Michele Sagarino of Cross Catholic Outreach on the Mission Trip that Revealed Her Calling

Belle Meade welcomes Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, a Catholic relief and development ministry that works through the local Church to serve the world’s poorest communities. Michele tells the story of the mission trip that set her on this path, and of the 2013 dinner conversation that became Box of Joy. That program is now closing in on its millionth Christmas gift. What We Talk About: On a mission trip, Michele saw the same food and bedding neglected at government-run facilities and given with love by a community of sisters. Cross Catholic Outreach sends no American teams overseas. It funds the local Church already serving each community and meets spiritual needs alongside material ones. Why her staff gives the first hour of every day to God. How Box of Joy works: parishes and schools fill shoebox-size Christmas gifts, and Cross Catholic adds a rosary and a story of Jesus in each child’s language before shipping them overseas. Two ways to take part: lead a group by October 30, or have a box packed and shipped for $36 through Box of Joy Online. Resources Mentioned: Paloma&Fig Cross Catholic Outreach Box of Joy God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Old and New Testaments Chapters: 00:00: Welcome and Opening Prayer 02:37: The Mission Trip Behind Michele’s Yes 08:05: How Cross Catholic Outreach Works 11:04: Integral Human Development 15:21: Michele’s Path to Nonprofit Work 19:15: How the Work Deepened Her Faith 26:34: How Box of Joy Began 33:33: What Goes Into a Box of Joy 36:48: Stories from Children and Families 43:21: One Million Boxes and How to Help 49:12: A Gift That Deepened Michele’s Faith 51:50: Closing Challenge and Prayer Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios Send us Fan Mail Support the show Follow Paloma & Fig on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn.  Learn more at www.palomaandfig.com.  Join in the conversation by joining our  Facebook group, A Resounding Yes!