STreeTLIgHTS · missed a payment in my life. I need $400.00 and I don’t know what to do. Can you help me? Please. I don’t know where to go.” Walter listens. He doesn’t panic;

STreeTLIgHTSSTreeTLIgHTSVolume 29 Number 1 Published quarterly by the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope February 2017

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The Song Is You!

raw, cloudy Wednesday afternoon at theheight of the Christmas rush. I can hearPriscila laughing with a customer at thefront desk; Harry is in the back room pric-ing clothes. The phone rings; it’s forWalter. Slouched in a chair at themakeshift conference table, he looks acrossat me as he puts the call on speakerphone.Without preamble, a distraught womanblurts out a plea for help.

“Walter, I can’t pay all my rent,” she says,her voice racing toward hysteria. “Mylandlord’s being unreasonable. I’ve nevermissed a payment in my life. I need$400.00 and I don’t know what to do. Canyou help me? Please. I don’t know whereto go.”

Walter listens. He doesn’t panic; his voicenever rises. Though extremely tired, heretains his compassion. He takes her phonenumber and promises to “look into it.”

Our response to this woman’s plight asksus to examine what we mean when we saywe are Urban Missionaries of Our Lady ofHope. It demands that we ask ourselvesjust what it is to love the poor and whatconstitutes our commitment to them.Father Gustavo Gutierrez, the Peruvianpriest regarded as a founder of “LiberationTheology,” speaks to us in language noone wants to hear. “You say you love thepoor,” he says, his words simple, blunt,direct. “Name them.” Many of us at OurLady of Hope Center can name them. Notjust one or two, but, unfortunately, manyof them. Folks who can’t pay their rent,buy food or gas, afford a simple car repair,or purchase presents for the kids. People,like the woman at the start of this story,who “don’t know where else to go.”

The world - you and I - turns its back onthese people, easing our consciences bycalling them “lazy” or “worthless.” We

The cheap plasticclock on thecluttered countersays it’s 2:58 on a

think we’re having a tough day when the carwon’t start or the boss demands we stay an extrahour, extending an already long day. But what ifit’s winter and there’s no heat, no possibility ofheat because it was either buy food or pay the gasbill? What if there’s no day care and you can’t goto work and this is the third time in a month thishas happened and the boss is seriously fed up?What if your 15 year old son has been arrested,you don’t know how to navigate the system, andhe has to spend tonight in a cell? A cell! What ifthere is Just. No. Hope?

FATHER GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ

Years ago, I had the temerity to tell a friend that Iwanted to work with the poor so I could learnwhat their lives were like. “You’ll never knowwhat it’s like to be poor, Ken,” he said. “You’vegot an education, and that education gives youoptions the poor will never have.” Up to thatmoment, I believed that being poor simply meantnot having enough money to make ends meet, butI was wrong. Being poor means not havingoptions. The fewer options a person has, the poor-er he is. Think of it. The rent is due; there’s notmuch to eat; you’re always robbing Peter to payPaul. You need to make more money, but youhave no marketable skills. What are your options?

Confronted with a situation where our expensesexceed our income, most of us begin to cut back,purchase less, deny ourselves for a time. Someconsider taking a second job. Oftentimes, the poorlack these choices. They are already living insubstandard housing, paying for daycare they can-not afford, driving a car in need of essential

Solidarity This ChristmasHarry Duchesne

As I was placing what seemed to me to be a limit-less number of cans and bottles into the nearbyredemption center’s recycling machines, I wasacutely aware of my surroundings. The center islocated in the Main South area of Worcester,where there are many “three-decker” apartmentbuildings, quite a few of which are in need ofrepair. I was also aware of the stench of old beer;the sticky, unclean floor; and several people com-ing in and out just to get five cents for each oftheir cans and bottles. Many of my newly foundcomrades-in-arms were quite vocal, given toyelling at the machines when their cans wererejected – even though it clearly said “MA” righton the can and should have been accepted withoutquestion. When returns are refused, an even longerwait ensues, as a clerk from the convenientlyattached liquor store must be summoned for assis-tance. I even witnessed three ten year old boyshauling in several cases of empty Heineken bottleson their ‘Red Flyer’ wagons! As the machineswere gluttonously crushing the cans and bottles Ifed them, I couldn’t help but feel like the energyand spirit were being crushed out of me, also - andit made me wonder.

Most of the neighborhood around this center(located in the Main-South neighborhood offCanterbury Street, where Our Lady of Hope centeris located), seems run down and in need of someserious TLC. I felt tired and uncomfortable in thatsmall room, pungent with the aroma of so manyunrinsed bottles and cans. Yet somehow, amidst allthis upleasantness, I felt one with the peoplearound me. I realized that this was their neighbor-hood, their bottle and can redemption center – partof this neighborhood of the working poor - womenand men working 40 hours or less for minimumwage and doing the best they can for themselvesand their families.

Unrelenting in their quest to devour even morecans and smash more bottles, the gruntingmachines emitted sounds eerily reminiscent of ahuman back cracking loudly in a chiropractor’soffice… or of a thousand twigs burning in a roar-ing fire. Yet, in this scene I do feel one with thepeople here – being one with the brokenness, thetiredness, the crushing hopelessness. While it istrue that I don’t walk in their footsteps every day,for these two hours that I labor at the redemptioncenter I feel in solidarity with the people here.

Ken Hannaford-Ricardi

Streetlights: A publication of the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope February 2017

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WHAT’S INSIDE...

The Song is You!Solidarity This ChristmasHere Comes “The Flea”!Christmas Giving Tradition

Continues in WorcesterThe Director’s ChairChristmas Volunteers & DonorsFasting With the Shepherd of

HermasChristmas 2016 - A Final

AccountingA (Jewish) Lenten ParableWhat A Party it Was! You DO Read Streetlights!

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The Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hopestrive to perform the Works of Mercy by dedi-cating little acts of daily charity to “the least, thelast, and the left out.”

The Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope

Kathleen Doyle - CofounderDeacon Walter Doyle - Cofounder Alice GentiliKenneth Hannaford-RicardiLeane PeaseBruce PeasePatricia WawzynieckiStefan Wawzyniecki

Here Comes “The Flea”!

Most people (Hey, I can’t speak for everyone!)have an aversion to fleas, and those of us at OurLady of Hope Center certainly share your distastefor those small, hairy critters that are the bane ofcats, dogs, and people, too! Unless the flea inquestion is “The Flea,” the weekly bargainhunter’s paradise, to be held rain or shine at 242Canterbury Street each and every Saturday fromMay 6th through September 30th this year.I know it’s still winter (and will be for at leastanother month!), but indulge me. Close your eyesand picture a warm, cloudless day and a hugeparking lot jammed with table upon table of thingsyou’ve been searching for for years. Table saws,lawn mowers, cans of paint, boxes of those old 33rpm records you long ago gave up on finding.Then there’s those golf clubs, that extension lad-der, and those craft supplies. Mountains of fishinggear, tools for you do-it-yourselfers, clothes, andout-of-print books. All at can’t be beat prices!

Perhaps you’re not looking to buy. In fact, you’vegot an attic full of treasures you’d love to sell. Forjust $15.00 you can rent a table and be part of theaction! We’ve had college kids looking to sell thecontents of their dorm rooms and folks who set upevery week of the season. No matter what youhave to offer, we have a place for you!

Save the dates! We’ll be open from 8:00 am until2:00 pm every Saturday from May 6th onward.Dealers are welcome at 7:00 am. There’s literally

“The Flea” continued

an acre of free parking. And . . . if you can’t findwhat you’re looking for, the Little Store, locatedacross the parking lot from “The Flea,” is openfrom 9:00 am until 4:00 pm every day exceptSunday.

Come on down!!

The Song is You! continued

repairs. There is no place where they can “cut back.” Their lack of many basic skills deprivesthem of a chance to locate a job that brings with ita living wage.

While we don’t see these problems every day, weencounter them often enough to realize they arenot merely isolated cases. In fact, we know thosewe hear of are just the tip of an incredibly largeiceberg. Almost anyone who helps register chil-dren for the Christmas Giving Program can tellyou at least one story of a child with specialneeds who goes without any help simply becausehis mother has no idea how to navigate the intri-cate and unyielding medical or educational sys-tems developed to bring just this assistance! Asthe father of two boys with these types of prob-lems, I have some understanding of what theseparents are going through. This is a symptom of apoverty we rarely think about, that most of usdon’t want to think about.

Those of us who have chosen to be UrbanMissionaries want to be open to problems likethose of the woman who called Walter today. Wewant to help, but we cannot do it without you. Weneed your time, your expertise, and, yes, yourmoney. Oftentimes, we reach into our own pocketsto assist people with pressing needs, but so manytimes we just can’t “make it happen” for thosewho come to us pleading for help. We are askingyou to take a leap of faith. Call us at Our Lady ofHope Center. We can use all you have to offer.

The Song is You! continued

Postscript

What became of the woman who called for helpwith her rent? Kathy and Walter did indeed “lookinto it.” Realizing her story rang true, they offeredher the money she needed . . . and the dignity nec-essary to accept it. The woman became a tempo-rary employee of the Little Store and worked forthe length of time it took to earn the money sheneeded to pay her rent in full. She left with herproblem solved . . . for now. While we could noteliminate the cause of her problem, we got herthrough the month, and that was a resolution wecould all live with!

The Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope canbe reached at (508) 831-7455 or by email at

[email protected]

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE STUDENTS SELLING THEIR UNWANT-ED DORM ITEMS AT

“THE FLEA!”

THE PEACEABLE KINGDOMFRITZ EICHENBERG - 1950


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What Urban Missionaries DoChristmas giving Tradition Continues

in WorcesterSteven Isaacson

You wouldn’t mistake The Little Store, a thriftshop serving the residents of Worcester’s MainSouth neighborhood, as Santa’s workshop, but itfinishes a close second. Over the past threedecades it has become a downtown headquartersfor finding and delivering holiday toys and wintercoats to local children in need.

For the past month, Walter and Kathy Doyle, co-directors of the Urban Missionaries of Our Ladyof Hope and the store’s managers, have been busycollecting this year’s Christmas requests from theparents and guardians of those children.

“We have people who have been getting toys fromus for over 30 years,” Mr. Doyle said. “Their kidsare all grown up, and now they’re coming withtheir grandkids.”

After initiating a program 30 years ago sponsoring“the least, the last and the left out,” Mr. Doylesaid, he and his wife discovered that the few fami-lies they were supporting could not afford gifts fortheir children at Christmas.

“There were 26 people,” he added. “We started tocall all our friends and we would ask, ‘Could youbuy a winter jacket or toy for one of the kids onour list?’ ”

The initiative grew into the ministry’s annualChristmas Giving Program, which reported serv-ing more than 2,700 children in 2015 and distrib-uting more than 14,000 gifts. Much-needed wintercoats for the recipients have remained a staple ofthe Christmas package since its inception.

Operating from October 1 through mid-Decemberand often beyond (depending on how many giftsare left), the program serves any family whoreceives some sort of government assistance. Toregister, the families come prepared with the chil-dren’s birth certificates, proof of householdincome, and a photo ID for themselves.

The children’s gift requests go out to almost 40participating parishes throughout GreaterWorcester in the form of tags, which hang in thechurches from Christmas trees, renamed GivingTrees for the occasion. Congregants can pick oneor more of these anonymous, numbered Christmaswishes and fulfill them in time to return them toThe Little Store. Starting Dec. 11, volunteers willpick up the gifts, sort and bag them, and eventual-ly give out the correct set of bags to each family.

While the ministry’s Christmas Giving Program

has become a time-honored tradition in theWorcester area, the early-October Saturday onwhich parents can first sign up their children hasbecome legendary. Parents and children arriveearly to stake out their spot in line.

“The first Saturday of this year’s program weflipped open the door at 5 a.m., and by 5:15 wehad six women in here to sign up their kids,” Mr.Doyle said.

During this time, the front of the store transformsinto an assembly line. First, people line up at thedoor where Mr. Doyle, standing behind amakeshift desk, verifies their eligibility. The appli-cants proceed to a row of computers, where volun-teers help them log the ages and names of the chil-dren, as well as their gift requests and coat sizes.

Ms. Doyle sees this as more than a registrationprocess.

“One thing that’s come home to me is that mostpeople want similar things,” she said. “They wantto be able to provide for their families and have agood life. I think a normal life is a commonalitywe share.”

Longtime friend Ken Hannaford-Ricardi identifiesthe driving forces behind the program’s success asthe Doyles’ steadfast faith and extensive networkof volunteers like himself.

“(The volunteers) just feel happy to be part ofsomething that is doing good for people. They arebuying into the fact not that it is simply goodwork, but that they believe in it,” he said.

The Doyles admit that sustaining their programhas proved challenging throughout the years butappreciate the assistance they have received along

the way.

“Many businesses and organizations in Worcester have donated gifts to the program,” Ms. Doyle said. “It means a lot that the community steps in tohelp.”

Harry Duchesne, another veteran volunteer whohelps with registration, says getting to know theDoyles has been a treat.

“They’re both so down to earth, with such strongwork ethics and large hearts,” he said. “The fami-lies really see it and are grateful for them.”

Editor’s Note: Steven Isaccson is a senior at ClarkUniversity and works the front desk at The LittleStore every Saturday. His article originallyappeared in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette inNovember, 2016.

BRUCE, LEANE, AND SHANDY SORT GIFTS!

The Urban Missionariesoperate a FOOD PANTRY at

St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester everyTuesday (9-11 am)Thursday (5-7 pm)

Saturday (9 am - Noon)Want to Help Out?

(508) 831-7455

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TheDirector’sChairWALTER DOYLE,CO-DIRECTOR

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We have a whole lot going on right now! To saywe are busy is an understatement. As most of youare aware, I am writing this article in the middleof the absolutely awesome chaos of the ChristmasGiving Program. What better time!! MerryChristmas!

We received two exciting financial gifts just intime for Christmas. One was a generous capitalimprovement grant to construct two bathrooms -one for the use of customers shopping in the LittleStore and the other for patrons using the “shed”(a.k.a. the garage) across the parking lot from thestore. A second grant will finance the replacementof several large garage doors in the Little Storeand the Just New! store with picture windows ofidentical size. These two grants - one from theComis Foundation, the second from the MaranathaII Trust - will certainly enhance the experience ofthe people who come to the Little Store. We havebeen searching for an organization that would fundthese types of proposals. We need to say thank youto Judy Wilchynski and Richard Nevins for help-ing us discover these opportunities.

Many readers might not realize how difficult it isto convince organizations to donate money forprojects such as these. Quite simply, they are notglamorous. Institutions are often loathe to financeprojects that fail to generate “positive press.”When people see an attractive new building or abeautiful addition to a park or other public space,they often wonder where the money came from tofinance such impressive works. Who questions thegenerosity implied in building a structure as unex-citing but as necessary as a bathroom? The UrbanMissionaries of Our Lady of Hope would like toextend a warm, sincere “Thank You” to the ComisFoundation and Maranatha II Trust for its generos-ity in funding these large but unheralded projects!

Because of your continued generosity, we alsowere able to purchase two 40 foot storage contain-ers, currently located next to a small fenced-inenclosure in the parking area. We are using themto hold yard sale and Little Store items that areusually stored in the garage during the Christmasprogram. This allows us to lay out more bags onthe garage floor at any one time, thereby reducingthe number of times we need to move gifts from

ChristmasVolunteers and

DonorsThe Urban Missionaries ofOur Lady of Hope could notperform their ministry of

bringing help and hope to the poor without assis-tance from the many volunteers and donors whogive so freely of their time and resources through-out the year. This is especially true at Christmas,when the challenge of purchasing, collecting, sort-ing, and distributing so many gifts to so manyanxious people requires countless hands, innumer-able hours, and the selflessness necessary to bringsmiles to people they will never meet.

While we try to personally thank each of you, wealso wish to publicly express our gratitude in thisedition of Streetlights.

St. Joseph Parish, Rev. Paul Bomba, Pastor andBrad Wass, Coordinator; John Cardinal WrightAssembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus,Richard Orsini, Coordinator; Mary Scully, MegBeauregard, M/M Robert McMahon, M/M JimLeach, Eileen Silva, M/M James Sundstrom, MaryKay Ramos, Karen Swank, M/M Paul Verdereseof Auburn

Mr. Carl Hakansson, of Ashland; Harry Duchesneand Mary Ellen Natale, Solana Bethell, IsaiahBethell, of Attleboro; M/M Brian Inman, M/MPeter O’Connor, M/M Theodore Twarog Jr., M/MMark Doyle, of Barre; St. Paul’s Parish, Rev. D.Timothy O’Mara, Pastor and Mary Ann DeReslie,Coordinator; St. Theresa’s Parish, Rev. Thien X.Nguyen, Administrator and Jillian Castiglioni ofBlackstone

Ms. Donna Tolliday, Bailey Tolliday, M/M BrianTommasini, Erin Tommasini, Sean Tommasini ofBolton; Mr. John Tegan, Jr., M/M AngeloGuadagno, Elizabeth Wilkinson, Ashley Tokarz,Kyle Kelleher of Boston

Tahanto Regional Middle-High School, LauraHovey, Coordinator; St. Mary of the Hills Parish,Rev. Manuel Clavijo, Pastor; M/M Robert Mecca,Ms. Mary Kelleher, Marjorie Mackesy, Ms.Beverly Willson, Maureen Flanagan, WilliamDicelie, Laurie Costigan of Boylston; Mr. JohnLarochelle, Holly Tokarz of Brighton; CeliaSenckowski, Katarina Senckowski of Brimfield; M/M George Oprica of Brookfield;

St. Joseph Parish, Rev. Robert Grattaroti, Pastor,and Mrs. Teresa Dion, Coordinator; Joe Pastore,Kyle Pastore, Christine Grondalski, GabriellaGrondalski of Charlton; M/M Anthony Cotrupiof Charlestown; M/M Paul Myrick of Cotuit; St. Denis Parish, Rev. Ernest Allega, Pastor, andMs. Nancy Norberg, Coordinator; Jon Gamelin,

one temporary location to another.

We have conducted a trial run of a new programcalled “Fill-A-Truck” that will help to keep“essential” items for the store arriving in a consis-tent manner. Through the efforts of Nan Ford andher dynamic youth group at St. Luke theEvangelist Parish in Westboro, we were able to fillthree quarters of our box truck with clothing, dish-es, hats, belts and linens in just one Saturday. Weare planning to reach out to many of the outlyingparishes right after the first of the year in an effortto continue the program.

We are still looking for counter help and volun-teers to prep clothing and household items forpricing. The counter job is a paid position whichrequires the ability to work cheerfully with a widevariety of people. These positions are the lifebloodof the store, as they ensure a steady flow of itemsfor our customers to browse through - somethingthat makes them very happy, indeed! Let us knowif you or someone you know would be interestedin helping us out.

Our annual lenten “Fast of Hermas” will kick offon Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017. [see accom-panying article on page 7] Once again, we will beasking you to make a pledge for every hour wefast during the Triduum starting Holy Thursdayand ending after the Easter Vigil Saturdayevening.

Of course, we will be kicking off our 2017 FleaMarket on Saturday, May 6th. [see accompanyingarticle on page 2] If you have items you coulddonate for sale, they would be greatly appreciated.The Flea runs every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. until2:00 p.m. We could certainly use your assistancein setting up and closing down “The Flea.”

We received a number of comments concerning anarticle written by our very own Steve Isaacsonwhich appeared in The Worcester Telegram &Gazette and which is reprinted on page three ofthis edition of Streetlights. Steve is a student atClark University who works the counter everySaturday. As part of his journalism class, he did anarticle on the Christmas Giving Program. Thankyou Steve; nice job!

We want to thank all of those who turned out forour annual Urban Missionaries of our Lady ofHope Program at St. Joan of Arc parish hall inOctober of last year [see accompanying article onpage 9]. Everyone had a chance to meet withHarry Duchesne, our newly hired AssistantDirector and hear a very fine talk on immigrationand naturalization given by Kathy Doyle, our Co-Director. Thank You!!

Streetlights: A publication of the Urban Missionarie of Our Lady of Hope February 2017

Page 5

Your Continued Assistance Throughoutthe Year

enables Us to Carry Out Our Mission -Thank You!

MEMORIALSMemorials can be given in memory of adeceased person by sending a donation tothe Urban Missionaries of Our Lady ofHope.

In Memory of:

Alfred Weldon by gloria Weldon

Jerry Laurence by Lauraine Laurence

Deacon John Cahillby Jane and richard Lisauskas

Leonard M. Pauplis by Jeannette Pauplis

ed McDevittby Anne gryncel

Irene Amsden rev. James Kerrigan

by Lynne Amsden

Jack Kelleyby Anita Kelley

A memorial card in your name will be sentto the family. Please send us the name ofthe person being remembered, where theacknowledgment should be sent, and yourname and address.

HONOrArIUMHonorariums can be given in the name ofany person or event by sending a donationto the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady ofHope.

In Honor of: Harry Duchesne, new Assistant Director

by Jim Flanagan eileen Charbonneau as Christmas gift

by Cindy Kazanovicz Irene Healy as Christmas gift

by grandaughter Tara WilkinsonIrene Healy for her 97th Birthday

by her daughter Maureen CrowleyDan Pucci in lieu of Birthday gift

by Catherine Pucci A letter of notification will be sent in yourname. Please send the name of the personor event being honored, where theacknowledgment should be sent, and yourname and address.

Ms. Maureen Crowley of Arlington; M/M JohnBuck of Athol; M/M Robert McMahon, Mr.Ronald Klaucke, Mary Creamer of Auburn; Edward and Grace Yaglou, M/M Brian Inman ofBarre; Mrs. Fran Gill, Ms. Louise R. Janda ofBerlin; M/M John Diefenbach of Bolton;Mr. Daniel Hall, Ameriprise Financial Inc., M/MAngelo Guadagno of Boston; M/M ThomasLaRoche, M/M Robert Svenning, M/M ThomasBuckingham of Boylston; George & MarieOprica, of Brookfield; Mrs. Beth Tobin, ChristineTurpin, Jean Jette of Charlton; Mr. ArthurCroteau of Cherry Valley; Mrs. Elaine Hale ofDanvers

Mrs. Gloria Weldon of Dudley; Kathryn Gravel ofFitchburg; Mike Conrad, M/M George Conrad,Veronica Campbell, Ms. Jane Brown ofFramingham; Antonia Young of Fiskdale; Ms.Patricia Gallo of grafton; M/M James Adams,Cynthia Spellane, Dr./Mrs. Sahdev Passey, Ms.Patricia Walsh, M/M Jeffrey Adams, Mr. EdwardO’Donnell of Holden; Ms. Irene Campbell ofHolliston; M/M Garry Seidenberg, of Hopedale; Andrew See of Hubbardston; Deacon WilliamBilow, M/M Thomas Seidenberg of Lancaster; Rev. Richard Fortin, of Leicester; CharlesNewfell, Mr. Duy Huynh of Marlborough; M/MJoseph Javorski of Medway; Mr. Steve Slagal,M/M Roland Boucher of Mendon; M/M BrucePease, Ms. Jill Palmisano of Millbury;Deacon & Mrs. John Dugan, of Millville; Deacon Lee and Annette Packard, Linda Tainsh,Pat Mussulli of Milford

M/M James Duffy of Natick; Ms. LindaBelliveau, of Needham; Mary Mattock, M/MChristopher Scholl, Deacon/Mrs. JosephMcCaffrey, M/M Thomas McCloskey, BrendaSeymour, M/M John Tegan, III, M/M MarkCoughlin, M/M Ed Harrison, Carol Brennan, Mrs.Janice Donahue, Mr. Michael Griffin, M/M DanteZamarro, M/M Don Christensen, M/M RichardClark, M/M Pang-Yen Fan, Deacon/Mrs. PhilipDevine, M/M Russell Lindquist, M/M GeorgeGiannotti, Mr. Matthew Sherwin, Fran Warren ofNorthborough

Ms. Elaine Moran of Northbridge; Mr. PatrickIreland, Mary Jane Cuzzupe, M/M PeterCrepeault, Rev. Kenneth Cardinale, Shawn Kennyof North grafton; M/M Richard Hammond, M/MAlfred O’Leary, Ms. Ellin Clifford of North

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT COLUMN

Oxford; Ms. Trudy Smith, M/M James Kee, M/MRichard Davis of Paxton; St. Mary’s Monasteryof Petersham; M/M James Bergin of rochdale;Mrs. Dale Ducase of rutland; M/M JohnMatraia, Merwyn Figueiredo, Mary Attenweiler,M/M Thomas Varney, M/M Sang Nguyen, MelissaMisiewicz of Shrewsbury; Ms. Irene Healy ofSouth Harwich

Ms. Patricia Corson, M/M John Bowler ofSpencer; M/M Kevin Beaupre, Ms. Christine M.Mazeika, M/M Robert Walsh of Sterling; M/MEugene Mossa, M/M Jeffrey Remillard, M/MCharles Trainor, M/M Al Petkus of Sutton; M/M Daniel Lambert, M/M Richard Gentili,Beverly Randazzo of Upton; Paula O’Shaugnessy,Commonwealth Cares of Waltham; Mr. RolandMalboeuf, Mrs. Shirley Gabor of Webster;

Mr. Timothy Hodgens, M/M Robert Schmid, St.Luke The Evangelist Parish, Rev. Michael Foley,Pastor; Nan Ford and St. Luke’s Youth Group,Mary Hodgens, Clare Tozeski M/M John Lucey ofWestborough; Irene Duhamel, Mr. DavidDaubney, of Whitinsville

Deacon/Mrs. Myles Hayes, Mrs. Anita Kelley,Dr/Mrs. Donald Favreau, Mrs. Eileen Lush,Austine Ferguson; Deacon/Mrs. Michael Chase,M/M Ernest Pantos, Mr. Fremont Nantelle, M/MJoseph Duggan, Ms. Germaine Simkus, Mr. BeVan Hang, M/M Richard Donahue, Mr. DanhTran, Mr. Eduard Hall, M/M William Gibbons,Mr. James Comes, Ms. Priscilla Underwood,Joyce Roncka, Diem Phan, Sajba Djuric, DarleneGleason, Mrs. Idella Hazard, Donna Rennie,Marie Daguilh, Ms. Bridget Klofft, RobynTarantino, Diana Prashad, Community HealthlinkOutpatient Department, M/M William Gibbons ofWorcester

Mr. John McCarthy of Leesburg, FL; Rev. PeterWhite, of Louisville, KY; Sr. Mary Daniel Malloyof Dallas, PA; Bruin Plastics Company, Mr.Dennis Angelone of glendale, rI; M/M RobertDeJoie, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; M/M StefanWawzyniecki of Vernon, CT

. . . and all of the generous donations given anonymously

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More Christmas Volunteerscontinued

Solidarity This ChristmasCONTINUED

Please don’t think that the name of these ‘centers’eludes me, for, ironically, I feel ‘redeemed’ today;redeemed from all the complaining and bellyach-ing I sometimes do after performing my work.I’ve been at the Little Store for over four monthsnow, and even though the daily grind can be tiring,the people who live here seem also to be caughtup in the grind of hard work, low pay, and livingin a misunderstood neighborhood.

What brought me to the ‘redemption center’ in thefirst place? Along with the “regulars” who -sometimes daily - frequent the Little Store, peoplefrom throughout the diocese of Worcester donatethe redeemable bottles and cans all the time. I wasable to redeem $34.35 to assist with our ChristmasGiving Program, our Food Pantry, our aid toRefugee Families, and of course, our overheadcosts. The mundane tasks of redeeming bottlesand cans, covering the front desk in the store, pric-ing items, and parceling out food at the two foodpantries we operate, are all tasks that I didn’t thinkI’d be doing as the new Assistant Director ofOperations, but they have been both humbling andrewarding. I feel blessed that Kathy and Walterasked me to be the new Assistant Director. I’veknown of their ministry for 20 years, and I feelprivileged to work on staff. The sense of commu-nity with both customers, volunteers, and staff hasgreatly increased my belief in the human spirit.Not a morning passes that I don’t enjoy the cama-raderie of the volunteers who pick up extra breadand pastries from local supermarkets; we sharejokes, daily quips about life, and we just laugh andenjoy one another – even the early- bird customersget into it. And what makes all the work worthit? Rare is the day when a customer fails to tellus, “Thanks for this store; I appreciate all the workyou do to give us great treasures with greatprices.”

I feel a connection with these local folks - thestore’s stalwart supporters - because the storemakes them happy. This neighborhood thatseems crushed and smashed on the outside ishome to some really sweet people who come tobrowse and shop here. Some shop to fill theirhomes with adorable little treasures, some searchfor affordable clothes to send back to relatives intheir native counties; others shop for bread or pas-tries to share with their shut-in neighbors; andsome simply come in to feel a sense of communitywith people - to say hello. The Little Store andthe Urban Missionaries offer folks a little hope. Isee it transcend the community here – shoppers,volunteers, and staff. I see the diversity of lan-guage, race, creed and gender bringing Christmassolidarity to our little corner of the world in MainSouth.

St. Mary’s Parish, Rev. Kenneth Cardinale, Pastor,and Rosemary and Brian Hirst, Coordinators; Ms.June Hanam of North grafton

St. Rose of Lima Parish, Rev. James Houston,Pastor, and Michele Hatem, Coordinator; St.Bernadette Parish, Rev. Ronald Falco, Pastor, andMs. Marcia Roman, Coordinator; M/M JosephWyman, Sr., Ms. Brenda Seymour, M/M JohnGallagher, Ms. Michelle Ferenchick, M/M PaulDuquette, M/M Edmund Walsh, Ms. DonnaGiansiracusa, Ms. Patricia Szlyk, Mrs. SandraKrafsig, M/M Paul Murphy, Ms. Kendra Owen,M/M William O’Toole, M/M Vince Mattock, M/MGeorge Giannotti, Ms. Heather Capes, LouiseOuano, Claudia Farrell, Luke Farrell, AntonioMontilla, Marybeth Minnucci, Caroline Minnucci,St. Rose of Lima YNIA, Rose Reilly, LizDevarney, Caroline Ransden, Kate Feeney, SueFeeney, Sophia Mihalek, Maria Mihalek, JackJankovich, Diane Henry, Peter Henry, M/M SeanMcKenna, Steve Bank, Mr. Jason Cote, NatalieRogers, Julie Leonard, Caroline Leonard, JackieLambert, Kelly McCann, Anna Benatul, GrantFan, Andrew Fan, Avalon Bay, Robin DePina,Coordinator, of Northborough

M/M Alfred O’Leary, M/M Thiem Luu, JustinOrrell, Cheryl Orrell, Jared Orrell of NorthOxford; Ms. Rachel Vera, M/M John Ramian,Michele Doyle and Paul McMahon, KevynMcMahon, Kellen McMahon, Kiera McMahon,Kenna McMahon, of Northbridge; Ms. MegMcDevitt of Orange; Deacon/Mrs. Paul Lesieur,Deborah Brown, Rebekah Brown of Oxford

Anna Maria College, Rev. Manuel Clavijo,Director of Campus Ministry, and Ms. EmmaGallagher, Coordinator; M/M James Kee ofPaxton; M/M Craig Polewaczyk, Mr. GregMiranda of Princeton; M/M James Bergin, Ms.Jacqueline Gordon, Ms. Eleanor Hallen, M/MJoseph Socha, Jenna Albro, Rileigh Davenport,Carmen Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick ofrochdale; St. Patrick Parish, Rev. MichaelBroderick, Pastor, and Christine Aufiero,Coordinator; Jean Urbanowski, Cana Community,Mr. David Gentleman, Pastor; Eric Tanner, Ms.Jenna Keller, Deacon/Mrs. Paul Audette, JeanGrant of rutland

Ms. Geri Matraia, M/M James Kavanagh, M/MSang Nguyen, Ms. Maureen Coghlin, Ms. AnneDowen, M/M William Walsh, Andrew Walsh,M/M Daniel McCue, Mr. Alexander Volfovich,M/M John Frongillo, Kelsey Carralho, TheMcIntosh Family, Courtnie DiPilato, RyanMcAulay, Stephen Troio, Nicole Foley, ShiwenChen, Gigi O’Brien, M/M Thomas Luby, TheMcManus Family, The Bird Family, M/M DanaJones, Nancy West, John West, M/M KevinMurphy, Vanessa Parks, of Shrewsbury

Leo Gamelin, Kristen King, of Douglas; St.Anthony of Padua Parish, Rev. Joseph A.Marcotte, Pastor, and Valerie Milosh, Coordinator;M/M Edmund Kaczmarek, Mrs. Gloria Weldon ofDudley;

Michael Conrad, Sumita Palanisamy ofFramingham; St. Aloysius Parish, Rev. RichardLembo, Pastor, and Ms. Bea St. George,Coordinator, of gilbertville; Greg Panagitou, Ms.Janet Simas, Javier Alvarez, Siobhan O’Reilly,Benjamin Nguyen, Anja Dickmann, GabrielleCosta, Julia Markowski, Meghan Montgomery,Pauline Winn of grafton; Holy Trinity Parish,Rev. Terence T. Kilcoyne, Pastor, and Mrs. DianeCollette, Coordinator; Deacon/Mrs. Anthony Fioreof Harvard

Ms. June Dumas, M/M Andre LaBrecque, M/MRobert Longden, M/M James Adams, Ms.Stephanie Adams, Mrs. Eileen Charbonneau ofHolden; M/M Matthew Twomey, Liz Doyle andSteve Sitko, Gregory Surozenski of Holland;Andrew See, Victoria See, of Hubbardston; Mrs.Jeannette Pauplis of Hudson; Jessica Knight ofJamaica Plain

St. Mary Parish, Rev. Timothy M. Brewer, Pastor,and Lynn Kozminski, Coordinator; Ms. JeanneMarin of Jefferson; Tom Seidenberg, ofLancaster; St. Aloysius - St. Jude Parish, Rev.John Lizewski, Pastor, and Cynthia Garabedian,Coordinator; M/M Donald Cherry, Sr., HannahGallant, M/M Michael Reis of Leicester; Ms.Sally Clifford of Leominster; Good ShepherdParish, Rev. Lawrence J. Esposito, Pastor, andMaureen Briand, Coordinator; of Linwood

St. Boniface Parish, Rev. Anthony Mpagi, Pastor,and Mr. Marc Raboin, Coordinator, ofLunenburg; M/M Kevin Doyle, of Mansfield;Bob Gill and Ted Blackler, Sisters of St. Anne, Sr.Rose Clarise Gadoury, S.S.A of Marlborough; M/M Robert Heumann, Mr. Thomas Hackenson,Jim Rausch, Rebecca Rausch, Marie Rausch,Mackenzie Burke of Mendon

St. Brigid’s and Our Lady of the Assumptionparishes, Rev. Daniel Mulcahy, Pastor, DeaconRon Buron, Coordinator; M/M Steven Glaza, M/MJoseph Mattus, Bruce and Leane Pease, BrianAshmankas of Millbury; St. Mary of theAssumption Parish, Rev. Raymond Goodwin Jr.,Pastor, and Dot Cozzens, Coordinator; of Milford

St. Augustine Parish, Rev. Lawrence Esposito,Pastor, and Ms. Ann Lesperance, Coordinator;Deacon John and Carol Dugan of Millville; M/MJames Duffy of Natick; Ms. Linda Belliveau ofNeedham; Tracy Hibbard of North Brookfield;

Page 7CONTINUED IN THE NEXT COLUMN

Fasting With the Shepherd ofHermas

For more than a quarter century, Walter Doyle hasquietly conducted a fast from solid food over thethree most solemn days of the Christian calendar -the Easter Triduum. For the first 14 years, he con-sidered this small practice of self-denial a simpleact of private prayer, performed in solidarity withthe poor whom he and his wife, Kathy, sought toserve. Ten years ago, while studying for a mastersdegree in Pastoral Ministry, Walter came across areference to an early Christian called Hermas, whoresided in Rome early in the second century of theChristian Era. A well-to-do freedman, Hermas setdown a formulary for fasting that continues to res-onate today.

“First of all,” he wrote, “be on your guard againstevery evil word, and every evil desire, and purifyyour heart from all the vanities of this world. Ifyou guard against these things, your fasting willbe perfect.” But Hermas was not finished. “ . . .and having reckoned up the price of the dishes ofthat day which you intended to have eaten,” hesaid, “you will give it to a widow, or an orphan, orto some person in want, and thus you will exhibithumility of mind.” Reflecting on Hermas’ instruc-tions, Walter realized that his fast, while worth-while in itself, needed another component to becomplete. It required that he raise funds thatwould be used to benefit the poor. But how wouldhe do this?

Walter decided to publicize his fast and find out ifothers would join him. Those who did would agreeto solicit pledges from others in support of theirefforts. They would ask friends and relatives todonate a dollar amount for each of the 50 hours ofthe Triduum they successfully fasted. The moneywould be used to fund the ministry of the UrbanMissionaries of Our Lady of Hope. And so an ideawas born.

Fasting With the Shepherd ofHermas continued

Over the ensuing years, a small group of womenand men has joined Walter in fasting on HolyThursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.Perhaps you would like to join them. Pledgeamounts need not be large - fifty cents for eachhour spent fasting would yield twenty-five dollars,a significant amount. If five friends and familymembers pledged a similar amount, you would raise $125.00!

If you do decide to fast, please email your pledgeamount to [email protected] AfterEaster, mail your pledges to Walter.

Our address is:

Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope 242 Canterbury St.

Worcester, MA 01603

Please earmark your check for the Fast ofHermas.

LABOR CROSSFRITZ EICHENBERG

1954


Christmas 2016 - A Final Accounting

Although it came quietly to an end at noon onChristmas eve, the three month blur that was the2016 Christmas Giving Program is only nowbeginning to crystalize into its final form. Foreveryone intimately involved with this remarkableundertaking, it is truly amazing that what began asa small attempt to find Christmas gifts for 26 chil-dren more than a quarter-century ago has mush-roomed into a program of such magnitude that itdefinitely does defy theimagination.

As always, sign-ups for theprogram began on the firstSaturday of October. And asalways, before the doors tothe Little Store were flungopen at five am on thatbright October morning,three women had alreadyqueued up, ready to answerall of Walter’s questions.“How many kids do youhave? Are they all fourteenor under? Do you haveSocial Security cards andbirth certificates for each?Do you earn less than 125%of the Federal poverty guide-line for families of your size,or do you receive any stateor federal aid?”

A Final Accounting continued

BISHOP FLANAGAN COUNCIL 12710, SUTTON KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

And so it went.

The 2016 Christmas Giving Program collectedroughly 12,000 gifts! Ten thousand. No matterhow you look at it, that is one pile of presents!They came from churches, companies, and indi-viduals. They included hats and scarves; winterjackets and gloves; toys, books, and gift cards.And each one was brand new! We supplied giftsto 1,174 families representing 2,444 children.Because so many of you answered our appeal andsigned up to fulfill gift requests at the very end ofthe Program, every single request for assistancereceived by 7:00 pm on December 23rd was ableto be filled!! The last presents were given to amother who applied just twenty minutes before weclosed for the season!

Volunteers came from everywhere! Parishes,schools, Scout troops, and individuals all turnedout to help. YOU turned out to help. I write thisnot long after Christmas . . . and we are tired, dogtired. But we’re happy. You came through . . . yetagain. Thanks!!!

“The Flea”opens for the season on Saturday, May 6

8 am - 2 pmVendors Welcome!

for more information call(508) 831-7455

Monday - Saturday 9am - 4 pm


Page 8

GOT THINGS?Unopened wedding, birthday, anniversary, orChristmas gifts are the types of item we canuse in our Little Store on-line. One hundredpercent of very donation goes toward further-ing our work with the poor.

We want to say thank you to an anonymousdonor of three Hummel figurines to our LittleStore Online. We were able to sell them forover $100. As you can see, the donor made a$100 donation to our ministry by simplydonating only three of her “things”.

To make a donation call 508-831-7455 oremail us at [email protected].

The Little Store is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,Monday through Saturday, to accept your donations ofhousehold items, bedding, clothing, books, records, and fur-niture. Please do not drop off your donations when the storeis closed!We will pick up at your home on Monday or Thursday after-noon, or on Friday morning. Please call to schedule yourpickup, 508-831-7455.

Visitthe Just New! store,where 40% of listprice is our every-day price!

Just New! is openMonday throughSaturday from 9:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m.for your shoppingconvenience.

Solidarity This Christmascontinued

Come join us! We would love you tobecome part of our volunteer crew,whether it’s helping us hang clothes,straighten our ‘treasure’ boxes, priceitems, or help Walter with pick ups anddeliveries, too. I guarantee you willexperience a sense of community, just asI have. And prepare to laugh – it’s con-tagious around here.

Editor’s Note: Harry Duchesne is theAssistant Director of Operations at OurLady of Hope Center.

A (Jewish) Lenten Parable

Lenten Parablecontinued

Confounded by what lay before him, the mandecided to remain in Heaven for a time and try todiscover the difference between the two scenes.

As he watched, a man dug his spoon into the foodbefore him. Then, stretching his arm to its fullest,he fed the person seated across from him. Therecipient thanked him and returned the favor byleaning across the table and feeding his neighbor.

The man ran quickly back to Hell to tell thosetrapped there what he had discovered. He whis-pered the solution into the ear of a starving man.“You don’t have to be hungry,” he said. “Use yourspoon to feed your neighbor, and then let him feedyou.”

Instead of being grateful, however, the starvingman became angry. “What are you talking about?”he screamed. “Do you actually expect me to feedthat man.” He gestured as much as he could whilehe spoke, and spit literally flew from his mouth. “Idespise him! He hurt me badly while we werealive, and I will never forgive him. I would ratherstarve than see him survive!.”

The traveler finally understood. Pilgrims on theroad to Heaven and Hell walk side by side, shar-ing the same path. The difference lies in the waythey treat each other.

Successfully negotiating the often difficult road toHeaven requires diligence and the willingness toseek the welfare of others before looking out forourselves. The path to Hell, on the other hand,demands little effort and requires only that wealways place ourselves first. What our livesbecome is determined by the choices we ourslevesmake. No one else can make them for us. Lentprovides the framework for Christians to examinethose choices. Use the time wisely.

* * * * * *

In 1920, the poet Robert Frost wrote, “Two roadsdiverged in a wood, and I - I took the one lesstraveled by, and that has made all the difference.”May this Lenten season find you deep on the pathto Heaven.


For much of its history, the ChristianChurch has perceived Lent as a time forreflection on the state of our lives. Are

we living ethically; is the way we conduct our-selves an accurate reflection of the beliefs weespouse? Are we satisfied with the way we treatthose close to us, and do we accord our neighborsthe same dignity, the same respect, which wewould like shown to ourselves?

Christianity is not alone in using visions of anafterlife to motivate ourbehavior while on earth. TheHoly Quran often speaks ofHeaven and Hell and therewards or punishments thatawait us when we die. Thefollowing parable, drawnfrom the Jewish tradition, pro-vides a distinctly modern takeon the subject. See if youagree.

* * * * * *

A man once desired to understand the differencebetween Heaven and Hell. To do this, he first trav-elled to Hell. Entering its halls, he saw row afterrow of tables, each piled high with many plattersof food. Even so, the people gathered around thebanquet appeared to be starving. Each person helda full spoon, but both of his arms were splintedwith wooden slats in such a manner that he wasunable to bring the food to his mouth.

Proceeding to Heaven, the man encountered anidentical scene: row upon row of long tablesgroaning with food surrounded by people withspoons in their hands but with their arms tied sotheir elbows could not bend. The people inHeaven, however, appeared both happy and well-fed.

Page 9


And What A Party it Was!

On Saturday evening, October 29, 2016 - the cul-mination of a beautiful mid-fall day - the UrbanMissionaries of Our Lady of Hope celebrated their37th anniversary of “just helping” with a festivenight of prayer, feasting, and nostalgia at SaintJoan of Arc parish hall in Worcester.

WALTER AND KATHY SHOW OFFTHEIR GRANDDAUGHTER, REESE

Founded in 1979 by Walter Doyle and his wife,Kathy, as the Refugee Apostolate of the Office ofthe Permanent Diaconate, the Missionariesendeavor to live the Works of Mercy by dedicatingsmall daily acts of charity to those whom the lateFather John O’Brien termed “the least, the last,and the left out.”

WALTER AND KATHYMARYELLEN AND HARRY

The fifty-five attendees began the evening with aMass of thanksgiving and celebration offered byFather James Carmody, a longstanding friend andsupporter of the Missionaries’ work. Immediately

afterward, Neil Heenan Catering served up asumptuous buffet of hot and cold hors d’oeuvresand desserts. After the meal, Co-Director KathyDoyle fascinated the gathering with stories culledfrom her many years working with immigrantsseeking to build new lives in the United States.The culmination of the evening was the installa-tion of Harry Duchesne as the new AssistantDirector of Operations at Our Lady of MercyCenter. Knowing Walter, after an evening likethis, he’s already begun planning for next year!

HARRY DUCHESNE ADDRESSESTHE ATTENDEES

What A Party . . . continued

LAYING OUT THE BAGS TAKES FOR - EVER!!

More Christmas Volunteerscontinued

Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, Rev. WilliamSchipper, OSB, Administrator, and Heather Leach,Coordinator; of Spencer; Ms. Christine M.Mazeika, M/M Brian Edwards, M/M RobertWalsh of Sterling; Ms. Tina Anderson ofSturbridge

St. Anne Parish, Rev. Albert Irudayasamy,Administrator, and Orla Wages, Coordinator; Ms.Alice Ruskowski, Girls Scouts of Eastern MA,Joan Provencal, Shannon Provencal, TanyaRybarczyk, Haley Rybarczyk, Hannah Grimm,Grace Silverstein, Emma Dagg, Olivia Hurley,Mona Kaul, Anaya Kaul, Emmy Habib ofSouthborough; Becky, Aiden and Erin Hulyk,Jennifer Mandeville of Southbridge; St. Francisof Assisi Parish, Rev. James Callahan, Pastor, andVictoria King, Coordinator; of South Barre;Annette McCarthy, of South grafton;Ms. IreneHealy of South Harwich

St. Mark’s Parish, Rev. Michael DiGeronimo,Pastor, and Karen Matson, Coordinator; LaurieWilliams, M/M Gerald Donahue, M/M JeffreyRemillard, M/M Eugene Mossa, Philip and KarenRoux, Charlie and Kathy Trainor, Theresa Trainor,Dick Person, John Steele, Bob Kolofsky and hisson, Tom, Judy Gauvin, Laura Dennis, HeatherDennis, Girls Scouts, Michelle Britton, MelissaSoule, Kiki Soule, Julie Pacenka, LaurenCampbell, Samantha Warren, Mayfield Plastics,Mark Kackley, Coordinator; of Sutton

St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Rev. LaurenceBrault, Pastor, Rev. Thomas Mahoney, Pastor, andRenee Pond, Coordinator; M/M Joseph Burchill,M/M Richard Vernon, Nipmuc Regional HighSchool, Catherine Curran, Ana Soto, HannahDrainville, Mary Drainville, Katie Nadolski, LauraNadolski, Sophie Matellian, Patrick McEnaney,Michelle Goddard, Tina Vanslette, Alex Materia,Riley Bryant, M/M Richard Gentili, M/M RobertVennard, Katie Vennard, Brian Vennard, ofUpton; St. Mary’s Parish, Rev. NicholasDesimone, Pastor, and Mrs. Barbara Glidden,Coordinator; of Uxbridge

St. Louis Parish, Rev. William Sanders, Pastor,and Mrs. Louise Forget, Coordinator; Sacred Heartof Jesus Parish, Rev. Adam Reid, Pastor, andCollette McNamara, Coordinator; Ms. ShirleyGabor, M/M Bennett E Gordon Jr., M/M LarryTokarz of Webster; Bethlehem Bible Church,Pastor Mike Abendroth, and Lisa Huber,Coordinator; M/M John Staples, Ms. Ann Walsh,Ms. Kate Sheehan & Peter Weiskel of WestBoylston; David Ma, Eric Ma, of West roxbury;Ms. Barbara Matthews, M/M Edward Wilchynskiof Westborough

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11


Page 10

Remember you can now make yourdonations at

www.urbanmissionaries.com!

Have you tried making your dona-tion from our web site? It is a

secure transaction through PayPaland won’t cost any postage!

Needed and wanted: Volunteers with good cheer!

Looking for a service project? Got a few hours to spare?

We always need people to assist us in carry-ing out our mission. Please, don’t hesitate tocall and let us know if you have some time togive, be it for an hour, a day, or for a routine

schedule throughout the year. And, consider making it a family affair.

You’ll work hard, meet some wonderful peo-ple and leave with a warm feeling of self-sat-

isfaction.

Call and ask at (508) 831-7455or email to:

[email protected]

Sustainer DriveTo become a sustainer all you need to do is log

on to

www.urbanmissionaries.com

click on the link shown below, enter your bankaccount information, and Voila! It’s done! If youprefer, click on the DONATE button and use yourcredit card. Thank you for becoming a sustainer!

STREETLIGHTSESTABLISHED JANUARY 1987

PUBLISHER:URBAN MISSIONARIES OF OUR LADY OF HOPE

242 CANTERBURY STREETWORCESTER, MA 01603

PRODUCTION:TURLEY PUBLICATIONS

24 WATER STREET, PALMER, MA 01069

You DO read Streetlights!Each year, as the Christmas Giving Program windsdown, we face the same problem. We often receivemany requests for children’s gifts in the last threeor four days before the program concludes at noonon Christmas Eve. While many times there arepresents to distribute, we usually have no volun-teers available to select and prepare them for dis-tribution at this late stage of the season.

In May of last year we decided to address thisdilemma by placing an appeal in Streetlights forhelp during this specific period. We asked peoplewho might be available on any day from the 21stthrough the 23rd of December to contact us. Werepeated the appeal in the newsletter’s Novemberedition.

The response was overwhelming! People from allover Worcester county called or wrote, offeringtheir help. Thanks to them, we were able torespond to every call for assistance receivedthrough 7 pm on December 23rd.

Because people were so giving of their time, notone child needing Christmas gifts last year wentwithout! YOU made this possible. Thank you forthe invaluable gift of your time. Children you willnever meet received gifts thanks to you!

Come to

The Flea242 Canterbury StreetWorcester, MA 01603

Every Saturday, Rain orShine

From the first Saturday inMay

To the last Saturday inSeptember

Opens at 8:00 a.m.Closes at 2:00 p.m.

The decision tobegin performing the

Works of Mercybegins and ends

with you.If you have someextra time and

would like to perform a variety of small jobsthat will directly aidsomeone in need, call

(508) 831-7455and ask for Walter.

Opt Out Form:

Name:_______________________________(Please print clearly)

____ Do not call. You will still be on our mailing list.

____ Remove me from the mailing list. You will not be called or receive any mailings, but you will receive our newsletter

____ Remove me from the database. You will not be called, nor receive any mailings, nor receive our newsletter Streetlights.

We at the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady ofHope realize that in today’s fast-paced world therequests of your time and money can be staggering.Sometimes it seems that every phone call and everyenvelope in your mailbox is just another group ask-ing of you.

We’d like to give you the opportunity to ‘opt out’of our promotional system. On the form below,please fill in the appropriate boxes and return it tous in the return envelope that came with thisnewsletter.

Opting Out

Page 11


got email?

If you do then you can help us reduce the costof mailing out your copy of Streetlights!

Send us an email at:[email protected]

We will change your subscription fromnewsletter to e-newsletter. And your next copyof Streetlights will come via email and withcolored picures.

How’s that for helping out!! Thanks.

You can like us on FaceBook at urbanmissionaries

You can follow us on Twitter at urbanmissionaries

You can follow us on Google+ at johndoe(Urban Missionaries)

St. Edward The Confessor Parish, Rev. KevinHartford, Pastor, and Linda Barrows, Coordinator;Julie Barrows of Westminster; M/M PaulSullivan of Wilmington; Eversound and PartyHeadphones, Mr. Jake Reisch, of Woburn

Blessed Sacrament Parish, Rev. Richard Trainor,Pastor, and Mary Ellen Stansky, Coordinator; OurLady of the Rosary Parish, Rev. PatrickHawthorne, Pastor, and Sr. Irene Moran, MPV,Coordinator; Chancery - Office ofCommunications - Mr. Raymond Delisle,Coordinator; Christ the King Parish, Msgr.Thomas Sullivan, Pastor; Immaculate ConceptionParish, Rev. Walter Riley. Pastor; St. ChristopherParish, Rev. Stanley Krutcik, Pastor, Diane Dadah,Coordinator; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Rev.Brian P. O’Toole, Pastor, and M/M George Cote,Coordinators; Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Rev.Charles F. Monroe, Pastor; St. Peter Marian HighSchool, Ms. Beth Tobin, Coordinator; AllegroMicrosystems, Mrs. Judy Harrington and AndreaKellett, Coordinators; Bancroft School, TreyCassidy, Head of School, and Mark Taylor andAngela Sigismondi, Coordinators; Knight-Dik

anonymous donations, for which we would llike tooffer a sincere “Thank You.”

In the hubbub of the Christmas program, we mightforget, miss, omit, misspell, misread, overlookthings like names of participants, be they volun-teers or donors. If we have done any of these toyour name(s), we apologize. Please let us knowand we will correct in the next issue.

Even More Christmas Volunteerscontinued

M/M William Robertson, Ms. Catherine Novick,Ms. Gloria Dee, Michael Mitchell, Alan’sLocksmith, M/M Gerald Collette, Mr. BarryO’Connor, M/M Richard Flynn, Dr./Mrs. KevinKearney, M/M Thomas Corrigan, LauringCharitable Foundation, Mr. Raymond Lauring,Coghlin Construction Fund, Ms. Susan Mailman,Ms. Eileen Lush, Ms. Susan Strandberg, Bryan J.Montenegro, Ryan Renteria, Vladimir Renteria,Ms. Noelle Savageau, Ms. Judy Savageau, TheMara Family, Haley Newman, Katelynn Vaslet,Nicholas Boucher, Emily Le, Joe and JenithCharpentier, Vivienne Charpentier, JamesCharpentier, Nyssa Charpentier, M/M HectorLópez, Jonathan López, James Fay, KathleenBlack, Patrick McGuine, Mrs. Dorothea Simmons,M/M Ken Hannaford-Ricardi, Caitlyn Snell,Richard Garbis, M/M Robert Vrusho, Mrs. IdellaHazard, Ms. Gail Faron, Ms. Diane Cummings,Shear Dimension Salon, Jolleen Kay, Karla Busky,Unum Corporation, Mark Doyle, Coordinator,Holy Name High School, Lynnette White,Coordinator, of Worcester

Ms. Tara Wilkinson of Birmingham, AL; M/MJohn Becconsall of Boynton Beach, FL; M/MRobert Eckland of Dunedin, FL

M/M Long Nguyen, of Houston, TX; Mr. JohnMcCarthy of Leesburg, FL; M/M Lee Vergnaniof Naples, FL; M/M David Kazanovicz of PalmBay, FL; M/M Robert Schwall of Boulder, CO;M/M Rob Young of ridgefield, CT; M/M StefanWawzyniecki, Mr. Paul Jackson of Vernon CT

M/M Richard Lisauskas of Kennebunk, Me;M/M David Keenan of Scarborough, Me; M/MGregory Molesky of Waxhaw, NC; M/M RobertDeJoie of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; Dr. TomaszKowacz of rego Park, NY; Michael Kim of NewYork, NY;

Mr. Peter Goodwin of greenville, rI; M/MMichael Warnalis of Bedford, VA

The following donations were received withoutmentioning their city or town:

M/M David Kazanovicz, Martin Renninger,Cuddly Creatures, Lina Long, Kristen Henriques,Nikki Wittman, Girls Scouts of EasternMassachusetts

The Urban Missionaries also received many

Insurance Agency, Mr. Ross Dik, President andCoordinator;Richard Gallant, M/M John Knight,Ms. Germaine Simkus, Also, M/M RichardDonahue, Ms. Vera Novick, Deacon/Mrs. MylesHayes, M/M Joseph Duggan, M/M Frank Petrella,Deacon Joseph Baniukiewicz, M/M Thiet Ho, Ms.Lauraine Laurence, Rev. Ronald Provost, M/MJohn O’Toole, Annette Frissora, Mr. James Terrill,Ms. Helena Ilvonen, M/M Brendan Donahue,

Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope242 Canterbury St.Worcester, MA 01603

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PERMIT NO. 751WORCESTER,MA.

...Just Helping since 1979

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STr

eeTL

IgH

TSa publication of the Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope. A social action ministry

in the Catholic Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts


Urb

an M

issio

nari

es o

f Our

Lad

y of

Hop

e M

issio

n St

atem

ent

The Urban Missionaries’ mission of service, under the auspices of the Bishop of Worcester,

is to assist newly-arrived refugees in the Worcester area, immigrants and those in the

neighborhoods where we work. We are committed to bringing together the skills and

resources of staff and volunteers from local churches and the community to provide ser-

vices to these individuals, ensuring that any human rights afforded by God are placed at

their disposal as needed, including medical or legal access, advocacy, food, clothing,

housing, language and work skills, in the fellowship of Christ.TM

Documents

STreeTLIgHTS · missed a payment in my life. I need $400.00 and I don’t know what to do. Can you help me? Please. I don’t know where to go.” Walter listens. He doesn’t panic;