www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization A REAL service apostolate

Last week I was in Alaska doing health and safety training for our union members and the state agency that does family and youth services. (Workplace violence and bomb threat training.)
These are the folks who intervene when there is a possibility of family violence and who sometimes bring children into foster care when their health or safety is an issue.

While doing a 'security audit' in Fairbanks, I went into a room where the shelves had large grocery bags on shelves. The bags were labelled: 0-3 months boy; 1 year girl; 6 months boy; etc.

I asked the staffer what they were. She explained to me that sometimes a parent with a child must leave a home where there is serious alcohol or substance abuse, and/or potential violence. The parent usually escapes from the home with the child and comes to the Agency seeking help and anonymous shelter.

Oftentimes the parent escapes very quickly (sometimes with the aid of a social worker or other agent; sometimes with a deputy sheriff) and necessities are not brought to the agency office or the shelter.

These bags contain necessities: diapers, pants, shirts, sweaters, toiletries, some candy bars, and -especially: a toy! -- etc. for the child and perhaps something for the escaping parent. The social worker told me that the ladies of a local Mormon Church provided these bags, since the state does not provide these 'luxuries'.

Might I suggest that our parishes consider contacting their local "family services" agencies to see if our people could help provide these necessities on a periodic basis? Oftentimes, the social workers themselves go out and buy stuff to give to the clients. May the Lord bless their kindness. But perhaps other good folks could consider putting together 30 bags or so a month (depending on local need) to make sure that our neighbors in desperate circumstances are provided with some basic items that will restore to them a type of normalcy? And a sense to the parent that he/she is able to provide for the child through the anonymous kindness of others. He/she does not need preaching; he/she needs a warm blanket or layette for the baby, some diapers, a toy for the little one, and perhaps a couple of Hershey bars for the adult.

It would, of course, be anonymous. But it seems that that's the way the Lord likes it.

I'll admit it: when it comes to the little ones, I become a blubbering idiot. Anything that we can do for them must be at the top of our lists -- as also for the elderly who cannot care for themselves.

Might I beg the indulgence of those who read and post here: would you please suggest this to the parish organization which might be able to follow up and help? Many are very concerned about abortion, and rightly so; but what about the already born and already endangered? Can we not help them also. It wouldn't cost much at all; and it wouldn't take much time.

Special blessings to all who 'agitate' and get something done.

Dear Dr. John,

An excellent idea. Your mentioning the Mormons reminded me of something I've wanted to say...

The other day, I went to my friend's father's funeral. He was a Mormon, and so it took place in their church. I know a little about Mormons and their "interesting" beliefs, and so I wondered why anyone would convert from Catholicism to Mormonism (since my friend's father used to be a Catholic back in the day).

I went to the funeral home for the wake, and to the church for the funeral, and I've honestly never been made to feel so welcome and loved by complete strangers as I have by them. It was like as soon as I came in, I was family to them. These people came up to me, talked to me, took an interest in my life and what I was doing, and even in Orthodox-Catholic Christianity, when I told them that that was my tradition. No lengthy debates, no apologetics, no Church-bashing...just plain old Christian love. I usually have difficulty opening up to people I don't know, but they were so approachable that I wanted to talk to them. If I wasn't so convinced about apostolic Christianity, I would probably become a Mormon after that experience. One thing's for sure, I have a new appreciation and love for Mormons.

In addition to Dr. John's service idea, I think it would be wonderful (and probably more of a challenge) if more of our Catholic and Orthodox folks could be as loving and welcoming of others as the Mormons I saw just the other day.

They leave me with a great big smile whenever I think of them...

Christos Razdajetsja!

Dr. J. makes an excellent point in his posting. It's somewhat ironic that it should fall alongside Anthony's recent posting about evangelization suggestions (which I have a copy of thanks to Anthony).

Together, these two very important postings should be pointing us all in a more positive direction: One, we need to get the word (small "w") out about the who, what, when, where, and where we are. Two, we need to get the Word (cap "w")out about loving our neighbors as ourselves, and then (as the Doctor has stated before)"just doing it."

I think, however, that one of the "nature of the beast" challenges we face with the latter recommendation is the small size of our congregations. In the "old country," many parishes are composed of older individuals who try to look out after each other as best they can, but may not have the physical endurance or financial means to take on a full-fledged charity effort. Many of our newer parishes/missions are located in metropolitan areas where the members no longer live in ethnic neighborhoods but are spread over a large geographic area. And tragically, in both the older and the newer parishes, we all face a severe shortage of priests. They, too, often have limited time and resources... having to cover two or three parishes. And many times we need them to be our coaches and cheerleaders to encourage and asist us in doing our duty as Christians.

A humble suggestion then, in regards to Doctor John's posting, is for a parish to try to piggy-back as much of its "charity" efforts onto already established programs. For example: our mission parish is in no way able to handle a food assistance program for the poor, but we can participate in the Food Pantry Program run by a nearby large RC church. It only takes people to bring in items on Sunday and then someone to drop them off on Monday morning at the church. We've been doing it for 4+ years. In addition, we've participated in toy drives run by the city to give toys to less fortunate children during Christmas. And through one of our member's employers, we collect used cell phones, which are given to the local sheriff's department for use in the county's domestic violence program. For the future, we are looking into participating in a Christmas in April program run by a local Methodist congregation.

I know it's become a trite expression, but we (laity and clergy) really need to start "thinking outside the box." Opportunities to be of service to our brothers and sisters and opportunities to bring people into the Church are being missed over and over again.

Back when I had my little Old Catholic mission during the seasons of Lent & Easter, then again during Advent & Christmas, I encouraged my parishioners to collect canned goods and other imperishable food items which we would donate to a local homeless shelter. What I suggested my people should do (and what I did myself) was every time they went to the grocery store to pick up an extra $5-10 worth of food for this collection. We would end up with an incredible amount of food from just the small (4-10) people making the collection. The local homeless shelter or food pantry was always most appreciative. I think this is something that is workable not only for groups large or small, but also on a personal level. Every little bit helps! Oh, not just food items, but also personal hygiene items (toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, hair brushes, toothbrushes, etc.) are also needed. Cold hard cash is always welcome as well!

Pax et bonum.

Don

Excellent idea about "remembering" to make the effort to pick up something extra when at the supermarket and also finding a drop off place (although metro Washington supermarkets place grocery carts at the door for donations-- makes it easy.)

Where I work, two women with the "Coalition of Black Trade Unionists" ask us to pick up toiletries when we are on travel. They collect them and the local group makes up 'shoe-box' gifts for the homeless. Soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc. They work with "SOME" ["So Others Might Eat"], an organization founded by a local Jesuit priest, Fr. Horace McKenna (RIP) at St. Aloysius parish near the Capitol.

It does my heart good to see ALL the folks in the area -- regardless of affiliation -- working together. I hope the Lord is pleased.

Blessings!