Saint Mary of Mercy Church, which is located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, provides several kinds of assistance to people in need. The "oldest" of Saint Mary's services is The Red Door Progam which began during the Great Depression. This program provides a bag lunch, Monday through Saturday to more than 100 persons in need each day.   

The Secular Franciscan Order has the privilege to make and distribute lunches at The Red Door on the 4th Saturday of each month.  Time commitment is 9:00am - 11:30am.  Each month we need 4  Franciscans from regional fraternities to support this apostolate.  Please consider donating your time to act as the "Hands of Christ".

Hands of Christ

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

I encourage all the Secular Franciscans to consider this apostolate for their fraternity.

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)


For further information about donations or volunteering at the Red Door please contact:
Heidi Potter (Red Door Coordinator)
Email: [email protected]

Nathalie Berry (Red Door Coordinator)
Email: [email protected]



If you are a Franciscan and wish to learn more about the Red Door Apostolate and how to get your Fraternity involved please contact:
Liz Cooke OFS
Email: [email protected]

Ann Restaine, OFS
Email: [email protected]

Stephen Sawczak, OFS
Email:  [email protected]