Poverty Awareness

The Gospel reminds us that we are called to root our lives of faith in the authentic love of neighbor. “If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?” (1 John 3:17).

Pope Benedict XVI reflects on this call when he writes about “the unbreakable bond between love of God and love of neighbor” (Deus Caritas Est, no. 16). He continues: “One is so closely connected to the other that to say that we love God becomes a lie if we are closed to our neighbor or hate him altogether. St. John's words should rather be interpreted to mean that love of neighbor is a path that leads to the encounter with God, and that closing our eyes to our neighbor also blinds us to God.”
Attending to the needs of persons in poverty is a grateful response to the unmerited gift of love that God first gives to each person—a gift which we are required to then share with others. Sharing God’s love includes offering spiritual care for those in need, providing help to meet immediate needs, and working together to eliminate the causes of poverty.

Because of your generous response, St. Laurence serves our most vulnerable brothers and sisters in Fort Bend County through our Social Concerns Ministry.

SENIORS:  Approximately 8% of seniors (over 6,000) in Fort Bend County live below the poverty line.

St. Laurence Social Concerns helps seniors in need by providing:

• Monthly monetary support to the Mamie George Community Center which serves low-income residents and seniors
• Weekly donations of non-perishable food items to Trini’s Market
• Gifts (donated by parishioners) for the Gracious Gift shop which enables seniors to buy a nice gift for their loved ones at a discounted price
• Monetary support for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program
• Christmas gifts and treats for holiday gatherings
• Parishioners brighten the lives of the seniors residing at the Sugar Land Health Care Center by calling BINGO, purchasing holiday gifts, and providing a cake for monthly birthday parties
• Emergency rental/utility assistance, as well as medical equipment and supplies 

CHILDREN:  Did you know that nearly 1 in 5 children in the U. S. live below the poverty line?  The poverty rate for children (under 18) in Fort Bend County is 11%. 

St. Laurence Social Concerns helps children in need by providing:

• Weekly food assistance to help feed the children (and their families) at Fort Bend Family Promise
• After-school snacks and spring break Lunches of Love for Bethel Ministry
• Casseroles, baked goods, and non-perishable and fresh produce for the youth at Park’s Youth Ranch.
•  800+ pairs of shoes, school supplies, and hundreds of Christmas gifts to children who are referred to us by local churches, our sister parish, Queen of Peace, and Fort Bend County community partners
• Snacks and water for children at Child Advocates of Fort Bend

REFUGEE FAMILIES:  Many factors have displaced 65.6 million people throughout the world.  That is about 20 people displaced every minute!  Some of the causes of this humanitarian crisis include war, violence, and economic insecurity.  Thousands of refugees rely on Catholic Charities and other organizations for the help they need to get settled in our welcoming city and become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.  Our support means the world to these families who have escaped terrifying and horrific situations, been vetted thoroughly and arrived in America looking to begin anew and contribute to our community.

St. Laurence Social Concerns helps refugee families by providing:

• Our parish adopts six refugee families arranged through Catholic Charities to provide some of their most basic needs (rental assistance, housewares, linens, etc) to help them set up their apartment
• St. Laurence Catholic School 4th graders team up with SCM to provide gifts to help feed the spirit of the children of these adopted families
• Parishioners support refugee families with in-kind donations of clothing, shoes, baby supplies, Thanksgiving meals, and Christmas gifts each year

The US Bishops declared January “Poverty Awareness Month.” Go HERE for more information.