Homebound Meals at Saint Christina Parish

Outreach - Homebound Meals

Turkey Extraordinaire - Homebound Meals Report

Thanks to our many volunteers who showed up on Wednesday and Thanksgiving morning, a wonderful Turkey Day feast was prepared and delivered. The volunteers included our “regulars,” including our faithful scouts and their moms, along with our neighborhood teens, and many other new faces. The large group of volunteers helped create a welcoming, spirit-filled atmosphere.

As you can see from the picture, the traditional feast was indeed a delicious sight. There were turkey breast slices, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, and a beautiful tossed salad with dressing. For dessert, there was a slice of home-baked pound cake made with love by one of our chefs. And of course, keeping with tradition, there was a pumpkin slice baked by Country House Restaurant. A big thank you goes out to Country House for giving us a very generous discount on the pumpkin slices. Each recipient also received special Christmas decorations, made especially for them by our Girl Scouts in Troop 26293.

Both Father Ryan and Father Wayne came down to visit with the volunteers. Father Ryan blessed the meal and those who prepared it.

A big shout-out to the St. Christina Holy Name Men’s Club for picking up the tab for the meal and to the anonymous donors who donated the turkey breasts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Homebound Meals will be taking a holiday break. Watch The Sign for details concerning the upcoming schedule.

The Homebound Meals Ministry wishes you a very happy Christmas and the best for 2026. May Our Lord bless every one of you.

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.