Third Sunday drive
On the third Sunday of the month, all are invited to drop off donations of dog and cat food that volunteers will package and share with Saint Philip’s food pantry and Interfaith Community Services (ICS). Please leave your offerings in the green wagon that will be in the Fish Pond Garden before and between services.
The next drive will take place on Sunday, August 20.
If you are interested in helping prepare the individual bags for the food pantry, please email Mtr Mary at mary.trainor@stphilipstucson.org.
What is Saint Hildegard’s Guild?
From ideas, conversations, and interest from a variety of parishioners, a new animal ministry (Saint Hildegard’s Guild) has emerged as part of Saint Philip’s Creation Care ministry. It will offer assistance in three main areas:
Pet food collection
Providing pet food will help keep pets and people together. It will also serve as a model for younger parishioners about how we care for animals.Studies have revealed that when owners have to choose between buying food for themselves or their pets, owners will often go hungry to feed their companions. Another sad fact is that owners experiencing financial hardship sometimes have to surrender their animals because they cannot afford the cost of care.
Pet chaplain services-offering pastoral care during stressful times
Volunteers will be available to offer blessings and prayers for animals and their families in a variety of situations: when animals will be euthanized, have surgery, are ill, or lost. Blessings and prayers will also be offered to welcome a new pet into a home.
Sustainable habitats on campus
Ideas abound but the first project will be to install houses on Saint Philip’s campus for Lucy’s Warbler—a bird unimpressive in appearance, but notable as the only warbler that nests in the hot deserts of the Southwest.
If you would like to become involved with any of these efforts, please email Mtr Mary at mary.trainor@stphilipstucson.org.