CARDS OF MERCY
Extend the mercy of God by sending holiday messages to the incarcerated
What Are Cards of Mercy?
Cards of Mercy are a way to reach out to those in prison with messages of kindness and love. Middle, High students, youth in confirmation classes and adult volunteers are asked to prepare cards for holidays throughout the year, which will be delivered to incarcerated individuals.
The Cards of Mercy will be sent for the following holidays:
- Saint Valentine’s Day
- Easter
- Mother’s Day & Father’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
This action is one way to live the Works of Mercy, particularly the call to visit the imprisoned. Through these letters, our incarcerated sisters and brothers will know that they are not forgotten, and that God’s love and mercy extend to them.
Each card should follow the following guidelines. See below for specific ideas for each holiday, as well as submission dates.
Each card should be completed on letter sized (8 1/2 x 11) cardstock. The cards will be landscape, opening from the bottom. Please see the instructions for each page of the card below.
Front Page
For the front page of the card, you will draw a colorful design to represent the holiday.
Inside Top Page
Choose a scripture verse or thoughtful holiday-themed message. You may use the ideas below as inspiration or choose your own. See below for examples for each holiday.
Inside Bottom Page
On the bottom of the inside page, each student should write a personalized message to the incarcerated person.
The greeting should say something like, “Dear Friend” or “Dear Brother or Sister”.
This message can be religious or secular, but should be optimistic and cheerful. It can express holiday-related messages, as well as general encouragement.
The goal is to spread love and the joy of Easter.
The card can be signed with a student’s first name and grade, with a closing such as “Love, Kayla, a 9th Grade Student”.
Back Page
The back page should be left blank.
Cards should be sent to the Chancery (1 Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109). These can be mailed or delivered in person. Any questions, contact Julio Escobar by email [email protected] or by phone at (415) 614-5572.
Valentine’s
Saint Valentine’s Day cards are due by February 10, 2025.
Choose a scripture verse and choose your own message.
Example Messages
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
- Colossians 3:14: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
- John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
- 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
- 1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- Colossians 3:14: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
- John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
- 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”
Easter Cards
Easter cards are due by April 14, 2025.
Choose a scripture verse and choose your own message.
Example Messages
- “He is not here, but he has been raised.” -Luke 24:6
- “We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.” -Romans 6:9
- “With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.” -Acts 4:33
- “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8
- “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.” -1 John 3:1
- “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.” -Psalm 103:12
- “They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
- “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11
- “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in the Lord.” -Psalm 31:25
- “Do not fear, for I am with you.” -Genesis 26:24
Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Cards
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day cards are due by May 1, 2025.
Choose a scripture verse and choose your own message.
Example Messages for Mother’s Day
- “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
- “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’” – Proverbs 31:28-31
- “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father.” – Leviticus 19:3
- “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – Proverbs 31:25-28
- “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.’” – Luke 1:46-48
- “A gracious woman gets honor…” – Proverbs 11:16
- “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children…” – Deuteronomy 4:9
- “And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:51
- “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
- “Then the mother of the child said, ‘As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So he arose and followed her.” – 2 Kings 4:30
Example Messages for Father’s Day
- “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13
- “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
- “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.” – Proverbs 23:24
- “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4
- “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.'” – Deuteronomy 1:29-31
- “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him … the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children.” – Psalm 103:13, 17
- “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.” – Proverbs 14:26 - “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” – Proverbs 23:22
- “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12
- “Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.” – Proverbs 23:22-25
- “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
Thanksgiving Cards
Thanksgiving cards are due by November 20, 2025.
Choose a scripture verse and choose your own message.
Example Messages
- “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30
- “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1
- “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
- “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
- “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
- “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:4-5
- “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7
- “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.” Psalm 50:14
- “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.” Psalm 67:6
Christmas Cards
Christmas cards are due by December 6, 2024.
Choose a scripture verse or thoughtful holiday-themed message. You may use the ideas below as inspiration or choose your own.
Example Message
- “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
- “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'” – Matthew 2:1-2
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
- “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” – Matthew 2:10
- “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'” – Luke 1:35
- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
- “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15
- “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21
- “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” – Luke 2:14
- “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” – Deuteronomy 16:17