The Works of Mercy

​The ministries of St. Luke's can be summed up by looking at the Works of Mercy. We try, each and every day to show those who God sends us, the great love and mercy of God through the works He commanded us to do in Matthew 25:34-40.

Feeding the Hungry and Give Drink to the Thirsty

St. Luke's provides two meals a day, Monday through Saturday and one meal on Sunday for the public. It is not unusual for us to feed 200 people for lunch served at noon and around 300 at our dinner meal, served at 4PM. ​

• Sandwich ministry – Good Shepherd: from 8am- 11pm, individuals and families come to Good Shepherd and receive 1 or 2 sandwiches with something else like a piece of fruit and a drink.  Approximately 30 per day 6 days a week =  9,360 meals per year
• Soup Kitchen – 2 meals a day averaging 300 meals daily, 6 days a week= 93,600 meals per year
• Thanksgiving Food Bags – 3 bags of food per family 2,600 families = 7,800 bags of food
• Christmas Food Bags – 3 bags of food per family 2,300 families = 6,900 bags of food
• Weekly food bags – 250 families per week X 52 weeks = 13,000 food bags per year
• 60 men housed on the property – 2 meals a day 7 days a week x 12 months = 10,080 meals per year

Sheltering the Homeless

St. Luke's provides shelter for men and women of all ages. Our homeless shelter houses adult men who would otherwise have nowhere else to stay. There are full time Missionaries who live with the men. We provide the Good Shepherd House for men in Recovery from various addictions. We also provide housing for many families, single mothers and their children and Missionaries and Associates who live among the poor in houses donated by their owners, and renovated by volunteers.​

• 60 safe beds for 365 days per year = 21,900 safe nights of sleep per year
• 34 families in 23 houses – in transitional housing  37,230 safe beds  and safe night’s sleep per year
• 34 families in transitional housing receiving supplemental food
• Code Blue- 21 nights with an average of 45 men = 945 safe night’s sleep, 2 meals provided for 45 men over 21 nights = 1,890 meals, sheets and blankets provided leading to a minimum of 40 loads of laundry per night = 840 loads of laundry, provided gloves, shoes and coats as needed, about 4,000 cups of coffee per winter season

Clothing the Naked

St. Luke's Mall, located in the first floor of the former school allows anyone to come in and receive clothing, small appliances, household wares all of which have been donated by generous and loving people. We have a men's room, a women's room, a children's room and people can come in and "shop" for the clothes they like and those that will fit them. Even this little difference helps to make the people feel special and loved. People can take one bag of clothes per day absolutely free.

• Mission Mall – supplying free clothing and house goods weekly – 200 families per week = 10,400 families served per year
• Baby Room – weekly giveaway of  diapers, wipes, ointments, formula, baby clothes about 100 families per week = 5,200 families* served *(can have more than 1 child in family)

Visiting the Sick and Imprisoned

At St. Luke's, we try very hard to keep in touch with those who have stayed, or are staying at the Mission. We continue to go and see people, who, on the road to recovery, need to spend some time in prison. We provide care packages for them and work with authorities to help ease their transition back into society. We also visit those in our community and families who are suffering. The Voices of Mercy often do concerts at Nursing Homes and at various hospital events.

Burying the Dead

St. Luke's offers its church for the burial of Catholics who might otherwise have no where else to be taken, or no one else to arrange for anything. The Voices of Mercy also often provide music for funerals and memorial services.

Loving God's People

• Christmas Toy giveaway – 2700 toys distributed
• Kids of the Kingdom – summer program for children about 120 children age 4-12 years old on the East side.  Six week program where 2 meals are served per day and the children go on trips to the beach, structured play, museums, amusement parks, etc.  Runs 9am-2pm Monday – Friday for 6 weeks = 150 hours of safe and enriching child care, 7,200 meals over 6 weeks
• Kids of Kingdom – teens 60 teens as mentors – 2 meals a day = 3,600 meals, 150 hours of enrichment and empowerment
• Our Lady of Hope Home School – provides individualized education for children who are struggling in public school, provides uniforms, 2 meals per day for 95 people for 9 months a year = 8,550 meals per year, afterschool programs and enrichment
• Spiritual life – daily mass, generations of faith religious education, sacraments of faith - baptisms, First communion, First reconciliation, Confirmation, marriage and provides funeral masses
• Educational Outreach- Men’s Reading Group and the Women’s Reading Group has advanced individuals from elementary level to GED proficiency.