Caring Casseroles for SHIP

Immaculate Conception Parish has long supported Somerville's SHIP (SAMARITAN HOMELESS INTERIM PROGRAM) which provides direct outreach and advocacy for the homeless, the working poor, and the often forgotten members of our community. SHIP has several programs our Parish participates in and “SHIP - Caring Casseroles” needs your help. For more information about SHIP visit www.ship908.com. 

How to Help: Aluminum trays are being distributed, after all of the masses, to those interested in preparing a casserole that will be served to those in need. Frozen casseroles will be collected on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15 before the mass you attend. Individuals will be at the church entrances to collect and deliver the frozen casseroles to SHIP.  

Instructions: Simply take a tray home, prepare a casserole, and freeze. Place your cooked casserole in the provided aluminum tray, spraying the inside cover with a non-stick spray to avoid food sticking to the lid, cover tightly, and freeze. Unfrozen casseroles will not be accepted. Please write on the outside of the cover what you have prepared, Immaculate Conception Church, and the date prepared.
For more information please contact the Parish Office a 908-725-1112 x1126. Thank you in advance for this tremendous contribution.
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Recipe Suggestions: The following are some recipes for those looking for suggestions; however, you are invited to create your own casserole or cook a family favorite. We ask that the casseroles provided contain a protein.

One-dish Meatball and Ravioli Casserole
Ingredients: (1) 24 oz. jar marinara sauce; (1) 9 oz. package frozen cheese ravioli; (1) 14 oz. package frozen cooked meatballs, thawed; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with olive oil spray. Pour about 1/2 of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the dish. In a single layer, place 1/2 of frozen ravioli on the sauce along with 1/2 of meatballs, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Place the remaining ravioli, meatballs, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese in that order on the casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes more. Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan, if desired.

Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts, cut into cubes; 2 cups water; 2 cups instant white rice; (1) 10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup; (1) 10.75 oz. can cream of celery soup; (1) 10.75 oz. can cream of mushroom soup; salt and ground black pepper to taste; ½ cup butter, sliced into pats.
Directions: Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease the sides and bottom of a casserole dish. Stir chicken, water, rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, and cream of mushroom soup together in the prepared casserole dish; season with salt and pepper. Arrange butter evenly over the top of the chicken mixture. Bake in a preheated oven until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through, for 1 hour to 75 minutes.

SHIP, the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, began operations in 1984 in response to the unheeded cry of the many women, children, and men who are in desperate need of emergency housing and associated services. SHIP is a faith-based, interfaith and community-funded, assisted, and supported, grassroots organization. Our clients are the homeless, near-homeless, working poor families, and individuals in Somerset County Regions who are not able to obtain assistance from government or other private agencies and are therefore denied an opportunity to receive the basic humane assistance they need and deserve. Clients coming to SHIP, in desperate need of help, include many who suffer from substance abuse dependency, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, the homeless and near homeless working poor, hunger or isolation. We provide this unique population with critically needed emergency interim housing opportunities, interim counseling, and support services that greatly enhance their chances of regaining their self-sufficiency again. SHIP is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the poor.