Community Ministries/Outreach

Living Our Faith in the Community

Community ministries, or what we might call “outreach,” are an integral part of life at St. Mary’s. Involvement with community ministries is an important way that we live out our baptismal covenant, both to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves,” and to “strive for justice and peace among all peoples and respect the dignity of every human being.” Community Ministry activities involve direct engagement with community groups as well as a variety of fundraising activities that support non-profits in San Francisco and the world. Below, we list a variety of ways both current and past that you can become engaged with community ministries at St. Mary’s, from direct engagement with community groups to fund-raising and granting efforts. Please join us in this fulfilling and life-giving work!

The Gubbio Project – Currently situated at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in the Mission, the Gubbio Project offers a sacred space and sanctuary for unhoused people during the day. Gubbio Project brings in other supportive services as well. St. Mary’s frequently supports The Gubbio Project with drives for items like socks, blankets, and shelf-stable food items.

Rise Against Hunger – On approximately an annual basis, St. Mary’s hosts and participates in a Rise Against Hunger event where we package meals for food insecure communities around the globe. Our next date is January 25, 2025 during 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click to register.

SF Interfaith Winter Shelter Dinner -Every winter, St. Mary’s hosts and provides food for the SF Interfaith Council’s Winter Shelter, usually located at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. We cook, serve, and set-up for up to 80 guests, as well as taking time to be in community with the guests. We also provide guests with clean socks and t-shirts.

Hope Beyond – The San Francisco Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of California has approved a $1,000 to St. Mary’s to support Hope Beyond, a nonprofit organization serving women who are incarcerated in and being released from California’s state prisons. Parishioner Linda Connelly introduced Hope Beyond founders, Jodi DeMillo and Celia Firi, at an adult forum presentation in August 2023. Hope Beyond specifically provides resources and hope to women “lifers,” both in prison and upon parole. The grant will help support St. Mary’s partnership with Hope Beyond in extending that hope to those who have so little of it and feel especially abandoned during the holiday season. For more information and to find volunteer opportunities, contact Linda Connelly,