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Fifty-six years ago, when I was twelve years old, I completed the training as an altar server. I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I was so excited that I ran all the way home without waiting for the bus to tell my parents. Running all the way home was no small feat as it was quite 'a ways' from St. Raymond’s Church to West Farms in the Bronx.
That feeling of happiness was only exceeded three times: meeting my wife, Bernadette, for the first time and the birth of my two children. Being an altar server meant being closer to the Lord. Now I have the opportunity to be even closer as a Eucharistic Minister for the homebound. This might be seen as doing a service, but in reality that’s only a small part of what happens. My wife and I have found a deeper bond as we bring the Lord to the homebound. In addition, the Lord has helped us develop some of our closest friends among those we visit. When we finish, Bernadette and I always go on a date. You can imagine how special that is and the conversations we have. People say they feel they’re not worthy to be Eucharistic Ministers. They’re absolutely right, as no one is worthy. But, I know the Lord wants us to do it anyway because He loves us.
When I retired, I asked the Lord to help me find another community. He answered my prayer through the community we have in our parish and I thank each one of you for being part of that answered prayer.
Peter M.
God loves each of us in a special way. He protects, comforts and inspires us. So, my response to “Why do I volunteer?” is out of gratitude to the Lord for all His blessings. I want to do my part in promoting the legacy of “Love thy neighbor” in concrete ways.
I am a lector at morning Mass. After overcoming my fear of “being up there looking out onto the congregation” I am proclaiming the word of God, which I feel is a privilege. I think of St John the Baptist - his courage and willingness to proclaim God’s word, where no one had heard it before! My proclaiming is easy compared to his! I have captive listeners.
I am also a Eucharistic Minister at Mass as well as at the hospital. I remember when I was a patient how I appreciated receiving Holy Communion. I see how grateful the patients are to receive right in their rooms. I hope I am a companion on the journey for them!
May the dear Lord continue to bless and inspire us.
Elda Z.
My Catholic faith has always been a big part of my life, but even more so after the death of the love of my life. I would not have been able to cope with the paralyzing grief without that faith. Although I also attend other churches, it is with St Paul Church that my Catholic faith is intertwined.
In the beginning of my widowhood, there was caring of children’s needs, household and financial matters to attend to, and there was work to fill the void. But the gaping hole in my heart was too big; I needed something more. Volunteering at St Paul Church was one of the things that helped me. I started slowly, volunteering at the food cupboard, while at the same time also volunteering to take turns in hand washing and ironing the altar linens, then taking care of the altar after 9:00 am masses, and then as one of the counters for Sunday collections every week.
Among other things, volunteering is a commitment that has fulfilled me, given some sense of purpose to my day, expanded my self-adopted church family, and makes me feel that I am giving back to something( St Paul Church) that has played a major role in my coping when I needed it most. I am giving of myself, but it has given me back tenfold.
Hedy V.
“ They’ll know we are Christians by our love”. This line of a song I remember learning when I was preparing for my own communion here at St. Paul many years ago is why I volunteer. Not until recently did I make that connection. Those words had a great impact on me. I recall wanting to begin spreading God’s message, but I was far from a preacher myself. Instead I chose to do good things in my lifetime so others would know I walked with God. Volunteering is my way of offering my time to do something positive in the world. Choosing a group in my parish to join or helping where help is needed is my way to shine God’s light. “We are one in the Spirit “and volunteering shows all who pay attention that the children of God love each other. How awesome is that!
Cathy S.
As our beloved Jesus said, “the harvest is bountiful, but the laborers are few”.
It is truly a wonderful gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit, that the people who inspired us to volunteer our time in the service of our Lord has given us and as a result, allowed us to live much richer and fuller lives serving our one true God in our Ministries.
Ric A.
When I moved to St Paul's parish about 20 years ago, I met Bernadette & Peter Masiello at a church fund raiser and it rekindled my interest in volunteering, something I had done periodically through my earlier years. I decided to get involved with the annual Family Fun Day. We were able to raise money for the church which was wonderful, and I developed lifelong friendships with the committee members. When St Paul's and St Ann's churches merged about 4 years ago, I wanted to branch out and got involved with providing food for others through Helping Hands and The Garden of Faith. We prepare meals and distribute food for those in need. After each encounter, I can say that I always felt a little bit blessed. Being of service has brought me closer to our Lord and it is one way for me to live out my Christian faith.
Patty B.
When I was asked to address this topic, my first thought was why would I ever not want to volunteer my time. I had completed a long and demanding career and was fortunate to be able to embark on what I would term semi-retirement. I was relatively young and healthy and felt a strong need to continue to be a productive member of society and my community. The question was - what should I devote my time to?
I had started to attend the daily 9:00 AM Mass at St. Paul’s Church as strengthening the spiritual side of me was at the top of my bucket list. It was there that God provided me with an answer as I was approached with an offer of becoming a lector. I learned that this required me to not only serve at Mass and read the Holy Scripture but to lead the morning prayers before the Mass began as well. Although I felt a twinge of trepidation, I accepted this offer and found it to be one of the more satisfying undertakings that I have ever been involved in. It was such an honor to not only serve God and the Church but our faith community as well. The first time that I served as a lector proved to be quite an emotional experience as I was just so moved to be in the sanctuary while the priest consecrated the bread and wine and the miracle of transubstantiation took place. This led me to become a Eucharistic Minister shortly thereafter.
Serving in these capacities has made me a better person as I feel that I am representing our faith in everything that I do. I continue to seek out other activities where I can serve others. I teach management classes on the college level and have often spoken of the importance of servant leadership. I’ve never understood the topic better than I do now. The truth is that it really doesn’t take up a lot of time and the benefits certainly outweigh any sacrifices that I might make. I encourage anyone who has ever thought about volunteering to put your concerns aside and inquire about the opportunities that are available to you. The dividends just may surprise you.
Bryant C.
I was seriously considering leaving the Catholic Church. I felt the services tedious, the congregation and clergy deadpan and uninspiring. I believed other churches would be more inclusive and outreaching in ministry and worship. Coincidently, I saw an announcement of a series of meetings at Marydell with the topic – ‘Is it Worth Staying in the Catholic Church?’. That series of discussions not only helped me realize that this was the Church I wanted to be in, but that I had some responsibility to make it the Church I wanted it to be. Originally, I volunteered as a CCD teacher, but later found my calling with the aged as a Eucharistic Minister for Nyack Manor. In addition to the 7 years of truly inspirational faith of the infirmed and suffering that I have witnessed, the true glory of this ministry was revealed to me. The power of the Eucharist I carry gives me a strength I never believed I had – a strength to serve the sick, the unresponsive, the naked and sometimes not great smelling with compassion and Christian Love. It was through this ministry that the Church miraculously became for me everything I was seeking.
Heidi H.
I like to volunteer, as it helps me to feel close to God and to the community. When I think of holding the Holy Eucharist in my hands, I feel I should stay away from any kind of sin and I get the feeling that I should keep myself pure in my actions, words thoughts. For this reason, I do the sacrament of Reconciliation more often than before. Being a volunteer helps me to get to know the parish community and many of them became my friends. It gives me a sense of discipline that I should be present when I am scheduled. When ministering in the nursing home, I get the opportunity to pray and interact with the nursing home patients. This is a way I can thank God for the many blessings He bestowed on me. I feel that it is my duty to give back to the community. Overall, being a Eucharistic minister is something which I always wanted to do, and it gives me a Heavenly Joy.
Alphonsa M.
Belonging to St. Ann’s Choir over the past 30+ years has been a joy for me. Singing together for Mass on Sundays offers our Choir the chance to participate in the Liturgy and enhance the service for everyone. Not only have I made lifelong friends in Choir, I have grown closer to our whole Parish, priests, worshippers, and to God through our praise with music.
Jane B.
I am the Usher Coordinator for the church of St. Ann’s Society of Ushers. Our ushers take the ministry very seriously and are dedicated and devoted to the ministry. I personally find great satisfaction and spirituality in performing my duties for the ministry. I feel the ushers represent the church in a very visible way and help set the tone in preparation for the worship service, as well as assist with the smooth operation within the service. We serve wholeheartedly, as if we are serving the Lord, not parishioners.
Ushers have a very important role which has a long history in the Catholic Church. In the third century the ushers guarded the doors against disruptive intruders. They were known as Porters.
Our mission is to assist all people in receiving the Lord. Ushers are the visible ministers who provide personal service and courtesies to parishioners before, during, and after Mass. We strive to provide a warm welcome and a sense of belonging and security to all members and guests of our church. We perform this important function in the same way Christ would; with open hearts and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us.
This ministry is available to all parishioners, men and women, including our teenagers. Ushering teams carry out the duty of ushering at St. Paul and St. Ann’s masses, services, as well as holy days and special holiday services.
Guy Gebbia
My faith in God is my most valuable possession and the Catholic religion is its cornerstone. I was raised in St. Ann’s parish, so our parish is my spiritual home. I volunteer in two ways. I serve the Church as an Usher at Sunday Mass, and I also serve the Parish food cupboard, helping to unload the food delivery truck twice a month. I volunteer to help keep our Church strong in these times when our Catholic religion seems to be under almost daily attack. For me, the light and wisdom of the world is found in our Catholic faith, and so I think it is vitally important to keep our Catholic Church strong and vibrant. My volunteer work is a way for me to help the Church remain strong!
Nick DP
I remember many things about growing up on Blackrock and Castle Hill Avenues in Holy Family Parish in the East Bronx. One of my fondest memories is of my parents and how they devoted countless hours volunteering at our parish - lectoring and running fundraisers to providing childcare for working parents. Their commitment to their faith and their church has always resonated with me. Through their example, I have been inspired to give back by using the talents God has blessed me with.
As a choir member for 39 years and founder and the co-director of St. Paul’s School Show Biz for 17 years, I hope I have used these blessings to honor God for His gifts, enrich our liturgical worship, teach young children how to realize and share their talents joyfully. I pray that other parishioners may find it in their hearts to give back by volunteering for one of the many ministries that our parish offers. St Augustine said, “to sing is to pray twice.”
Jim Russell and Sol Bloch are not only extremely talented, they are also very humble musicians. I thoroughly enjoy singing with them and learning about music from them. I am certain that all the members of our Choir family feel the same way. If you have the desire to sing in Church, please join us in the choir.
Volunteering will enrich your spiritual health by allowing you to give of yourself one of the greatest ways you can show love for your neighbor and connect with your parish.
Karin L.
I have three wonderful daughters and they all adore their loving mom. My wife and daughters have all volunteered at the school of religion since the girls were in middle school. They all have the right makeup for it. They are kind, loving, patient and nice. I have always admired them for that, and prior to my two youngest, Alysen and Alesia, heading off to college, I suggested that we teach a class together. I thought this would help me instill our Catholic values on my girls before college and allow me to spend time with them.
Having no prior teaching experience, I was afraid to teach young children. However, my daughters opened my eyes to see our students the way they see them, “so cute”. They helped me bring the best version of myself to class and although we struggled at times, the Holy Spirit eventually took over and helped our family prepare three classes for First Communion. Our teaching was structured on our study guide and centered on sharing our Christian experiences, prayer, and intercession. We encouraged participation, got to know all the kids and would spend the week recalling all the funny experiences we shared during class.
When Alysen headed off to college, we formed new teams, I teamed up with my youngest, Alesia, and my wife teamed up with my oldest, Ashley. Now, Alysen and Alesia are both in college, my oldest daughter Ashley and I teach 4th graders, and my wife, Cookie, works with the school’s administration. What started as a simple way for me to spend time with my girls has blossomed into a family ministry. We have made good friends, who are devoted to the service of Christ, and feel closer to our parish in our service. Looking back, I thought I was doing this to spend time with my girls, but in reality, the Lord was doing this to bless my family. We are managing school, work, careers and all sorts of challenges, but by having us teach the little ones of our church, He is shaping and teaching us. Jesus is always working for us. Why not do something for Him? The church is reaching out for volunteers. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to guide us; to work in us; to change our lives; to bless us. We may think that we are the ones working, but in reality, it is God that does all the work.
Erick G.
My name is Don Paoli and I am a volunteer in the Parish of St. Paul/St, Ann as a Lector. I began my service in 1979 when my wife and I moved to Congers and were expecting our first child. I was going to be a Dad. At that time, my thoughts went back to the early 1960's and to St. Joseph's Parish in Spring Valley. Both of my parents were very much involved as volunteers. My Mom was a Class Mother and the Mothers Club. My Dad was President of the Men's Club and a Lector, subsequent to the Second Vatican Council. In the early '60's I became an altar boy and was partnered with Bob Obst with whom I am still friends with today. We often speak of those days as our first of volunteer days.
When I started high school, at Albertus Magnus, I began to understand how much the ministry of being a Lector meant to my Dad. As an Engineer and father of 5 he felt a special privilege in reading the scripture. I saw how the congregation followed the readings that he read from the Lectern and how much more they were able to understand and take from the scripture. Being a Lector meant so much to my Dad. It was at this time that I felt that I wanted to join this ministry and volunteer my service to be a Lector. With help from my Dad and the Priests of the parish, I became the youngest Lector at St. Joe's. Other younger Lectors followed. It was an awesome feeling to be able to deliver the readings at Sunday Mass and even more so when I was asked to help pick out and speak the readings at my Dad's funeral Mass when I was a senior in high school. I continued to serve as a Lector through college and now have volunteered to this worthwhile ministry for nearly 53 years.
As I have continued my overall volunteer work in this ministry through to this morning's Mass, it means as much and as special to me as it did back in high school. In review of the readings before Mass, it gives me an opportunity to understand the scripture and hopefully project this understanding to our congregation.
Please don't think of this ministry as one of public speaking. I realize that a majority of you might shy away for fear of speaking in front of a group of people. This Lector ministry will only help to enhance the understanding of scripture for yourself and of those we see in our parish family every day
Don P.
Hi, my name is Bernadette and I am privileged to be a volunteer for the parish. On this month to promote volunteerism, I want to share my experience. This is a miracle today. I think I was born shy and my early life reinforced it. Over the years I asked Our Lord to take this from me. When I started volunteering with my husband 29 years ago as a Eucharistic Minister for the Homebound, we used to have to come to the altar to receive the pyx before going into the community. I used to tremble on my way to the altar and I didn’t even have to say anything! Then I had to enter someone’s house I didn’t know.
I thought I was giving a gift, but it turns out I receive much more. Out of compassion, I wanted to bring Jesus to those who miss going to mass so very much, who need the eucharist to navigate this most difficult time in their lives. It turns out that being able to carry the Eucharist into the community feels like such an honor. We carry the Blessed Sacrament in a container called a burse over our hearts. There is a beautiful feeling of love, awe and undeserved privilege. In this ministry we have met people of all walks of life and accomplishments: a commander in the police force, a college professor, a social worker who did home visits to troubled families, great Italian cooks who still share recipes, and on and on. It is not a sad but a joyous time. Our prayers together are personal as we share stories of our lives.
This ministry has brought us close to those we would have never known, a deeper sense of reverence for the Eucharist, the inspiration of role models who face difficult illnesses with grace and a sense of gratitude for our own lives. Since my husband and I do this together once a month, it gives us a beautiful afterglow on a great date which always follows. And, yes, somewhere along the line, by the grace of God, I am no longer shy.
People tell me that they don’t want to be self-promoting, so they need to be invited to volunteer. I think it takes a little courage to volunteer, but you won’t regret it. This is our church. The laity are all invited and very much needed to enter into the privilege of being close to the Mystery.
Our parish needs more volunteers - men, women and children. At this time, we are reaching out for people who would like to know more about Eucharistic Ministry in church or in the community, altar serving, choir, lectoring and ushering. Each role is sacred from helping people feel warmly welcomed as an usher, lectoring or altar serving in the sanctuary, singing inspiring hymns or presenting the Eucharist to believers. We are offering altar serving for adults who either used to be altar servers or would like to try something that they have missed. Parents are invited to ‘altar serve’ with their children. If you travel often but want to volunteer, perhaps you would like to be on a substitute list for a ministry.
We promise you won’t feel “roped in” if you sign a sheet in the back of the gym to learn more about what is entailed in each ministry. Someone will call you, answer your questions about this commitment and perhaps offer you a chance to sample the work with a volunteer. If you decide to join a ministry, there will be training.
Over the next few weeks you will see beautiful testimonies from people who volunteer. The common theme is a sense of connection and gratitude. Please join this effort to help our parish grow as a family. We need you and you may be surprised how much camaraderie and joy you will receive sharing in the family of St Paul and St. Ann. Thank you.
Bernadette M.
Why do I volunteer at St. Ann? It’s simple...I so love the embrace of this parish when I moved to Nyack several years ago. I began by attending daily mass in the summer, and loved the quiet, welcoming community in the chapel. I began to see them at Sunday mass, and they nodded “hello.”
Shortly after, the Sunday Religious Education program on Sunday morning was falling for lack of catechists. I immediately volunteered to teach 6 th grade Old Testament, and the students and parents appreciated my sincere effort to make the Scriptures alive and relevant.
My next venture was to bring a Bereavement Ministry to the parish—different than any of the established Rockland ministries. My co-facilitator Phyllis Chalsen and I open the doors in the Parish Meeting Room the first Friday of the month at 10:00 welcoming men and women from all faiths to a comfortable, sharing and supportive setting that encourages healing and encouragement to move forward.
Tap me on the shoulder, and I’m ready to be a fill-in Lector or Eucharistic Minister. I love serving the needs of this faith-filled parish in whatever is needed.
Arlene M.
When I think about volunteering, I first remember growing up in Ireland, wondering how my Mother and Father gave to others with us having so little.
Since raising my three children, I found myself needing another path, so I turned to volunteer work with the Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance corps. I spent the next 20 years volunteering and participating in administrative duties. When my time there came to an end, I was beyond grateful to begin volunteering for my Church as a Eucharistic Minister and Patron for Funeral Masses.
I am so thankful for our Priests who minister to our community, always offering their time, kindness and wisdom to those in need.
Being a volunteer for my parish and community has brought me a spirit of gratitude and kindness that will never be replaced. It has been my joy and continues to be so.
Sadie B.
When I was 12 years old at the beginning of WWII, we lived in rural Alabama and our parish church was over 30 miles away. As my father worked 7 days a week on the war effort, we rarely got to Mass there. However, the pastor travelled from town to town in his huge parish and said Mass on weekdays for the few Catholics in the area. When school got out, he invited me to accompany him and I learned my Latin and how to serve while driving from town to town 3-4 days a week.
When Eucharistic Ministers were approved, Eve and I were in Sacred Heart parish in Yonkers and we both were initially mandated there. After moving to St. Paul’s 35 years ago we were mandated again, and I remain EM and lector for weekday masses. Eve was a founding member of the RCIA team and served for 14 years before she took ill.
Jim O.
I volunteer because my Faith bids me to do so. I volunteer because I want to help wherever I am needed. I will say that joy motivates me. God has given me the gift of music and I offer it back to Him. I love singing harmony with the choir. It gives me so much joy to be able pray, praise and worship God through music.
Years ago I lead the Youth Choir. I love to teach. I love working with the youth. Opening the children's eyes- helping them learn something new gives me joy. It made me happy to see the children so proud of what they had accomplished working and singing together in harmony. It gives me joy to think that even now, those kids are passing on to others whatever they have learned from me.
Nora S.