“Whatever you do to the least of my people,
that you do unto me.”
Sister Marian Sgriccia assists as staff from Light of Life Rescue Mission unload two carloads of food donations delivered by our Sisters to the food pantry.
Helping Hands
Throughout March 2022, our Sisters used the public platform of Catholic Sisters Week (March 8 -14) to raise both money and awareness about food insecurity and climate issues in the places where we serve. We asked you to join us, and you responded.
In Western Pennsylvania
Sister Marian Sgriccia, provincial minister, and Sister Patricia Ann Mahoney, provincial secretary, delivered 24 boxes of food, grocery gift cards and a $1,000 check to Light of Life Rescue Mission’s food pantry on Pittsburgh’s North Side on March 28.
Mission staff were grateful to receive the donations, the result of a collection among our Sisters in the Pittsburgh area and the generosity of friends of our community who donated funds and nonperishable items for distribution to those struggling with food insecurity. Even the weekly bingo players at Mt. Assisi Place chipped in their game quarters throughout March.
“Every little bit counts,” says Sister Marian. “A few dollars or a jar of peanut butter may not seem like much, but to those worried about their next meal, it’s huge.”
Shirley Briody and Jeff Hero, lay Associates of the School Sisters of St. Francis, accept food from a generous donor during the drive-thru dropoff at St. Francis Center for Renewal.
In Eastern Pennsylvania
Our Sisters and sponsored ministries in Bethlehem, Pa. — St. Francis Center for Renewal and Monocacy Farm Project — joined forces to host a drive-thru food dropoff on March 26, which netted a truckload of food items and more than $400 in cash donations.
The collection was distributed to the Diocese of Allentown’s Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen & Food Pantry and the food pantry at Central Moravian Church. Several of our lay Associates braved the day’s brisk weather to help collect and sort the donations.
Sisters Marie Therese Sherwood and Maria Derecola celebrate the generosity of St. Matthias parishioners with Allie O’Brien of Franklin Food Bank.
In New Jersey
Sisters Marie Therese Sherwood and Maria Derecola appealed to parishioners at the Catholic Community of St. Matthias where they serve in Somerset, N.J., to make donations throughout Catholic Sisters Week to Franklin Food Bank. The church community responded by donating more than $2,500 to the nonprofit that helps families in need in the neighborhoods surrounding St. Matthias.
“We are amazed and grateful,” says Sister Marie Therese. “Many poor in our area will benefit from these generous hearts and enjoy food on their tables.”
Our Run4Water team included Sister Yolanda Escamilla, her sister Blanca Sanchez, Sister Jo Goolish, and friend Diane Saenz.
In San Antonio, Texas
Since raising awareness about and taking action on Laudato Si’ — Pope Francis’ encyclical about care for our common home — is a primary focus for our international congregation, our Sisters in San Antonio, Texas, took on the water crisis this spring.
To help people in the places where drinking water isn’t readily available, Sisters Jo Goolish and Yolanda Escamilla and friends joined Texas Water Mission’s Run/Walk4Water 2022: Celebrating World Water Day fundraiser to benefit the Navajoland and Honduras. The event took place on March 19 (leading up to World Water Day on March 22) in Confluence Park along the San Antonio River.
Sister Jo was inspired by the atmosphere of giving and the pleasant weather that made it possible. “The day was beautiful, and the landscape along the river was gorgeous,” she says.
Even though Catholic Sisters Week has ended, our efforts have not. You will hear more from us in the future on these important topics. In the meantime, we offer our collective blessings and gratitude to all who supported our efforts to raise awareness and offer help to those in need in our communities. Thank you for joining us in our journey.