July 19, 2025
As we wrap up our 2024–25 fiscal year, we are deeply grateful to share some meaningful successes with you.
This past year, we were honored to assist 4,245 families—nearly 10,000 individuals—in their times of need. This incredible impact was made possible thanks to the generous prayers and ongoing support of our St. Mary parishioners and surrounding community.
Some of the lives directly impacted include:
- A 65-year-old grandmother who had just been granted temporary custody of her 6 grandchildren including 2 sets of twins, one set of whom were only 5 months old. She was overwhelmed with the physical and financial task ahead of her. Thanks to your support, we gave her clothing and other items for the children, food, bath towels, dishes and financial support for her electric bill.
- A young man who was recovering from a terrible car accident and had recently found a job but couldn’t start until he had the proper clothes. He needed black pants, white collared shirts and black non-slip boots. These items were enough to give him some hope that things were going to get better for him.
- And one of our favorite success stories, a young man who came to us homeless is now employed, has his own apartment, regained his driver’s license, reconnected with family members and is saving for a car.
Your continued support is changing lives—thank you for being part of this mission.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we received a grant from the Residents of Old Wilmington to assist with the purchase of our van. This grant was funded by the proceeds from their annual BackDoor Kitchen Tour. The tour this year will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), rain or shine.
Tickets are now on sale! Tickets are $40; all proceeds benefit downtown nonprofits. Be an EARLYBIRD and purchase your tickets between July 1-July 31 to receive $10 off! Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1373784429209 to purchase tickets. When we support our local organizations, we make the community a better place for us all.
Need of the week:
New / gently used backpacks / book bags
Save The Dates
- Pasta for a Purpose: September 20, 2025 at 4:00 pm—St Mary School Cafeteria
- BackDoor Kitchen Tour: October 11, 2025—Residents of Old Wilmington Quarter
- Auction: November 15, 2025 at 10:00 am—St Mary School Cafeteria
August 31, 2025
Tickets to our Pasta for a Purpose fundraiser are now on
sale. See the flyer under the News & Events tab for details and purchasing options. We will also be selling tickets after all masses the weekend ofSeptember 13/14.
Many thanks to all who stopped by our table at the Ministry Fair. We truly appreciate your interest and are excited to welcome nine new volunteers to our team!
We reopen to our guests on Tuesday. Our first week back after the break is always a busy
one. One fun aspect is how happy the volunteers are to see each other again. It’s a week of hugs and smiles all around.
And, finally, the Knights of Columbus were at it again in August! Their food drive at
the Piggly Wiggly in Leland resulted in almost 1800 lbs. of food for our food-pantry. They
also collected over $500 which will be used to purchase protein items for our guests. This would not be possible without the cooperation of Piggly Wiggly management and their customers. To show our
appreciation, the Knights presented Manager Ryan and CoManager Brian, with a plaque
of thanks for their ongoing support. Many thanks to all.
The next Knights of Columbus food drive will be held on Saturday, September 13th from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Food Lion in Leland.
SAVE THE DATE:
QUARTER AUCTION :
November 15th 10:00 am, St. Mary School Cafeteria
September 6/7, 2025
Tickets for our annual Pasta for a Purpose fundraiser are now on sale. See the flyer for information about how to purchase. We will also be outside the church after all masses next weekend for ticket sales and to answer any questions. Dinner is $15 per person. You can also purchase a raffle ticket for two chances to win $100 worth of lottery tickets. (Winner need not be present to win.)
Can’t attend but want to help? Sponsor a Table!
Sponsors can include businesses, families, individuals, or in honor / memory of a loved one. Sponsorship costs $100 per table.
What’s included:
* Your name or company logo displayed on the sponsored table throughout the event
* A chance to connect with over 300 individuals on the evening of the event.
* Recognition in our weekly bulletin, our website, and our social media platforms.
Need of the week: Boys Fall clothing sizes 2T – 6
September 13/14, 2025
For this week the Pasta flyer was published along with this:
Tickets for our 2nd Annual Pasta for a Purpose fundraiser will be on sale after all masses this weekend. Please consider joining us for this fun evening of great food and wonderful fellowship. See our flyer for more details
Need of the week: new or gently used suitcases with wheels
September 20/21, 2025
The Sister Isaac Center opened with a bang on Sept 2nd. Since then we have assisted over 220 families. Many of our guests said they missed us and, quite frankly, we missed them too!
This weekend is our Pasta for a Purpose dinner. We are so grateful to all who attended, our donors, and to all the volunteers. Watch this space next weekend for some fun pictures of the event.
We are very excited to announce that our newly designed website is up and running. Please take a look at https://www.thesisterisaaccenter.org/ and let us know what you think!
This six month project would not have been possible without the leadership of Paul Wilkes, volunteer and friend extraordinaire. His guidance, communication skills, and patience are very much appreciated.
Wilmington Design Company worked closely with us to design a site that reflected the joy and love we strive to give our guests each and every day. We thank them for their professionalism.
And, very importantly, Steve Petzold, parishioner and Knights of Columbus member has generously volunteered to be our webmaster and has already spent quite a bit of time helping us edit. Thank you, Steve!
It truly does take teamwork to make the dream work!
Upcoming events: Quarter Auction November 15th 10am – 1pm.
Need of the week: Men’s casual shoes–specifically sneakers and workboots
September 27/28, 2025
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the honor of sharing the mission and story of The Sister Isaac Center with several local nonprofit organizations. One particularly meaningful invitation came from the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation on Market Street. After hearing about our work, they chose to adopt The Sister Isaac Center as the focus of their Good Samaritan Project for September.
Each month, the congregation supports a local nonprofit that is making a tangible difference in the community, and we are truly humbled to be their chosen partner this month. Their generosity and compassion are already being felt: just one week after my visit, we received a donation of over 150 bags filled with female personal care products to distribute to our guests! Moments like these remind us that it takes a village—and we are so grateful for ours.
This month, I also had the wonderful opportunity to join the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court #1036, during their monthly meeting right here at St. Mary’s. While some members have previously volunteered at The Sister Isaac Center—and even had the pleasure of meeting Sister Isaac herself—many were new to our mission. I was honored to share the story and work of our Center with such a dedicated and inspiring group.
After my presentation, I stayed for their meeting and was truly amazed by the scope of their service. Their projects touch lives both locally and beyond. Not only do they support several initiatives at The Sister Isaac Center, but they’re also active in supporting Knights of Columbus events, engaging with St. Mary School students, assisting with the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, and much more.
Their generosity reaches even further—they assemble care packages for veterans, provide aid to victims of domestic violence, make teddy bears for Victory Junction (a camp for children with serious medical needs), and support various state and national Catholic Daughter initiatives.
Most recently, they hosted a fun and successful Bunco Night Fundraiser to raise funds for all of these wonderful efforts. And coming up in October, they’ll begin selling tickets for their Christmas Raffle—be sure to watch the church bulletin for more details!
If you’d like to learn more or get involved with the Catholic Daughters, you can reach out to Cindy Givens at drcindy58@gmail.com.
Need of the week: can openers, utensils, new / gently used pots
October 4/5, 2025
Thanks to our wonderful friends, family, volunteers — and one heck of a good meatball — the Second Annual Pasta for a Purpose was a tremendous success!
With fantastic Italian cuisine, festive décor, and lively music, the evening was filled with laughter, smiles, and a true sense of community. We were thrilled to welcome so many guests to this fun-filled event.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to:
- Miss Vickie, our amazing cafeteria manager — this event would not have been possible without you!
- Our head chefs, Linda Hetzel and Irene Cavanagh — what a truly caring and talented team!
- The incredible volunteers from the Sister Isaac Center who spent countless hours planning, cooking (over 600 meatballs!), serving, and cleaning up.
We are also deeply grateful for the support of the following organizations and businesses:
- Hagood Homes – Carolina Beach
- Excelsior Training – Wilmington
- Hairology – Leland
- Wilmington Kitchen and Bath – Wilmington
- Tobaccoville – Wilmington
- Trader Joe’s
- Costco
- Food Lion
- Knights of Columbus Council 1074
- Catholic Daughters Court 1036
- An Anonymous Donor
Raffle Winners
- The winners of the two $100 Lottery Trees were Dennis Deasy and Louis Santiago.
- The 50/50 raffle was won by John Holohan, who very graciously donated half of his winnings back to us. Thank you, John!
From all of us involved in Pasta for a Purpose, thank you for helping us make a difference — one plate of pasta at a time!
Watch this space for information on 2 upcoming events:
Our Thanksgiving Basket project for our guests
Our Annual Quarter Auction Fundraiser (November 15th)
Need of the week: All-purpose cleaning products
October 11/12, 2025
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who brought non-perishable food items for our Share Sunday collection last weekend. Your generosity goes a long way in restocking our food shelves and helping those in need within our community.
The next few months promise to be busy ones (as if the last few weren’t already!). With the Quarter Auction, Thanksgiving Baskets, and other seasonal efforts coming up, we’re excited—and grateful—for all the ways our community continues to show up and serve.
Our Annual Quarter Auction will be held Saturday, November 15 from 10am -1pm in the Upper Room. The Quarter Auction is a fun and fast-paced fundraising event that blends the excitement of a raffle with the strategy of an auction—using quarters instead of large sums of money to bid on items. Each item has a set quarter bid amount (e.g., 1 to 4 quarters based on item value). The minimum value of any item is $20 and you can win that for only 25 cents!
Last year we auctioned off over 75 items!
Auction offerings can include gift cards to local restaurants and businesses, themed baskets such as Wine with Friends, Spa Day, Day at the Beach, Home Decorating, Hair Care, Auto Detailing, Gardener’s Delight, Summer Fun for the Grands, Outdoor Cocktail Hour, and more.
We are in the process of gathering items for our baskets. We have been very blessed in the past by parishioners who choose to donate themed baskets, new items, or gift cards to us to be auctioned. If you would like to donate a new item, gift card to your favorite business, or put together a whole basket, please contact us.
Thanksgiving Basket Project
Each November, we prepare and distribute beautiful Thanksgiving baskets to our guests filled with everything needed to cook a warm, hearty holiday meal.
These baskets include: a frozen uncooked turkey, stuffing mix, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, pies, and all the traditional trimmings!
Last year, with the generous support of St. Mary School and Religious Education program, St. Marks, UNCW and others, we were able to provide 130 families with a full Thanksgiving dinner.
We need help! If you’d like to create a Thanksgiving basket for one of our families, or donate items to be included in a basket (such as a 10-12 frozen turkey) please contact us. We have a list of suggested basket items to help guide you. Together, we can ensure many families in our community have something to be thankful for this holiday season.
If you feel called to help with either of these projects, contact us at 910-762-5491 ext. 135 or drop by our office Mon – Fri 9am -12pm.
As the weather turns a bit cooler we are accepting donations of cool weather clothing only. Please hold any summer clothing: we just don’t have the storage space to store them until next summer.
Need of the week–new or gently used dinner dishes, glasses, and utensils–
October 18/19, 2025
This story is a powerful reminder that people’s situations often run deeper than they initially appear. What seemed like a straightforward financial request turned out to be a cry for stability, safety, and dignity.
A woman came to us asking for help with a car payment. Normally, we don’t assist with that kind of expense — car loan companies are usually based out of town, and there’s no guarantee they’d process our payment correctly.
But this woman caught our attention. She kept saying she was going to be “put out” if she couldn’t make the payment. At first, we didn’t understand what she meant. But after sitting with her and really listening, we realized she was homeless and living in her car. She was terrified that if the car was repossessed, she’d have nowhere to go at all. She hadn’t been sleeping and was clearly overwhelmed.
We did some checking and located an office in Wilmington where she could make her payment directly. When we told her we could help, the relief was immediate — she thanked us and hugged us over and over. We also gave her information for local homeless resources and even offered to call on her behalf, but she wasn’t quite ready to take that step. We let her know she’s welcome to come back anytime for food and other essentials or just to talk.
In the meantime, we’re praying that she finds the strength and support she needs to move forward, and we ask that you keep her in your prayers as well. God knows her name and her heart.
Thanksgiving Basket Project
Our annual Thanksgiving Basket project is underway, and we hope to provide baskets for over 100 of our guests and their families this year.
Many generous parishioners have already committed to assembling food baskets for our neighbors in need — and we invite you and your family to join in!
Each basket should include a variety of uncooked food items, along with a frozen turkey. We have a list of suggested items to help guide you. If you’re interested in participating, we’d be happy to email you the list.
Completed baskets should be delivered to the Sister Isaac Center by the morning of Monday, November 24th.
To sign up or request the list, please contact us:
910-762-5491 ext. 135 or outreach@thestmaryparish.org
Thank you for helping us make this Thanksgiving a little brighter for our neighbors.
October 25/26, 2025
We were the grateful recipients of some incredible generosity last week. The Wilmington Senior Softball Association (WSSA) held a coat drive and donated more than seven VERY tall boxes of winter coats—just in time for the cooler weather! We are truly thankful for their kindness and support.
Founded in 1995, the WSSA lives by the inspiring motto:
“You don’t stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing.” This spirit of energy and giving back is evident in all they do. In addition to the coat drive, WSSA members recently collected 750 pounds of food for the local food bank and volunteered their time for the Special Olympics.
We’re proud to have such dedicated and community-minded partners. For more information about the WSSA and the amazing work they do (and the fun they have playing softball) visit their website: www.wilmingtonseniorsoftball.net.
We also were the recipients of a HUGE amount of diapers from St. Therese Catholic Church in Wrightsville Beach. This is a project the church spearheads each year for the benefit of our guests. We are so very thankful to the Pastor, Reverend William J Upah, the parishioners who donated and especially Kathi Ambrose who headed-up this enormous effort.
Thank you, WSSA and St.Therese Catholic Church for helping us make a difference!
As you know, our Thanksgiving project is up and running. We hope to provide food baskets for over 100 of our guests and their families this year.
Many generous parishioners have already committed to assembling food baskets for our neighbors in need — and we invite you and your family to join in!
Each basket should include a variety of uncooked food items, along with a frozen turkey. We have a list of suggested items to help guide you. If you’re interested in participating, we’d be happy to email you the list.
We are also in need of people to deliver baskets to our guests on Tuesday November 25th from 9am – 11am. Please let us know if you can help.
Next weekend is Share Sunday (see the box elsewhere in this bulletin). At the beginning of October, St. Mary parishioners generosity provided 381 pounds of food. This was enough to feed more than 20 families for one week. Your donations are truly making a difference in our community.