During the Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks all believers to experience God’s mercy, love, and compassion and to bring it into the lives of others through corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

In an effort to answer that call, the parish outreach program at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn contacted Safe Voices, a non-profit organization providing emergency and support services to victims of domestic violence in the Lewiston/Auburn area, looking for a way in which it could offer assistance.

Filled with the joy of the Easter season, parishioners at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish helped address one of Safe Voices’ urgent needs by bringing disposable diapers to the parish’s churches (Sacred Heart Church, Auburn; St. Philip Church, Auburn). In total, the parish collected 3,167 individual diapers for Safe Voices.

“The response by our wonderful parishioners was simply amazing,” said Deacon Denis Mailhot, the outreach coordinator for the parish. “As coordinator, I have been directly involved in situations where a parent and children take flight in the middle of the night, fleeing with only the clothes on their backs. Jesus encourages us to go out and meet those in need of shelter or, in times of crisis and fear, affirm their worth and guide them towards a resolution to the challenges they face. These donations will help many local families overcome an immediate challenge.”

Established in 1977, the organization (then known as the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project) began as a response to a critical need for emergency shelter for abused women and their children. In 2010, the name was changed to Safe Voices to recognize that men are victims also and to have a more hopeful and empowering name. Currently, Safe Voices operates the only shelter and support services for battered women in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties. In addition to providing emergency shelter, Safe Voices has a network of local community-based offices in Farmington, Lewiston, Norway, and Rumford. Families seeking a safe shelter should call the Safe Voices’ 24- hour hotline at 1-800-559-2927.

A special Holy Year of Mercy section has been created on the Diocese of Portland’s website. The section includes a wide range of resources, including prayers, reflections, local Holy Year of Mercy stories from the diocese and parishes, and a calendar of Holy Year of Mercy events and gatherings that will be continually updated. To access the section, visit portlanddiocese.org/holy-year-ofmercy.