Kentucky Mission
by S. Joelle Mauer
(L-r.) S. Mary Angela Sackmann and S. Joelle Mauer
Since our move to Owensboro on January 6 we have been exploring possibilities for service. We began with helping at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen about 2 miles from our apartment. The soup kitchen opens at 8 a.m. and many of the homeless come in to partake of the donuts, coffee and orange juice while they wait for the meal at 11:30. We help when preparation is needed. This is usually finished by 9 a.m. Between this time and mealtime we file material in the Free Clinic upstairs or teach English to the Mexican men waiting for the meal. We help serve the meal and, if needed, clean the tables. One hundred or more people are usually served.
Mass at our parish, Precious Blood, is at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, so we schedule work at St. Benedict Homeless Shelter on Tuesday and Friday nights. We do either the Midnight to 4 a.m. shift or the 8 p.m. to midnight shift. Supper and breakfast are served. There isn't much danger of falling asleep on the job - the symphony of snores keeps one awake.
The parish had a ministry fair recently and we signed up for various groups including the three nursing homes in the parish, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and parish picnic. I joined the choir and I was privileged to sing in the choir for Vespers and Ordination/Installation of the new bishop, William Medley, on February 10.
We will begin to work at the Help Office, which will entail interviewing clients for help and food. We have gotten our library cards so that we have books to read while working nights at the shelter.
We have become acquainted with some of the local sisters and meet monthly for supper and prayer with four others. If we find ourselves with more time, there is another center for homeless we can search out.
