By Catholic News Service • Posted November 16, 2016

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The National Council of Catholic Women said their members have recorded more than 1 million works of mercy during the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis.

“We have reached 1,094,315 and are still counting until the close of the Jubilee year” Nov. 20, said NCCW president Sheila Hopkins in a Nov. 10 statement.

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NCCW’s “Million Works of Mercy” initiative, proposed by supporting member Jane Carter, asked NCCW members to tally their works of mercy, performed either individually or as a council affiliate.

The number includes both corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The challenge was issued through the NCCW’s Catholic Woman magazine and Connect e-newsletter, as well as during the organization’s national and regional conference and through social media.

“Making lightweight, waterproof mats for the homeless from grocery story bags, knitting caps for chemo patients and schoolchildren, collecting furniture for newly arrived immigrant families, sending cards to prisoners and the homebound, advocating for the unborn and elderly, gathering toiletries for women fleeing domestic violence, praying for those with no one to pray for them. … What a joy to know that each and every work of mercy reported helped someone in need,” Hopkins said.

The NCCW, founded in 1920 by the U.S. Catholic bishops, acts through its membership to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service.