STOUGHTON — As part of Pope Francis’ declaration of an Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, St. Ann Parish is organizing several opportunities for people to reach out and help those in need throughout the year.
The first is to encourage Stoughton residents to donate blessing bags for the homeless.
Anyone who is willing to donate is asked to fill a gallon size plastic bag with some of the following items:
• Adult athletic socks
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Travel size shampoo and body wash
• Travel size lotion
• Razors
• Shaving cream
A complete list of possible items can be found on the St. Ann website at www.stannparish.wecon
nect.com or the St. Ann Parish Facebook page.
Once people have filled the bag, they are asked to write a personal note to the person who will receive it. It should let the person know they care and are praying for them or thinking of them.
All filled blessing bags should be placed in a bin inside the St. Ann Parish gathering space, labeled “Blessing Bags,” no later than March 13. The bags will be distributed in Stoughton and surrounding communities. The goal is to fill up to 500 bags.
The parish is planning additional activities throughout this Holy Year of Mercy based on the Corporal Works of Mercy:
• Give drink to the thirsty.
• Shelter the homeless.
• Bury the dead.
• Feed the hungry.
• Clothe the naked.
• Visit the sick.
• Visit the imprisoned.
Pope Francis said, “God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) . . . Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation, and make justice and peace flourish.”