If you were to walk through our parish neighborhood, you would see houses that look much the same. But behind those doors, you would find a story that is common to every community, and it is the story of our parish family: the story of struggle.
You know this struggle. Perhaps you live it. The anxiety of an unexpected car repair that shatters the monthly budget. The dread of a medical bill arriving in the mail. The silent, heavy weight of choosing between paying the rent or putting a full, nutritious meal on the table. For many in our own parish family, this is not a news headline; it is the reality of their daily lives. It is a grinding, exhausting worry that can make a person feel invisible, alone, and forgotten.
We are reminded that our Lord Jesus Christ had a special, a particular and persistent love for the poor and the weary. He said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” He saw the struggle not as a sign of failure, but as a place where God’s grace was most needed and most active.
And where does that grace become active today? It becomes active through you. It becomes active through the Body of Christ, which is this community here at St. Jude Church. And so, I want to offer a profound, heartfelt word of gratitude.
First, to every single parishioner who, week after week, brings non-perishable food, diapers, baby formula, and essential supplies to our Parish Outreach. You are the quiet, steady heartbeat of this mission. When you drop that can of soup or that box of pasta into our bin, you are not just giving an item. You are giving a message. You are saying, “I see you. You are not alone. You are my brother, my sister, and we’ll get through this together.” Your charity is a tangible sign of God’s providence. It is the miracle of the loaves and fishes happening in our own time, right here at St. Jude Church.
And second, to incredible Parish Outreach volunteers led by our Coordinator, Ms. Karen Sonneborn and her Assistant Ms. Adeline Rizzitello. You are the hands that sort, the arms that carry, and the hearts that listen. You give the most precious gift of all – your time. You offer a smile, a word of encouragement, and a prayer to those who come to us feeling vulnerable and in need. You create a space that is not just a distribution center, but a place of encounter. You treat everyone who walks through that door not as a “client”, but as a person, made in the image and likeness of God. You are the living embodiment of Christ’s command: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
So, to our givers and to our volunteers, on behalf of our entire St. Jude parish and our Lord Himself: Thank You!
But the work is not done. The struggle for many families is not over. Our Parish Outreach has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking assistance. This week, due to the government shutdown, the SNAP food stamp program will not be provided. And the struggle remains for many.
Our call is to continue to be a community of encounter. It is to remember that the line between those who need help and those who give help is very thin, and by the grace of God, it can change in an instant. We are all, every one of us, poor in some way — poor in spirit, poor in time, poor in health. We all need the generosity of God and one another.
Let us continue to support our Parish Outreach, not out of a sense of duty, but out of a sense of family. Let us pray for the families who are struggling, that they may find strength and hope. And let us pray for ourselves, that our hearts may remain soft, our hands open, and our eyes clear enough to see Christ in both the one who receives and the one who gives. For in this sacred exchange, in the shared struggle and the generous response, we find the heart of the Gospel. We find the living Christ, right here in our midst at St. Jude Church.
St. Jude, pray for us ~ With gratitude and blessings,
Fr. Ryan