A society that wishes and intends to remain at the service of the human being at every level is a society that has the common good - the good of all people and of the whole person [347] - as its primary goal. The human person cannot find fulfilment in himself, that is, apart from the fact that he exists "with" others and "for" others. This truth does not simply require that he live with others at various levels of social life, but that he seek unceasingly - in actual practice and not merely at the level of ideas - the good, that is, the meaning and truth, found in existing forms of social life. 

—Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, paragraph 165

The Mission

The Catholic Church’s preferential love for the poor is part of her constant tradition. From the gospels to the saints, unceasing search to be in service of our less fortunate brothers and sisters are essential to the life of the disciple. Thus, we ought to strive to be a beacon of hope and compassion for the poor and marginalized in our communities. Through proper discernment we encourage our young adults to live out the Gospel’s call to love and serve our neighbors, especially those in most need.

Upcoming Opportunities

Service Opportunities: Interest form

Opportunities to serve in the Houston area

Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank serves the 1 million food-insecure individuals in southeast Texas by distributing food and essentials through over 1,600 community partners. They also offer programs focused on nutrition education, health management, and assistance to help families achieve long-term stability. For more information and to sign up as an individual or large group, please visit their website: Give Time By Volunteering - Houston Food Bank

Casa Juan Diego

Casa Juan Diego, founded in 1980 following the Catholic Worker model, serves immigrants, refugees, and the poor, expanding from one small house to nine. They publish the Houston Catholic Worker newspaper quarterly to share the values of their movement and highlight the stories of those affected by global economic challenges, while also providing hospitality and services for immigrant women, men, and children. For more information and to sign up as an individual or large group (maximum of 10 individuals), please visit their website: Volunteering - Casa Juan Diego

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society arrived in the United States in 1845, where the first conference was formed in St. Louis, Missouri. The first presence of the Society in the Galveston-Houston area was in 1871 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Galveston. Today, there are 58 Conferences in the Galveston-Houston Council with more than 1,900 members growing spiritually through friendship and service to those in need. There are many ways and levels to volunteer. For more information, please visit their website: Volunteer - Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Magnificat House

Since 1968, Magnificat Houses has offered an alternative to the streets by sheltering, clothing, feeding and providing mental health support and spiritual guidance to men and women – of all mental abilities, social backgrounds, religions and cultures – as they rebuild their lives in community. For more information, to donate or volunteer opportunities, please visit their website: Volunteers – Magnificat

Special Youth Services

Special Youth Services models the embrace of Christ through pastoral care, advocacy, and faith sharing in local juvenile justice centers, facilities, and programs including the promotion and coordination of restorative services to at-risk youth and their families. The SYS ministry encompasses all counties within our local Archdiocese, working with youth from ages 10-17. With the help of volunteers, Special Youth Services goes into the margins of the Houston community and serves young people who are currently involved, have been involved, or are at risk of being involved with the juvenile justice system.  There are many ways to get involved, the most common of which is to sign up for a weekly Bible study in a facility. For more information or ways to get involved, visit their website: Volunteers - SYS

For more information on service opportunities and ways to get involved, contact the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry at 713-741-8778, or yacm@archgh.org .