I am blessed to live in residence at North American Martyrs Parish, where Father Brian Connor is the pastor. At the end of the day several weeks ago, while talking with Father Connor, I received a call on my cell phone.
“Hello, Father! My name is Horace McSchmershmach. Do you know Francine McFindlandski?” The names have been changed to maintain anonymity. Francine is a woman we helped escape homelessness several years ago. I have known her for more than 10 years. She hates receiving assistance from us and only calls when absolutely necessary. We gave her a car last year which allows her to drive to her two part-time jobs. Like Francine, Horace too had been homeless in the past and now lives in a small apartment.
After exchanging the usual pleasantries, he informed me he needed help with his February rent and utilities. I asked what happened in January that he is now in a bind. As it turns out, he makes ends meet by participating on a regular basis in experimental studies, supplemented by part time work at a temp agency. As an unfortunate turn of events, during the peak of the cold and flu season he was ‘knocked flat’ and was unable to work.
‘What a way to make ends meet,’ I thought to myself. Even though age discrimination is against the law, he is an older gentleman which complicates finding regular full-time employment. It was Francine who said to him, “Call Father Kubat at Catholic Social Services! They were the ones who helped me!”
After checking his story further, I told him to expect a call from someone on our staff. We were able to help him only because of the grace of God and the generosity of our donors. Before hanging up, I asked him what his religion was. He explained he was a believer but nothing else. Apparently, going to church on Sundays and praying to God on a regular basis were never a part of his early life. Time after time when hearing such stories, I am more and more grateful for my faithful parents who taught my sisters and me the faith by their words and actions.
After planting a few seeds, we said good-bye. I wanted to talk about the importance of having a relationship with God because saving ones soul is more important than anything else. Isn’t prayer speaking to God, the One we should love with all of our heart, soul and mind (Mt 22:37)?
I would like to first thank Almighty God for His grace that Catholic Social Services exists in the Diocese of Lincoln. It is the vehicle of charity of the faithful of southern Nebraska or in other words, we are your arms and legs of charity. I would secondly thank all of our donors scattered across the 24,000 square miles of our diocese and the handful that live outside the diocese, for charity knows no boundaries.
Finally, please remember and be reminded that we at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska routinely and regularly remember all of our supporters, their families and intentions in our prayers and Masses offered our chapels!
