Local Resources in Maryland

Gatherings
	• The St. Vincent Pallotti Center, located on the campus of The Catholic University in Washington, DC, provides a number of services for prospective, current, and former volunteers in the area, including: monthly gatherings (social events, discussions, guest speakers, etc.); a listing of roommate openings and other formers looking for housing in the DC and Baltimore areas; local non-Pallotti Center event updates, sent via e-mail, about once per week to formers who request them; and, a free job bank service for formers looking for employment. Call 202-529-3330 or email pallotti@pallotticenter.org to get in touch with us!
Volunteer programs headquartered in Maryland
	• One way to get connected with current and/or former volunteers in the area is to plan *intercommunity volunteer gatherings* such as prayer groups, game nights, meals/picnics, etc. The following programs are headquartered in Maryland: Bon Secours Volunteer Ministry Program (Marriottsville), Catholic Charities Project SERVE (Baltimore), Jesuit Volunteer Corps: East (Baltimore), Lasallian Volunteers of the De La Salle Christian Brothers (Landover), Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps (Baltimore), Operation Teach (Baltimore), QUEST-Volunteers for Haiti (College Park), S.M.A. Lay Missionaries (Takoma Park), and Xaverian Brothers Volunteer Ministries (Baltimore).
Parishes that current and former volunteers have recommended
	• St. Jude Shrine is located in downtown Baltimore. Call or email Kristen Foley 410-685-6026 x339 kristen@stjudeshrine.org or Stephanie Roberts 410-685-6026 x317 stephanie@stjudeshrine.org to get involved with various activities. Visit the Shrine on the web: www.stjudeshrine.org. • St. Vincent de Paul at 120 N. Front St., 410-962-5078, has a 20's-30's group that meets monthly and has a retreat in the spring, has a social justice group and very good marriage prep. Many formers attend the "very alive" 9:30 am Sunday mass - great music! • St. Ignatius at 740 N. Calvert St., 410-727-3848. • Corpus Christi at 110 W. Lafayette Ave., 410-523-4161. • Newman Center at Towson University at 7909 York Road Towson, MD http://saber.towson.edu/~albright Contact Fr. Albright at albright@towson.edu The 11:00 AM mass with mostly families offers a unique perspective through dialogue following the homily. A comprehensive 4-year Bible class is offered. In general, it's a very unique place, and one very interested in social justice. "It's a great place to grow leaps and bounds in your faith!" • St. Camillus Catholic Church at 1600 St. Camillus Drive in Silver Spring. 301-434-8400. The sign in front of the church calls St. Camillus a "multicultural community" - and this is true. Members of St. Camillus come from more than a hundred countries, and there are vibrant ministries in both French and Spanish. The multicultural mass at 10:30 has beautiful music from around the world, and there is a newly formed and very active young adult group. There is also a strong commitment to social justice and opportunities for young couples or families to participate in prayer groups.
Retreat opportunities
	• From the Archdiocese of Baltimore's website, www.archbalt.org, click to their Archdiocese section to find a listing of retreat houses. • Loyola Retreat House is a Jesuit retreat house in southern Maryland. It is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Igantius and offers private and group retreats as well as spiritual direction. Call 301-870-3515 or email at loyolaretreathouse@erols.com • Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, 410-442-1320, is run by the Sisters of Bon Secour. • The Christian Brothers run the Christian Brothers Spiritual Center located in Adamstown, 301-873-5180 • Call the DeSales Centre in Childs, MD at 410-398-3383 for information on their services. • Holy Trinity Spiritual Center - For more information contact Fr. Thomas Cerulo, Retreat Center Director at tcerulo@hotmail.com or 410-486-5171. -Click here to learn about opportunities for spiritual direction.
Social Justice organizations and events
	• Maryland Right to Life: http://www.mdrtl.org/ • Center For Poverty Solutions, at 2521 N. Charles St., 410-366-0600, www.ctrforpovertysolutions.org, is dedicated to eliminating the root causes of poverty through public policy, education, research, direct service programs and community mobilization. • Catholic Relief Services, at 209 W. Fayette St., 410-625-2220, www.catholicrelief.org. • Viva House - The Baltimore Catholic Worker, at 26 S. Mount St., 410-233-0488, has vigils against the death penalty every Monday from 5-6 pm outside the federal prison at Madison and Fallsway. • The Baltimore Chronicle, a neighborhood newspaper, publishes a monthly activist calendar. • The Quixote Center, at P.O. Box 5206, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 301-699-0042, www.quixote.org, is a faith-based, social justice center working with people who have few resources for their struggles. They strive to make our world, our nation, and our church more just, peaceful and equitable in their policies and practices.
Volunteer opportunities
	• Best Buddies matches adults with mental disabilities in one-on-one friendships with non-disabled individuals within the community. Contact Dani Barnett at 301-589-1785 or danib@bestbuddies.org to volunteer. • Montgomery County Volunteer and Community Service Center, 401 Hungerford Drive, Rockville 240-777-2600 • Prince George's Volunteer Center, PO Box 187, Hyattsville Call 301-699-2800 or go online www.multimax.com/pg/volunteer to find more info. • St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore needs volunteers, 410-547-7377. • Maryland Food Bank, 241 N. Franklintown Road, Baltimore, 410-356-3218. • Baltimore Science Fiction Society, P.O. Box 686, Baltimore, 410-563-2737. BSFS is an all volunteer, nonprofit, charitable, literary and educational organization that promotes and appreciates science fiction in all of its many forms. BSFS sponsors BALTICON, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. • Robin Food Ltd., 1532 Providence Road Towson, 410-583-4809. Robin Food Ltd. facilitates the transfer of food left over from banquets and receptions to the needy. We work with Second Helping. • The Hands On Network works to connect people with volunteer projects around the United States. To contact the Baltimore office, Volunteer Central, email info@volunteercentral.net
Music, film, and other cultural events
	• The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute , 847 N. Howard Street, Baltimore, 410-225-3130. • National Aquarium in Baltimore, Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, 410-576-3800. • Baltimore Public Works Museum, 751 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, 410-396-1509. • Inner Harbor Ice Rink, c/o Baltimore Office of Promotion, 200 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, 410-752-8632. The ice rink is downtown's enchanting outdoor ice skating center. Located on the waterfront within walking distance of the Inner Harbor's other major attractions.
Diocesan resources
	• Archdiocese of Baltimore's website, www.archbalt.org, • Catholic Charities of Maryland. Visit www.catholiccharities-md.org. They provide resources & links, volunteer opportunities, programs, services & much more.
Other valuable resources
	• Lexington Market, Inc., 400 W. Lexington Street, Baltimore, 410-685-6169. • Top of the World Observation Level, World Trade Center, 401 E. Pratt Street, 27th Floor, Baltimore, 410-837-VIEW. When visiting Baltimore...start at the top! Top of the World offers a panoramic view of Baltimore and beyond, with historical exhibits, special events, a gift shop and more.