As Catholics, we are called to love our neighbor. Our response to those in need can take the form of direct assistance: food, clothing, housing, or provision of appropriate counseling and treatment services. But we are also called to address underlying issues which prevent people from achieving their full potential.

Low wages result in poverty. This article explains why Monroe County needs to place more value on the labor of women and people of color.
 

Click for descriptions of Social Justice Ministry Programs

RAIHN: Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network

Upcoming Visits:  May 27-June 2 and August 19-August 25

Our RAIHN guests are hosted here at the Church of the Assumption for a week, once every three months. Our guests are served sit-down dinners in our parish living room at 6:00 pm each night during their stay here, Volunteers prepare the dinners, donate food for lunch and breakfast, play with the children and chat with the families from 6:00 - 9:00pm to help them feel welcome and stress-free during their housing emergency.

Our RAIHN guests are all families who have been evicted, often due to an illness that drained their savings and caused them to loose their jobs. The children remain in their schools, transported by bus from our church each morning. Many of the parents do have jobs and/or are in school. Any free time they have is spent at the RAIHN day center in Rochester where a social worker helps them with parenting skills, job applications and in their search for safe affordable housing. While in RAIHN our guests are able to save money for their security deposit and first months rent.

Please contact Sue at 585-734-5085 for information on how you can help our parish host homeless families.


Refugee Resettlement:
For information call Kathi at 223-6133

Volunteer needed: Can you store some paper products? Occasionally we have a family who needs help to purchase personal hygene items and laundry supplies.  We can use money from our Mercy Fund to buy in bulk at a great savings, and some items are donated by parishioners. Might you and your storage area be available? Distribution would be as needed from church. To discuss the possiblity please call Frank at 585-425-8746

Needed: Someone to coordinate occasional transportation requests. Call Deni Mack 585-388-0040 x 314, or Frank 585-425-8746

Care For God's Creation: RECYCLE.

Pray for peace and for all the people of Chile, Haiti, Afganistan and Iraq.