Ministries of Mercy - Food & Clothing at 6363 9th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 US - Home

Santa Maria Mission feeds the Poor

In 2006, Bishop Robert N. Lynch from the Diocese of St. Petersburg initiated the Ministries of Mercy initiative to support and foster parish ministries that serve the poor, suffering, and marginalized. The initiative was divided into five groups that identified where the need is; food & clothing, shelter, life, visitation, and health. The Ministries of Mercy are currently serving at the parishes and the following story highlights Santa Maria Mission’s food and clothing ministry which feeds and clothes more than 150 people each week.

Nick Kinee wears jeans, white sneakers, and a gray shirt while sitting on his wheelchair inside Santa Maria Mission. He’s about to pray over his meal and give thanks for the box of groceries and clothing he just received from the volunteers at the mission. The trip to the mission is a weekly occurrence for Nick. He says the food and clothing help because he lives on a fixed income. Read story ...

Feeding and Clothing the Homeless

In 2006, Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg began the Ministries of Mercy initiative to support and foster parish ministries that serve the poor, suffering, and marginalized. The initiative focuses on five areas where the need is the greatest: food & clothing, shelter, life, visitation, and health. The Ministries of Mercy are currently serving in various parishes and the following story highlights Ray Watson, a volunteer helping the homeless through to the food and clothing ministry.

Ray Watson has been helping the homeless and hungry since World War II while stationed in Germany. At that time, he took food left over by the troops and gave it to poor German kids. “I was fined for doing it because we were not supposed to fraternize with the German population. Afterward, the local pastor heard about what I was doing and took up a collection on my behalf to pay for my ticket. But because of problems with the currency, the money from the collection was no good. Yet, I was thankful for it,” Ray, says. Read story ...



left to right: Keith, an out of work veteran, and friend Melinda are homeless. Keith holds food & clothing delivered by Ray Watson while Melinda hugs and thanks Ray.

“I believe one of the greatest ministries that the church performs is feeding those who are hungry, those who are marginalized, those who are desperate.”

- Bishop Robert N. Lynch