Recently during a trip to our St. John Vianney Center in Hastings, Curt Krueger and I had the privilege of meeting with our wonderful staff. After this, I visited our St. Joseph Gift & Thrift Store and talked to some of our awesome volunteers. The store looked great, with a nice variety of furniture and other items displayed. As many of our benefactors know, the material items donated are either given away or sold, and the profits used to fund our many programs.
Afterward, I went behind the front desk in the lobby to chat with Jill McMahon, our volunteer coordinator. When she needed to step away, I told her, “Don’t worry; I’ll cover the front desk until you get back!”
After taking a seat I noticed many people coming in for a sack lunch. This is one of our many success stories. In Hastings, this is a cooperative effort of many agencies and denominations that work together to make these meals. They are then kept frozen in our walk-in freezer and given away. Last year we distributed almost 48,000 of these ready-made meals! Because of this success, we now have a sack lunch program in Lincoln.
After a moment or two, I noticed an elderly couple who not only took two sack lunches but a container of delectable cinnamon rolls. After saying hello, the wife said, “Thank you so much, because without these lunches, we would not be eating today!”
After saying “You’re welcome!” and some small talk I asked, “Want to see something beautiful?” After saying yes, I then took them into our beautiful Chapel of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
After genuflecting, the wife exclaimed, “I had no idea you had this here!” Her husband bowed because of some creaky joints and ligaments. It was then that we paused for a prayer.
After promising them my prayers, they left very grateful with moist eyes, not only for the food, but most especially for the food that endures to eternal life, the Most Blessed Sacrament (Jn 6:47-59).
As mentioned in a previous Seedlings column, we are planning two more chapels under the umbrella of Catholic Social Services. One will be dedicated to St. John Paul II and the other to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. This is important to us for we are not only in the business of assisting individuals and families with their bodily and psychological needs, but we are committed to helping them spiritually, by helping them save their souls.
Please never forget that we also pray for all of our supporters, in our daily prayers and Masses! Saints John Paul II and Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us!!
