St. John Vianney is a tithing parish. This means that not only do parishioners give of their substance to the church, but the parish as a whole gives of its substance to the poor. Each year, 10% of the regular offertory collections are given to the poor of our community and the world.
The gift of treasure is only the beginning. We also give of our time through volunteering at various charitable organizations. Listed below is a summary of the organizational activities to which the parish has contributed.
Catholic Charities (Calvert County Office)
This is the local office of the Associated Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. The Calvert County office, located in Prince Frederick, provides emergency assistance such as food, clothing, household goods, utility and rent assistance, and assistance in filing prescriptions to qualified applicants.
Birthright of Prince Frederick
Started in 1995, this office provides assistance to pregnant women of all ages and creeds in a supporting and non-judgmental atmosphere. Volunteers assist in any way that is needed, including arranging medical care, supplies, and educational materials. St. John Vianney was the first area church to make a commitment through a regular contribution. Birthright is located at the intersection of Armory Road and Dare’s Beach Road, near Calvert Middle School.
Shelter Meals
Meals are prepared by parishioners, usually in the parish kitchen, and delivered at least once each month to the Catholic Charities Shelter in Hughesville (for women and children) and to the ECHO shelter for the homeless in Prince Frederick.
ECHO Shelter
This is an ecumenically operated shelter for the homeless. It provides temporary shelter to men, women and children in a home located two buildings down Main Street from the church. It receives support from the county and from area churches. Volunteers are needed to stay entire nights to supervise. Homeless people can stay for up to three months.
Spanish Apostolate
This parish outreach provides spiritual care for the Spanish speaking community, especially migrant laborers working in the County. We offer mass at 2:00 P.M. each Sunday when we are able to find a priest who speaks Spanish. We also host field trips and other events for the laborers.
Youth Efforts
In past years, the Youth Group has traveled to the Catholic Heart Work Camp in in various locations.