Wonderful things are happening in the Episcopal Church of Southeast Florida’s North Broward Deanery! In February, the Executive Board approved the merging of the congregations of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Martin (formerly in Pompano Beach) into a single community in Coral Springs.

Over the last few months, the clergy and lay leadership of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Martin met with community leaders to understand how the parish could best meet the needs of the local community. The result of those conversations led to the development of a new outreach and grant program which are led by the laity of the parish. One of the key aspects of the outreach program is to build partnerships with other organizations to maximize the support that is offered to our community and neighborhoods.

This summer, the outreach committee will collaborate with the Coral Springs Police Department and Moose Lodge 2267 to provide over 2,700 lunch meals for at-risk children. In addition, the outreach committee is partnering with Hope South Florida, an organization that helps find housing for homeless families, by providing meals on an ongoing basis. The new grant program that has been established will provide financial support to local nonprofits with grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000.

In addition to the outreach and grant committees, members of the parish are designing free community classes on various topics such as mental health, budgeting, and caring for aging parents. These classes will be offered in different locations in the surrounding communities.

The Very Reverend Lee Davis will speak more about these new initiatives at the Inaugural Celebration of the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Martin on May 14, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.  All are welcome.