St. Brigid's Pantry

St. Brigid had a welcome for everyone in an effort to help them.  She was so generous that she gave away the clothes from her back. Even as a child Brigid showed special love for the poor. When her mother sent her to collect butter, the child gave it all away. Her generosity in adult life was legendary: It was recorded that if she gave a drink of water to a thirsty stranger, the liquid turned into milk; when she sent a barrel of beer to one Christian community, it proved to satisfy 17 more. Many of the stories about her relate to the multiplication of food, even her cows gave milk three times the same day to provide milk for some visiting bishops.

Brigid saw that the needs of the body and the needs of the spirit intertwined. Dedicated to improving the spiritual as well as the material lives of those around her, Brigid made her monastery a remarkable house of learning, including an art school. The illuminated manuscripts originating there were praised, especially the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago.

She enjoyed great popularity both among her own followers and the villagers around; and she had great authority, for she was given the responsibilities of a bishop.  Her chief virtue lay in her gentleness, in her compassion, and in her happy and devoted nature which won the affection of all who knew her. She was a great evangelist and joined hands gladly and gaily with all the saints of that age in spreading the Gospel.  Brigid was called 'Mary of the Gael' because her spirit of charity, and the miracles attributed to her were usually enacted in response to a call upon her pity or sense of justice.

 

St. Brigid's Pantry at St. James' Church has been awarded a grant through the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties providing a commercial freezer.  This equipment has allowed us to expand our ministry yet again.

Each month our pantry serves over 1000 members of the community.  We are always in need of donations and welcome volunteers.  Please contact Harry Smith at 732-222-1411. 

Donations of tuna, peanut butter, jelly, canned soups, personal hygiene items, toilet tissue, and powdered milk are always in high demand at our pantry.  Donations are received Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday mornings.

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St. Brigid’s Pantry is staffed by our dedicated volunteers on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00-3:00 and Saturdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Your generous gifts of time, talent and treasure have allowed us to expand this ministry from a few shelves in the janitor's closet to an entire room.   Your monetary contributions allow us to purchase items from the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean County.   May God continue to bless your generosity as we move forward with this ministry.