It is a ministry that is simple in its operation and powerful in its impact. It may involve delivering a meal, vacuuming a home, praying alongside someone or even handing out personalized Valentine’s Day cards to the isolated.
“Oh my gosh, that touched them so much,” Laura Power said of the cards. “This one man was just beaming.”
Power is the director of the effort, known as the Care Ministry, at St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton, to shine a light in the parish, brightening the days of those in need, especially the elderly and homebound, and new mothers. It is one organized and effective way of putting the corporal works of mercy in action.
The ministry evolved from another program called HOOPS (Helping Our Own Parishioners) and has been running for four years.
“It was a new initiative. They came and asked me about it, and I said, ‘absolutely,’ said Father Charles Smith, pastor. “Reaching out to people in need is a wonderful thing for us to do. It’s a tremendous ministry.”
When Father Smith, and other parish priests and deacons, make home visits, “we often identify those who could use their services, and we refer them,” he said.
The ministry also places information cards in the church, and notices in the bulletin.
The message is clear: “The church is here for you,” Power said. Power moved to the parish from California. She joined the ministry because, “I wanted to serve, and get to know people.”
She operates the ministry out of her home, sending out emails and directing helpers when needed.
“We probably have about 75 people on the email list,” Power said of the total amount of helpers, although usually about a dozen are active at any one time. “Our volunteers are amazing. They have prayed with someone whose spouse has died. Some have gone into homes and given haircuts. Another goes to a home once a week and vacuums.”
Jenny Hunter, a volunteer from the start, tacks small chores such as vacuuming onto her visits as a eucharistic minister to the homebound.
“I wanted to help people in the parish,” said Hunter, a “revert” to the Catholic faith after 40 years away from church.
St. John the Evangelist is an active parish and the Care Ministry “dovetails nicely into our other ministries,” Hunter said. “We will refer people to the St. Vincent de Paul (for physical needs) or the Knights of Columbus, if people need light home repairs.”
Power said her team also works with the parish funeral ministry, lightening the burden of the bereaved. Power also goes to outside agencies for help, referring homebound parishioners to programs such as Meals on Wheels.
The spirit of care spreads. Power was approached by a group of homeschool teenagers. “They wanted to do something,” she said. “For Valentine’s Day, they made cards and small crafts (for the elderly). It was beautiful.”
It is not all giving. “Father Brian McAllister (a former parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist; now at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal) told us ‘don’t go out if you’re not getting Jesus.’ We have a Holy Hour for the ministry. You have to fill up with Jesus in order to give.”
Outreach programs are not new for parishes, but some are following the Care Ministry model of St. John’s. Barbara Remington, a parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Clifton, recently promoted the program at her parish.
“I spoke at all the (weekend) Masses and got 50 volunteers,” she said. “St. Andrew’s is taking off.”
Remington is also on the board of directors at Divine Mercy Home, a Catholic nonprofit operating within the diocese which supports care — and caregivers — in the home. She foresees a time when the organization could complement parish-based initiatives such as Care Ministry.
The need is there.
“I just love that it continues the whole pro-life ministry, from conception to natural death,” Power said.
Thomas is a freelancer in Front Royal.
