Homebound Meals at Saint Christina Parish

Outreach - Homebound Meals

Homebound Meals
Thanksgiving Dinner - the Saint Christina Way!

A big thanks to all who showed up Wednesday and Thursday to help the Homebound Meal Ministry prepare an award-winning turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.

The meal consisted of slices of turkey breast, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, broccoli, cranberry sauce and, of course, dessert.

Dessert was a beautiful pumpkin slice prepared by Country House Restaurant in Alsip. It was delicious. The restaurant was especially generous in offering a discount on the dessert trays. Thanks so much, Country House. In addition to the traditional pumpkin dessert, our homebound meals resident baker made fresh pound cake. Each meal also included a slice of this delectable cake.

Lastly, a big “Thank You” to the St. Christina’s Holy Name Men’s Club for the cash donation to defray the cost of the meal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Homebound Meal Ministry is taking a holiday break, so look for the next meal to be prepared in February - Watch The Sign or this page in the future for details.

May our Lord, Jesus, bless you and your family during this holy season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Homebound Meal Ministry

What We Do - The focus of this program is to provide a delicious, lovingly prepared meal for those in the Saint Christina Family who are not able to easily leave their home environment to shop or dine out.

We try to prepare meals that are “home cooking”, and do not taste or look mass produced. We hope that the meals are enjoyed by everyone in that home, and that those who may be visiting or caring for the person(s) get a little break.

A challenge for this ministry is trying to keep costs down while producing a high quality and nutritious meal for a large number of parishioners in need.

WORK FORCE - You don’t have to be a chef or even a fan of the Food Network to participate in this valuable ministry. Home Bound Meals needs many hands to serve a number of different roles. We utilize volunteers to: shop for groceries; slice, dice, and peel; cook and bake; serve and package meals; deliver; and clean-up. Volunteers from ages 9-90 work together to prepare each meal. Home Bound Meals is a great way for youth groups to earn service hours.

Home Bound Meals prepares and sends meals nine Sundays a year and on Thanksgiving Day. Groceries are purchased the week before the meal and volunteers can work on Saturday to prep the meals or on Sunday mornings to package, send, and deliver.

Sr. Anne Vincent is the pastoral care minister of the parish. She contacts and visits the members of our parish community who need help with many things. She and her loyal volunteers will contact all the persons that have a regular or temporary need, and verify that the person(s) will be at home to receive the meal.

Often, delivery volunteers bring meals to the same people several months in succession, and build a friendly rapport. The number of people who make this program work for each single delivery is very large; however, it always works.

OUR MOST ENJOYED MENUS

Grilled bratwurst and onions, sauerkraut, boiled potatoes and rye bread (Oktoberfest).
Corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread (St. Paddy’s day).
Roast pork with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, applesauce, and dinner roll.
Home style meatloaf with buttered noodles, fresh corn, and rolls.
Oven baked chicken with scalloped potatoes, and green beans.
Fresh stuffed peppers with mashed potatoes.
Thanksgiving dinner with ALL the trimmings!

COME JOIN US - If you would like to contribute or help in some way contact Saint Christina Parish Rectory at 773-779-7181 and let them know you want to get involved with Home Bound Meals.