Peace and Justice Ministry

Our Mission Statement
The St. Mary’s Peace and Justice Ministries strives to be a voice of justice within the parish.  Our endeavors focus on raising awareness of issues arising locally, nationally, and internationally, and acting on those social issues.  Our understanding of peace and justice is based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Catholic Church.  We seek to promote the recognition of the dignity of all people, keeping in mind that “peace is the fruit of daily care to see that each person lives in justice as God intends” (Pope Paul VI).

Through various efforts, St. Mary’s Peace and Justice Ministries support local organizations, including St. Mary’s Food Pantry, The Family Service Association, Catholic Charities of Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie Counties, Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County, Opportunities for Otsego, The Prison Ministry, and more.

For a number of years, Peace and Justice Ministries has supported St. Vincent Mission in David, KY.  St. Vincent Mission provides a wide variety of services to local individuals and families who live in Appalachia and are most often impoverished.

 

Peace and Justice Ministries supports the San Lucas Toliman Scholarship program.  This program, located in Guatemala, helps children of indigenous Mayan families attend school.  Typically, Peace and Justice Ministries and the parish community of St. Mary’s provide scholarship funds for 12 students to be in school each year. 

 

Additionally, Peace and Justice Ministries participates in the Stations of the Cross, the Christmas Giving Tree for residents of our local nursing homes, and other programs as they come up in the parish.

 

Meetings are normally scheduled for the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the rectory.

 Call the Parish Office for more information: 607-432-3920, ext. 0.

 Holy Sews

St. Mary's Holy Sews is a group of volunteers who work together to provide handmade infant burial clothing for families who experience the loss of their baby due to a miscarriage or stillbirth. These babies are much too tiny and fragile for any other clothing that is readily available. We supply hospitals with layettes so they are on hand when needed. We are entirely funded by donations and all services are provided at absolutely no expense to the hospitals or families we serve. Our mission is "Mending hearts one stitch at a time".

Habitat for Humanity 

Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County (HFHOC) was established in 1989 as the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.  As an all-volunteer organization, HFHOC has as its mission to “bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope”.  As of March 2026, HFHOC has built 42 partner family homes.  HFHOC works with families who live in unsafe, inadequate or substandard housing and encourage them to become what is called a “partner family”.  Partner families must meet income guidelines and must be willing to contribute “sweat equity” in the building of their home.  Each adult in a “partner family” is required to work 250 hours with a maximum of 500 hours in the building of their home.  The income guidelines for a “partner family” have been established based on those of Habitat for Humanity International, Housing and Urban Development, and the USDA.  “Partner families” are responsible to pay a low interest mortgage that they access through a private lender.

 

The life blood of HFHOC are the volunteers that work at the worksite and on the Board of Directors and the various committees of the Board.

 

To volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County, call 607-432-7874.

 The Habitat website is habitatotsego.org.

 Follow us on our Facebook Page: Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County.

Knights of Columbus, Hon. Joseph P. Molinari Council #4989

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal service organization for Catholic men founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, CT.  The organization was founded so that men could work together to serve their parishes and communities, protect the wellbeing of their Catholic families, and support each other in faith and in many other ways along life’s journey.  Knights have the opportunity to grow in their faith through living the example of a charity that evangelizes and personifies what it means to be a Catholic gentleman through the practice of good works.  Charity, unity, and fraternity are the principles on which the Knights of Columbus stands.                                                                                                                     

For more information about the Knights of Columbus Council #4989, please contact the rectory at

607-432-3920, ext. 0 to leave a message for Grand Knight Christopher Cerosaletti.

The Knights of Columbus website is www.kofc.org.

St. Mary’s Rosary Society

As members of St. Mary’s parish, we are the daughters, mothers, wives, and widows who desire to grow closer to Christ and one another through serving the parish and each other.  As members of the Rosary Society, we are also connected to the larger church throughout the world.  The rosary is prayed in every country and in every language.  May the Mother of God continue to lead us to her Son, Jesus.

Meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month in the fall and the spring.  Our focus is praying the Rosary together plus outreach to the sick and other local service ministries.  We provide appropriate gifts and learning aids in May to the children who are making their First Holy Communion.