Outreach
At St. Mary’s, we are passionate about serving the wider community, and we take seriously our Lord’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Below, you will find a list of the various ways we seek to serve others. If you have any questions about any of our Outreach ministries, please contact the Parish Office.
RICE AND BEANS MINISTRY
On the third Saturday of every month, St. Mary’s opens its doors to the community for our monthly Rice and Beans Ministry. We serve a warm breakfast and distribute free bags of rice, dried beans, and other pantry staples. We welcome all—no exceptions and no questions asked.
JO’S COMMUNITY DINNERS
Each year, on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, St. Mary’s hosts Jo’s Community Dinners for those who would like to receive a free meal. We typically distribute close to 1,000 meals each year between both holidays. Meals are served from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Volunteers are always needed to help with the preparation of food and meal delivery.
LAUNDRY LOVE
On the third Thursday of every month, St. Mary’s offers free loads of laundry at the Soap Opera Laundromat in Andalusia (located at 1528 E. Three Notch St.) from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm (the last load must be started no later than 6:00). We provide quarters for using the machines (maximum of two loads per family), laundry detergent, and dryer sheets.
MARDI GRAS 5K FUNDRAISER
Each year, on the Saturday before Mardi Gras Day (usually mid to late February), St. Mary’s hosts a Mardi Gras 5K fundraiser to support our Rice and Beans Ministry. We welcome anyone from the community to participate in our Mardi Gras 5K. Details for the 5K are announced on our Facebook page, and we are always in need of volunteers to help with the race.
BAYOU FEAST FUNDRAISER
Our annual Bayou Feast is an event for the entire community. Held each Fall, we invite members of the community to come to St. Mary’s for a delicious meal, which includes all of your favorite Cajun dishes, including seafood gumbo, jambalaya, and boiled shrimp. Tickets go on sale several weeks before the event, and all of the proceeds go to support the ongoing ministries of our parish.
COAT AND BLANKET DRIVE
In late October, members of St. Mary’s begin donating new or gently used coats and blankets for the purpose of distributing these items to people in our community who may be in need. Items are disbursed on the third Saturday in December during our monthly Rice and Beans Ministry.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY AND FOOD PANTRY
Located in the parking lot of our church, our Little Free Library provides instant access to used books for anyone who would like to come by and pick one up. We also welcome used book donations to be placed in the library. Our Little Free Pantry provides 24/7 access to food for anyone in the community who is in need. Food is re-stocked periodically throughout the week.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
St. Mary’s is the host for the “Back to Basics Group” in Andalusia. There are two open discussion meetings each week for those seeking support in AA. Meetings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning at 7:00 pm in the Library, and all are welcome.