Staff photo/ Bob Coupland
Caydin Chambora, 5, of Niles, gets a free children’s book from Laura McCulty Stepp, operations program director for St. Vincent de Paul Northeastern Ohio, at the recent Community Day of Hope at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Church in Warren. The event provided needed items and resources for families.

The event was Nov. 15 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Church.

Organizers said the event was a way to spread hope to as many people as possible.

Bishop David Bonnar, who attended the event, said Pope Francis declared 2025 the Jubilee Year of Hope and invited everyone to be pilgrims of hope.

Nearly 50 volunteers spent the day helping 150 families with enough food to serve 600 people.

Rachel Hrbolich, Diocesan director for Catholic Charities, said the event was held to honor the Jubilee of the Poor, which is included in the Jubilee Year of the church.

“Families came in to have a meal on site or to take one home. We gave out grocery bags with food which was enough for three meals. We also gave winter coats, clothing and hygiene items and children’s books,” Hrbolich said.

Mercy Health and other agencies attended to provide information and resources to those who took part.

“This event is new and what we decided to do in honor of the jubilee year. A committee that included people from the parish here came together to plan this. Because this location was used, we wanted to make sure members of this parish were included every step of the way. These are mostly Catholic organizations coming together to serve the broader community,” Hrbolich said.

She said in addition to Catholic Charities, also taking part was St. Vincent de Paul immigration legal services, which offered resume writing information, legal information and family portraits.

“The people are staying to meet other people and the staff and not just getting their resources and leaving,” she said.

“The Catholic Church is here to serve our communities. We serve people in need, regardless of their faith or lack of faith. When we have an opportunity to bring the Catholic community together to do something for the greater community, we want to do that because we want people to know that they are not forgotten,” Hrbolich said.

Dennis Biviano, public relations / media specialist for the Diocese, said the event included indoor and outdoor events for the public.

He said people came from both Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Biviano said the Jubilee Year is being marked through Jan. 6 with the last Mass set for Jan. 4.

He said Bishop David Bonnar, Hrbolich and 38 others went on an 11-day pilgrimage to Rome, Florence and Venice in October.

Hrbolich said the group was able to open the Holy Doors at the basilicas there during the jubilee year.

She said everyone was able to walk through all four sets of doors.

“Those doors at the basilica in Rome are only open every 25 years. When the jubilee year is over, those doors will be shut and not opened for 25 years,” she said.

Biviano said Bonnar was able to meet and shake hands with Pope Leo XIV.