St. Francis Xavier Parish and School enjoy an enriching relationship with two sharing parishes: St. Thomas of Canterbury in Chicago, and Immaculée Conception in Galette-Chambon, Haiti. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the SFX HSO has organized a Sharing Parish Committee to lead school efforts in support of these two organizations.
The calendar of projects outlined below details initiatives in support of both sharing parishes during the current academic year. Sharing Parish Committee volunteers lead each effort with the goal of raising awareness and engaging our school community in support of St. Thomas of Canterbury and Immaculée Conception.
Learn more about Imaculée Conception at sfxhaiti.com. Learn more about St. Thomas of Canterbury at stcuptown.com. Questions may be directed to Barb Bevenour at bevenour@comcast.net, Jessica Dawson O’Brien at jdawsonobrien@gmail.com, or Angie Waltman at angelawaltman.np@gmail.com.
2016-17 SFX SHARING PARISH CALENDAR
October – Haiti Collection from Rummage sale: Select items collected from Rummage sale to be sent to Haiti (Week of October 17).
SFX School Wear Pink Day: $1 collection for non-uniform. Funds go to the Colleen Pope Vitu Memorial Haiti School Fund (Friday, October 21).
November – Halloween Candy Collection: Candy collection in SFX office for items to be given to the food pantry at St. Thomas of Canterbury (November 1st- 7th).
Thanksgiving Food Drive: Packaged food collection at school for St. Thomas of Canterbury Food Pantry. Collection will be the week of November 14 with tie into Thanksgiving Feast and delivery of items (Friday, November 18th).
December – All for Books: Book donation to St. Thomas of Canterbury school via Book Fair.
Breakfast with Santa Gift collection: Children’s Christmas gifts to be collected at the event to benefit families who are guests of the St. Thomas of Canterbury food pantry and clothing closet.
Christmas Shoppe donations to St. Thomas of Canterbury.
Feb/March – Second grade project: 2nd graders (school and PREP) color/draw crosses to be sent to fellow 2nd graders in both sharing parishes receiving 1st reconciliation and communion.
March – “Blessing Bag” Lenten project: Drive for travel toiletries that are packaged in Ziploc bags with a note for guests of St. Thomas’ soup kitchen/food pantry. Kick off on Ash Wednesday (March 1) with collection before spring break. The assembly of bags will occur in time for delivery during Holy Week.
April – Water bottle collection for Haiti: 4th year project focused on collection of softly used water bottles for Haiti. Tie into Earth day on April 21 (Week of April 17th).
May – Soccer Gear Collection: 4th year of collecting used soccer items to benefit the HotFutbol program in Haiti (Date TBD).
June – School supply project for Haiti: Annual collection of softly used school supplies sent to Immaculate Conception school in Haiti (Date TBD).
