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Adopting Parish Visits Adopted Mission, Paints and Renews Spaces, Celebrates and Builds Relationships
Glenmary’s Adopt-A-Mission program invites parishes across the United States to aid Glenmary’s home mission work by supporting home missions through prayer, financial assistance and encouragement. In 2005 St. Joseph the Worker Church in Dubuque, Iowa, decided to explore the program with Glenmary. They worked with Chris Fadden, coordinator of Glenmary’s Mission Education and Ministry Office, and Father Francois Pellissier from Glenmary’s development office to adopt St. John Neumann mission in Eupora, Miss. St. Joseph the Worker parishioner Tania McClain wrote the following after a visit to the Eupora mission.In July of 2006, two members of our Social Concerns Committee traveled to St. John Neumann to meet the pastoral coordinator [Sister Alies Therese] and to gather information about the mission. We visited with a number of parishioners in their homes and at the parish center. We came back, reported to our pastoral council and our relationship was underway.
We signed the covenant agreement with Glenmary in October of 2006 and in February of 2007, Sister Alies Therese and pastoral minister Lorenzo Aju came to Dubuque to visit.
Our Social Concerns Committee wanted to make a mission trip in the fall of 2007. Eight members of our community, Father Mark Ressler, Fran Decker, Tania McClain, Joe Pieper, Sandy Radke, Tim Thill, Diane Weitzel and Pat Zelinskas decided to go. We contacted Sister Alies and asked what we could do to help. She said we could do a number of things to help improve the condition of the “house” in which their worship space is located.
On Nov. 10, we left for Eupora in two vehicles loaded with eight volunteers, 18 gallons of paint, lots of painting supplies and the baptismal presents for Alexis Jesus Espinoza who was being baptized by Father Mark Ressler on Sunday, Nov. 11. After 13 hours of travel, we gathered for an evening meal at the cafe in Eupora. That was the beginning of our encounter with the wonderful hospitality of the people in the town. We were treated to the local fare. Were those deep fried pickles ever salty!
We were housed at The Wood Institute, a former Methodist College located in rural Webster County. Ron Barham, the institute’s executive director, and his wife provided a home-cooked meal morning and evening with a generous helping of nostalgia about the local area. Every day while working at the parish we were treated to lunch provided by the parishioners and they stayed to dine with us.
The baptism on Sunday was a beautiful celebration. Alexis’ family provided lunch for the entire community following the liturgy. The Latino children had a grand time taking turns swinging at the piñatas that were part of the celebration.
One of the most cherished blessings we received on this service trip was developing relationships with the people we traveled with, the staff and parishioners at St. John Neumann and the staff at The Wood Institute. The week was a blessing to us all. We formed a bond with one another as we prayed together, worked together and laughed together making memories that will last a lifetime. We worked hard and our brothers and sisters at St. John Neumann are very grateful for the fresh coat of paint on the walls of their worship space.
One of our best memories was seeing the look on Sister Alies’ face when the men from the appliance store delivered the new refrigerator we purchased on the last afternoon we were there.
Fran Decker said she came home feeling that her life was not her own and was to be shared with others after meeting and helping the people at St. John Neumann. Pat Zelinskas said that she enjoyed being a part of and learning more about the Latino community that is such a big part of the parish.
Our goal for this year is to plan another service trip to Eupora. We will be contacting Sister Alies to ask about doing some in-home projects for the parishioners this coming fall.
Sister Alies adds that the team from St. Joseph the Worker came partly in honor of St. John Neuman’s 30th anniversary. “It was a very special time,” she says, “In the evenings we had some beautiful faith sharing and they worshipped on Sunday with us.” She adds, “For any parish that needs to know—adoption is wonderful for both parties!”
The
following story first appeared in the Summer 2008 Home Mission News |
