P A R T I C I P A T E
Engaging Beyond the Pews
At St. Mary’s, church doesn’t end on Sunday. From community meals and service projects to fellowship events and learning opportunities, we believe in putting our faith into action. There’s something for everyone—whether you’re called to serve, create, learn, or simply connect. Come be part of the vibrant life of St. Mary’s as we reach out, give back, and grow together.Write a fun blurb about activities
Faith in Action
Ardmore Food Pantry
St. Mary's operates the Ardmore Food Pantry, one of the major programs working to combat food insecurity on the Main Line. The Pantry is open Monday's from 11 AM - 12 PM and 5:30 - 7 PM.
For more information, please visit our Ardmore Food Pantry page.
For more information, please visit our Ardmore Food Pantry page.
Box Lunch and a Book
In 2024 St. Mary’s continued its support for the local summer enrichment program for Ardmore children at Zion Baptist Church. Our monetary donation was much appreciated. Rev. Virginia Pollard of ZBC thanked St. Mary's for its support since its inception nine years ago, and the Ardmore Food Pantry for its contributions to the food bags given to each participant at the end of each week. Box Lunch and a Book fosters self-esteem, values diversity and supports participants through reading. The “graduation” ceremony took place at Palm Senior Center this year, and included songs, poems, recognition of volunteers and supporters of the program, ending with the recitation of their favorite “I am Somebody”. A certificate and a school bag full of supplies and educational materials was presented to each participating child.
Family Promise of the Main Line
Family Promise of the Main Line enables volunteers from local congregations to provide compassion and temporary shelter for homeless families. Family Promise programs and services connect these families to community resources, empowering them to achieve and maintain affordable housing. More than 400 families have been helped out of homelessness and into independence through the work of Family Promise of the Main Line. Several times per year, St. Mary's provides three families with a place to eat, sleep, and feel safe in a caring environment. Parishioners provide home-cooked meals and companionship every evening during their stay. Please join us! Click here to learn more about Family Promise/Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Interfaith Engagement
St. Mary's collaborates with the wider Main Line interfaith community in a variety of ways and is always seeking new opportunities for partnership.
- The Ardmore Food Pantry relies on a large pool of volunteers, many of whom come from neighboring churches and synagogues. Many Main Line churches and synagogues also support the Ardmore Food Pantry through financial gifts and food drives.
- From 2020-2021, St. Mary's coordinated a series of Interfaith Vigils for Racial Justice in collaboration with many local churches and synagogues. These vigils began in response to a Black Lives Matter banner at St. Mary's being repeatedly vandalized. These vigils took place at a variety of houses of worship in Lower Merion and Haverford Townships, engaging 50-150 participants at each vigil.
- In 2025, St. Mary's has coordinated a series of Interfaith Vigils for the Vulnerable in collaboration with our interfaith partner communities. These vigils are a response to the degradations of human dignity that are currently proliferating in our nation.
Immigration Action Group
Governmental policies of recent years have thrust how we regard the stranger among us into sharper focus. The disconnect between how we are exhorted to act as Christians and how we treat immigrants and asylum seekers in the US is too clear to ignore. Accordingly, the Immigration Action Group came into being in 2018. This ministry is founded on three guiding precepts:
- Provide a forum for education/awareness of immigration issues
- Encourage advocacy efforts to bring about changes in immigration-related actions and policies
- Give tangible support-- including financial or in-kind donations or via volunteer opportunities that directly assist this vulnerable population
St. Mary's Global Partnerships
The mission of St. Mary’s Global Partnership is to make an impact in the broader world by supporting human rights and social justice abroad. Currently, our focus is on the Northern Triangle countries of Central America: Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
This year we began an affiliation with the human rights organization Cristosal, which works in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Cristosal has its roots in the Episcopal Church, and they have defended human rights and advocated for democratic rule of law for over 20 years. A relationship with Cristosal represents an extension of St. Mary’s focus in Central America and an evolution of our long-standing relationship with the Diocese of Guatemala.
Diocese of Guatemala
In 2024 our friend Ramon Ovalle was elected bishop of the Diocese of Guatemala! We first met Fr. Ramon in 2013 when he led a small congregation of about a dozen people. He then went on to join the cathedral staff in Guatemala City. Thankfully, wehave been able to maintain communication with Fr. Ramon over the years through email. As a gift to celebrate Fr. Ramon’s consecration as bishop, St. Mary’s provided funds for some of the vestments he will need in his new role.
Cristosal
In October, eight St. Mary’s parishioners attended a presentation by Cristosal’s Executive Director, Noah Bullock at St. Peter’s, Phoenixville’s annual Cristosal fundraiser. The event raised approximately $25,000 and Bishop Gutierrez pledged $5,000 from the diocesan budget. Joining forces with St. Peter’s to support Cristosal enables our parish to take advantage of the long relationship that St. Peter’s has had, including multiple trips to participate in Global School weeks in El Salvador.
This year we began an affiliation with the human rights organization Cristosal, which works in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Cristosal has its roots in the Episcopal Church, and they have defended human rights and advocated for democratic rule of law for over 20 years. A relationship with Cristosal represents an extension of St. Mary’s focus in Central America and an evolution of our long-standing relationship with the Diocese of Guatemala.
Diocese of Guatemala
In 2024 our friend Ramon Ovalle was elected bishop of the Diocese of Guatemala! We first met Fr. Ramon in 2013 when he led a small congregation of about a dozen people. He then went on to join the cathedral staff in Guatemala City. Thankfully, wehave been able to maintain communication with Fr. Ramon over the years through email. As a gift to celebrate Fr. Ramon’s consecration as bishop, St. Mary’s provided funds for some of the vestments he will need in his new role.
Cristosal
In October, eight St. Mary’s parishioners attended a presentation by Cristosal’s Executive Director, Noah Bullock at St. Peter’s, Phoenixville’s annual Cristosal fundraiser. The event raised approximately $25,000 and Bishop Gutierrez pledged $5,000 from the diocesan budget. Joining forces with St. Peter’s to support Cristosal enables our parish to take advantage of the long relationship that St. Peter’s has had, including multiple trips to participate in Global School weeks in El Salvador.
St. James School
St. James School, an Episcopal School in North Philadelphia, provides 85 students in grades 4-8 with a top-quality private education. Thanks to more than 1,000 annual donors – including St. Mary's – as well as the work of many volunteers, the school is proud to be tuition-free. St. James is a neighborhood school in a community where the downward pull of poverty has been felt for generations. The school empowers students to gain the knowledge, skills, confidence, and inner strength to forge their own upward path to the future they imagine. Volunteer opportunities are varied from a one-time project or an ongoing commitment. Opportunities include: field trip chaperones, alumni college visits chaperones, after school tutoring, kitchen volunteering, garden club, and many more.
Learning for All Ages at St. Mary's
Kindergarten to 8th Grade
We are thrilled to offer in-person faith formation and learning opportunities for children, youth, and adults!
For children from Kindergarten through 8th Grade (younger children are also welcome with an accompanying parent), our Children’s Ministry program takes place on Sunday mornings during the 10:30 am worship service (10:00 am in the summer). Children are invited to leave the sanctuary just before the Scripture readings and return before Communion. Once upstairs, they’ll be grouped into two classrooms—one for K–4 and another for grades 5–8—for a compassionate and creative exploration of the Christian faith. Our programming includes age-appropriate spiritual practices, storytelling, and hands-on activities like arts and crafts to support children on their journey of faith.
For children from Kindergarten through 8th Grade (younger children are also welcome with an accompanying parent), our Children’s Ministry program takes place on Sunday mornings during the 10:30 am worship service (10:00 am in the summer). Children are invited to leave the sanctuary just before the Scripture readings and return before Communion. Once upstairs, they’ll be grouped into two classrooms—one for K–4 and another for grades 5–8—for a compassionate and creative exploration of the Christian faith. Our programming includes age-appropriate spiritual practices, storytelling, and hands-on activities like arts and crafts to support children on their journey of faith.
Adults
Each Sunday morning, adults are invited to gather in the Parish Hall from 9:30 to 10:15 AM for engaging faith sharing and Bible study led by Rev. Sean Lanigan. Enjoy hot coffee, meaningful conversation, and a chance to grow in faith and fellowship.
Additional opportunities for adult enrichment include:
For full details on these and other offerings, please refer to our weekly e-newsletter, Tidings.
Additional opportunities for adult enrichment include:
- Weekly Centering Prayer Group
- Monthly Spiritual Reflection Group
- Monthly Men’s Film Night
- Monthly Women’s Book Club
For full details on these and other offerings, please refer to our weekly e-newsletter, Tidings.