A Box of Joy is a Christmas shoe box, donated and packed with toys, clothing, school supplies, and hygiene items by participants from U.S. parishes, schools and groups. Each gift represents Christ’s love and may be the only Christmas gift children in developing countries are blessed to receive.

The Box of Joy ministry is an annual Christmas gift ministry organized by local Catholic schools, parishes and groups across the United States and facilitated by Cross Catholic Outreach. Box of Joy provides teachers, parish leaders and other Catholic groups a unique opportunity to encourage students, parishioners and group members to participate in a simple and tangible service experience that has both a material and spiritual impact on the poorest of the poor in developing countries. Together, Catholics in the U.S. are able to join our Lord Jesus Christ in acts of mercy. The outreach also provides a unique opportunity for Catholics to engage in service with others in their local communities who share the same desire to spread Christmas joy and the story of Christmas — the Good News of God’s love — with children worldwide.



Cross Catholic Outreach - Our mission is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Your gift empowers us to serve the poorest of the poor by channeling life-changing aid through an international network of dioceses, parishes and Catholic missionaries. This cost-effective approach helps break the cycle of poverty and advance Catholic evangelization.