“Serving as Christ’s hands and heart in St. John’s County and beyond…”
St. Patrick’s is a small church, but mighty in our efforts to help those in need. We are so blessed by the giving nature of this community and so appreciate your helping us to help others. Nothing is impossible! Here are some of our many ministries:
Dining with Dignity & Home Again
St. Patrick’s delivers bi-monthly dinners to support the Dining with Dignity program and in St. Augustine and Home Again St. Johns, which assist those experiencing homelessness have a warm meal. If you are interested in donating to this ministry please click on the e-giving tab above. If you’d like to assist in meal prep and/or travel with the team, please contact our office for more details how to be involved.
Collecting Bug Spray & Sunscreen for Homeless
St. Patrick’s is lovingly known as the “bug spray church” in Fruit Cove. We serve as a collection site for insect spray and sunscreen to protect the homeless population in St. Johns County. A simple can of bug spray will not only reduce the annoyance of mosquitoes and other pesky insects, but also the need for medical care among our homeless (as will sunscreen)! We collect many cans during the summer months, but mosquitoes and sun are an every-day concern in Florida. If you would like to help with this outreach ministry please drop off your donations of bug spray to St. Patrick’s anytime during the year and we will deliver them for you.
School Supplies Collection
In conjunction with our Outreach Ministry, each July/August we collect school supplies for disadvantaged children whose families are unable to provide the much-needed items to start the new school year. Classroom supplies along with backpacks and sometimes clothing and shoes are collected and delivered to many children in need.
Christmas Angels
Our Outreach Ministry works with the St. John’s County School System to serve as Christmas Angels for multiple families in need. Toys, shoes and clothing are collected, wrapped and given anonymously so multiple children have gifts on Christmas morning. If you would like to help with this ministry, you may donate monetarily (mail a check or use the e-giving tab above) or reach out to our office in late November/early December to find out specific the specific “Christmas List” wished-for items requested for purchase.
Operation Christmas Child
Each October/November, we participate in Operation Christmas Child. This program involves packing “shoeboxes” full of goodies to be distributed to children around the world. In the past our boxes have gone to Africa, Afghanistan, the Baltic, and Asia. We enclose notes and sometimes even receive replies from the children who receive our gifts.
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD)
The ERD through your generosity, makes it possible for people to feed their families, earn more income, and move from poverty to prosperity. ERD also responds in time of crisis to disasters all around the world, ensuring that people had the immediate assistance they needed as well as long-term support to rebuild their lives and communities. Partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development is evidence of our strong commitment to serve others in Jesus’ name and bring healing to a hurting world.
United Thank Offering (UTO)
The United Thank Offering is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Women, men and children give daily thanks to God for their blessings, by twice a year filling their little blue boxes. These UTO contributions throughout the year raise millions of dollars every year for domestic and international projects. Over 100 grants are awarded each year for buses, preschool projects, food banks, clinics, etc., anything that will help the church spread Christ’s message throughout the year.
Cuba Mission
We also have a sister parish in Camaguey City, Cuba. Occasionally parishioners are able to travel to Cuba to get to know the folks there and to share our passions, successes, needs and worship.
Feed My Lambs Ministry
The most popular outreach ministry of St. Patrick’s was that of Feed My Lambs, which provided many years of donations to families in need in west St. Augustine as well as school supplies to Crookshank Elementary. Following a halt of deliveries during the pandemic, the Feed My Lambs Ministry expanded to multiple the “outreach” ministries listed above. We thank you so much for your generosity and support you have provided over the years and hope you will continue to support St. Patrick’s in our efforts to help as many of God’s Lambs as we can.
Even with all these activities, we still feel called to do more.
What is your passion? Please share it with us!
We offer service hours for middle/high school students who volunteer on these ministries with us. Contact our office to learn more.