Brown Bag Lenten Project
About
This is our Lenten service project that allows us to pray for and give alms to Houston-area organizations.
Have Questions?Donate to the Brown Bag Lenten Project
During Lent, individuals and groups may pick up a brown bag each week and buy items for the assigned charity of the week.
You are also welcome to donate online.
Donate OnlineOpportunity to Serve
Pick up a Brown Bag at the completion of Ash Wednesday Services or after Mass the following weekend through March 30th or you can your own bag. Brown Bags with booklets are located at every Church exit and in front of Mercy Center.
Additional questions and volunteering opportunities, please contact Susan Gallagher (SGallagher@POPHouston.org).
Read the booklet! The complete instructions are there for you.
During the first four weeks of Lent, leading up to Holy Week, pray for the “Charity of the Week”. Learn about how these charities serve people in need – those who are poor, sometimes those who are poor in spirit, who are lonely or sad.
At the end of each charity’s designated week, select an item(s) from their list of needs and place your donation(s) in the brown bag and bring them to the drop-off locations: front entrances of the Main Church or the front of Mercy Center. Volunteers will be available to accept your donations.
Click here to sign up to volunteer- The last days for returning your bags are Saturday evening April 5th or Sunday, April 6th before or after Masses.
Approach Holy Week with a feeling of accomplishment, knowing that our Father in Heaven is well aware of your sacrifices and your mercy for other people!
Rejoice on Easter Sunday for a Lenten journey that was well done, worthy servant of the Lord!
2025 Charities/Ministries
Coming Soon!
Click Here for English Booklet
Click Here for Spanish Booklet
Elijah Rising is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sex trafficking through intervention, awareness, and restoration. They serve survivors by providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, and life-skills training. Through outreach programs and advocacy, they empower victims to heal and rebuild their lives, breaking the cycle of exploitation and abuse.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s Correctional Ministries provides pastoral care, sacraments, and spiritual guidance to nearly 17,000 incarcerated individuals in federal, state, and county facilities. They also support crime victims, the families of inmates, and law enforcement personnel. Through prayer, counseling, and outreach, they offer hope, reconciliation, and faith-based healing to those affected by incarceration, fostering redemption and transformation.
Heavenly Father, We lift up to You all those in correctional facilities, seeking Your mercy, healing, and grace. May they find hope in Your infinite love and strength in their trials. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, guide them to repentance, renewal, and peace. Bless those who serve them with compassion and wisdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Office of Aging Ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves older adults by addressing their spiritual, social, and practical needs. They offer resources on caregiving, end-of-life care, and aging in place while promoting senior engagement through faith-based programs. By supporting both elderly individuals and caregivers, they ensure dignity, community, and spiritual enrichment for those navigating the aging process.
Loving God, we lift up to You the elderly in our communities, especially those served by the Archdiocesan Office of Aging. Grant them strength, peace, and comfort in their later years. Fill their hearts with joy, their minds with wisdom, and their spirits with faith. Bless their caregivers with patience and love. May they always know Your presence and embrace Your eternal grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
San José Clinic, established in 1922, provides high-quality, accessible healthcare to uninsured and uninsurable individuals in the Greater Houston and Fort Bend County areas. Their comprehensive services include primary and specialty medical care, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral health, and laboratory services. By offering compassionate care, they serve as a vital safety net for underserved communities, ensuring dignified healthcare for those with limited access.
Father God, we lift up to You all those seeking healing and care at San José Clinic. Bless them with strength, comfort, and renewed health. Guide the hands of the doctors, nurses, and staff who serve with compassion. Provide for those in need, granting them hope and peace. May Your love be their refuge and Your mercy their healing grace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Volunteer for the Brown Bag Lenten Project
All are encouraged to volunteer and donate. Families are welcomed to volunteer to staff the “donation baskets” the each of the 4 weekends in Lent after any weekend Mass.
Volunteers help accept, sort and pack the donations for each non-profit organization.
The four Sundays of Lent, volunteers may sign up to collect and sort donations after Mass(es).
Because you will be able to make a difference in people’s lives by providing essential items and food to those in need.
If you are 18 years old and above, our archdiocese requires all adult volunteers to complete safe environment training.
This short one-hour online training teaches people how to create a secure and protected environment for everyone, especially children, by recognizing and preventing potential risks or harm.
Click here to register for Safe Environment Training.
Contact Us
Mercy Center Office
Manuela Rodriguez (Bilingual)
Mercy Ministry Receptionist
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."