. Please click here to be directed to their website.
Please contact Lara Montoya with any questions at [email protected].