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Week of Service

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Diocesan Week of Service

"Jesus’ teaching on the primacy of love for God is clearly complemented by his insistence that one cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor. Love for our neighbor is tangible proof of the authenticity of our love for God, as the Apostle John attests: ‘No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us...God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them’ (1 Jn 4:12,16). The two loves are distinct yet inseparable (no.26).” 

The Week of Service is an opportunity for parishes, schools, Catholic Charities programs, and community members to come together in March 2026 to serve others across Northeast Ohio. Our goal is to create meaningful volunteer opportunities that reflect Catholic social teaching and strengthen our communities. 

There are three ways to get involved:  

  • Host a Community Service Project – for parishes, schools, or organizations that want to welcome volunteers.
  • Volunteer for a Project – for individuals and groups who want to participate in an organized activity during the Week of Service.
  • Engage in your own act of service – for families and individuals. 

Download Save the Date Flier

For more information, please contact Kim Kocuba in the Secretariat for Catechetical Formation and Parish Life.

Hosting a Service Project

Parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations are invited to host a service opportunity during the Week of Service. Projects can be large or small, from serving meals to organizing a clothing drive to hosting activities with seniors or children. 

Expectations for host sites: 

  • Provide a safe, meaningful service activity. 
  • Set a clear capacity for the number of volunteers needed. 
  • Designate a site contact person for communication. 

Support you can expect: 

  • Promotion of your project through diocesan and Catholic Charities channels.
  • A sign-up platform to manage volunteer registration.
  • Guidance from the Catholic Charities Volunteer Engagement team. 
Diocesan week of service flier 20262

Ideas for Service Sites

  • Lead or assist with client engagement activities (i.e. Bingo, group games, trauma-informed coloring books, music performance, movie and popcorn)
  • Prepare and serve a meal
  • Prepare care packages with signed notes (hygiene, new baby, stress relief kits, flu season kits)
  • Garden clean-up
  • Community litter pick-up in neighborhood around facility
  • Food pantry support and distribution
  • In-kind donation drive for needed items
  • Easter holiday decorating and special treats for clients
  • Life skill workshops (e.g., reading prescription labels, technology literacy for seniors, community health fair)
  • Simple maintenance projects
  • Prayer service
  • Delivery drivers
  • Tidy and stock clothing closet
  • Organize a staff appreciation celebration

Ideas for Parishes

  • Plan a litter hike around the parish and neighborhoods of the parish. Have families sign up in advance and appoint captains for neighborhood teams. Put the names of captains, their areas, starting places and times, on lists at the back of church, and have families sign up for different teams. All teams meet at the church at a specific time for refreshments and reflection. Any money that may be found or collected may be donated to a local charity.
  • Gather families to clean the church for the spring, and to assist with grounds work. This type of activity gives young people a strong sense of belonging to the parish.
  • If there are no playgrounds in your area that need cleaning up, arrange a day that families from the parish can go into a nearby city and volunteer with a group cleaning up a park in that area. Many parent groups are getting grants for playground equipment that has to be assembled by parents.

Volunteer sign-up at a service site

Beginning in January, individuals and groups will be able to register for service opportunities. Projects will be listed by county, activity type, and date so that volunteers can easily find the right fit. 

What to expect: 

  • Browse opportunities by location and type of activity.
  • Sign up for open spots (each project has a set volunteer capacity).
  • Receive confirmation and reminder emails.
  • Join others across the Diocese in serving during this special week. 

Organize an activity in your community   

When we have experienced Christ moving us to have a deeper personal relationship with Him, we need to be bold in our proclamation of that experience. Why would we not wish to make His love known to others? Evangelization begins with a smile and expresses joy. The joy we have found in Jesus gives us rise to extend an invitation to others, as well as to deepen our own faith through study, prayer, and in deeply reflecting on our lives.    

We hope the following guide will help you prepare a service project on your own or with your family.  

Additional Resources

USCCB's Life and Dignity of the Human Person: ENGLISH | SPANISH

Little Hands, Big Hearts – Twenty-Third Publications: A Guide to Service Opportunities for Young Children

A Lord’s Prayer For Justice:  a reflection on the Lord’s Prayer for adults

Catholic Social Teaching 101 Playlist

A collaborative video series between USCCB and CRS that explores the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching and living our mission as disciples in the world today.

Vida y dignidad de la persona humana

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