Social Concerns Ministries
The Social Concerns ministry at Annunciation incorporates several distinct activities and is coordinated by one full time staff person and a committed social concerns committee. Contact Sister Kathleen Griffin at griffin@annunciationdc.org or 202-362-3323 x22 for more information. The areas in this ministry include but are not limited to the following:
Homelessness and Hunger
Outreach to the Elderly
Education for life planning
Traditional Holiday Giving Programs
Poor Box Donation Program
ADVOCACY
Advocacy for Justice and for the transformation of our society and culture is central to the work of the Social Concerns Ministry. Primary issues around which we have organized educational programs for consciousness raising and have offered active participation and support in recent years include:
Homelessness and Hunger
- Outreach to the homeless through volunteer support and participation with the St. Luke’s Shelter, SOME, and the Community Council for the Homeless
- Support for programs initiated by the Archdiocese of Washington such as periodic food drives and collections
- Active assistance to homeless and marginalized through the Apartment Ministry Fund; A program funded through donations of the members of our parish. Twice yearly a collection is taken on Sunday to support the apartment fund.
- Support for persons who come to the parish office seeking food cards, counseling and referral services
- Participation on the Congregational Council at Friendship Place and actively engaging in support of housing for the homeless.
- Thanksgiving food drive and monthly support of SOME with a main meal as well as on going donations of food and supplies. Active volunteer involvement with Meals on Wheels
Outreach to the Elderly
- Active involvement with IONA senior services through our participation on the Congregational Council in support of IONA’s workshops and programs.
- Collaboration with various senior support agencies such as: Seabury Resources, IONA, Capitol City Nursing and others
- Assistance to our senior community, when needed, in procuring supportive services to maximize senior care and independence.
Education for life planning
- Presentations and workshops specifically designed to provide helpful information to senior members
- A Senior Fair designed for the entire parish in searching out options related to aging and supportive services
Traditional Holiday Giving Programs
- Along with our Young Adults Ministry, Social Concerns assists in providing holiday gifts and food to others, particularly to our friends at Most Holy Redeemer Parish and to Annunciation parishioners who live in care facilities.
Poor Box Donation Program
- Each month of the year weekly donations to the Poor Box are dedicated to a project, or an agency needing financial support on a regular and on going basis.
- Special Archdiocesan collections for Disaster relief throughout the world receive generous outpouring of financial support from the parishioners at Annunciation.
ADVOCACY
Advocacy for Justice and for the transformation of our society and culture is central to the work of the Social Concerns Ministry. Primary issues around which we have organized educational programs for consciousness raising and have offered active participation and support in recent years include:
- Water: The global crisis effecting millions throughout the earth. Information, awareness, action programs to bring about behavior modification, legislative and positive community planning towards responsible stewardship.
- Trafficking of Human Persons: Lectures, information, prayer vigils, panel discussion, participation on the coalition against Trafficking in our local community and beyond.
- Prison Outreach Welcome Home Program: Support for this Archdiocesan program lead by Fr. Michael Bryant through preaching and direct and poor box donations.
- Right to Life: Annunciation has one of the most active and committed group of members dedicated to education around and eradication of abortion and all practices destructive of life, particularly life of the unborn.