MLK ‘Day On, Not Off’ service day set for Jan. 16

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

Registrations are being accepted through Jan. 6 for participation in the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ annual “Martin Luther King Jr. Day On, Not Off Day of Service.”

Open to volunteers of high school age and older, the event will offer organized, daylong volunteer opportunities at an array of local service sites on the nationally observed MLK holiday of Monday, Jan. 16.

On service day, pre-registered participants are asked to gather at 7:30 a.m. at the CYO Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office, 2241 Mendez St., in New Orleans, for an opening prayer service, blessing and send-off led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond. Volunteers will depart the CYO Office at 8:30 a.m. to work at their assigned service site until about 3 p.m.

Volunteers must provide their own transportation to the service sites. To date, confirmed sites include Second Harvest Food Bank, Chalmette Battlefield, Rescue Ranch, the New Orleans SPCA, Ozanam Inn, Hotel Hope, the Sisters of the Holy Family motherhouse and Serving Our Urban Landscape.

Parishes, schools or organizations interested in becoming a service site still have time to make those arrangements by emailing Kevin Fitzpatrick at [email protected].

Registration packets have been mailed to Archdiocese of New Orleans pastors, youth ministers, catechists, principals and campus ministers at all parishes and high schools. Completed registrations are due to the Office of Black Catholic Ministries (OBCM) by Jan. 6. For more information, email [email protected] or call (504) 861-6207.

The following archdiocesan offices are coordinating the Jan. 16 Day On, Not Off Day of Service: OBCM, Catholic Charities, CYO Youth/Young Adult Ministry and the Department of Catholic Schools and Faith Formation. Co-sponsors of the event are Winn Dixie, Canseco’s Market, Foley Marketing, Kentwood Springs Water, Costco, Vaucresson Sausage Co. and Chick-Fil-A.