Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan (CCSEM) supports and collaborates with hundreds of Christian service coordinators, parish nurses, and parish-based ministries throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit. CCSEM also supports a ministry for the faithful with disabilities. This regional network provides dozens of services to those with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

More than 200 parishes in southeast Michigan have ministries to serve those in need. Following the example of Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit, parish-based Christian service coordinators are guided by Catholic Social Teaching to provide services to the faithful and others. Christian service ministries include helping the home-bound receive the Eucharist, operating food pantries, tutoring and literacy education, helping at soup kitchens, and providing emergency utility assistance.

2017 Mercy in Action Day of Service

CCSEM sponsored the second annual Mercy in Action Day of Service Saturday, October 14. More than 4,000 volunteers from nearly 70 Catholic parishes throughout metro-Detroit in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne performed hundreds of service projects to help those in need and improve their local communities. Some projects were:

• At Old St Mary Parish in downtown Detroit, the Catholic Mothers Group and children from the parish filled 140 “blessing bags” with toiletry items for the homeless.
• At. St. Irenaeus Parish in Rochester Hills, volunteers made soup and muffins for the homebound, delivered furniture to low-income families, and put together appreciation baskets for local police, fire and first responders.
• St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak organized several initiatives including hosting a Red Cross blood drive, writing letters to those in prison, making cards for hospitalized veterans and nursing home residents, and doing repairs and yard work at local charities like Mary’s Mantle, Sanctum House and Mary’s Children center, all while holding Eucharistic Adoration, rosary prayer and confession in their church.
• Some of the projects at St. Peter Parish in Mt. Clemens included working in the local parish cooperative Charity Garden, growing food for the hungry.

 

We are now accepting nominations for the Special Needs Ministries Awards presented during the Mass. Download the forms below and email your nominations to Joyce Hyttinen at hyttinenj@ccsem.org.

Memo
Award Criteria
Nomination Form

Mercy in Action Service Day set for Saturday, October 14, 2017

Download Flyer (English | Español)

In conjunction with parishes throughout southeast Michigan, CCSEM is once again organizing a regional Day of Service in support of our neighbors in need. Join us to give unified witness to living out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy through local service projects. Learn more about what is happening in your area and register to help! Contact Joyce Hyttinen at 248-537-3304 or email hyttinenj@ccsem.org.

Photos from 2016 event

Join CCSEM’s Christian Service Coordinators Association!

CSC Association membership is open to anyone serving in parish Christian Service ministry including coordinators, volunteers in outreach and advocacy, and staff with responsibilities in Christian Service and other ministries. Current Christian Service Coordinators Association members include full and part time parish staff, volunteers, deacons, and priests. Learn More!

Christian Service Coordinator’s Fall Assembly Meeting

Mark your calendars for the CSC Fall Assembly on September 13 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Come learn about the Catholic Hospitality Institute from speaker Sheri Wolfort.

To learn more, download the Event Flyer.