Service Ministry and Pastoral Care
A Relection & Guide To Community Service Activities
A reading from the Gospel of St. Matthew Mt. 25:31-46
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY
Food for Thought
- What do you think life is like for a child in a family that can't afford a lot of food?
- If you were very poor, what are some other things you might not have besides food?
- Have you ever spent an entire day or several days without a crumb of food? How did it feel?
- Who are the hungry and the thirsty today? What do you think are the reasons that people are hungry or thirsty?
- How can you help one another overcome the helplessness you experience when you think of world hunger?
- What is the difference between giving charitably to someone and empowering that person to participate fully in society?
Food for Action
Donate food or volunteer at a food pantry Children can make a list or participate in the shopping!
- St. Raphael food cart, each Sunday after Mass
- Loaves and Fishes, 556 W. 5th Ave., Naperville (630) 355-FOOD
- Northern Illinois Food Bank, St. Charles, IL (630) 443-6910
- Aurora Feed the Hungry, 926 Sard Ave., Aurora (630) 897-3317
- People's Resource Center, 1506 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton (630) 682-3844
Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
- Hesed House, 659 S. River St., Aurora, (630) 897-2165
- Shepherd's Table ,Catholic Charities, Joliet, (815) 774-4663
Deliver meals to the homebound
- Meals on Wheels - Naperville, (630) 848-3627
- Humanitarian Service Project , West Chicago (630) 231-1542
Participate in Operation Rice Bowl during Lent.
Have one simple soup and bread dinner each week. Put the money you would have spent on a bigger dinner into your family's Rice Bowl.
Advocacy
- Join St. Raphael's Faith in Action Ministry. Call (630) 355-4545, ext. 129, 123 or 163
- Become a member of Bread for the World, (800) 82-BREAD or www.bread.org
- Call the Illinois Hunger Coalition, (312) 629-9580 to see how you can help.
- Participate in St. Raphael's Offering of Letters
Food for the Soul
Loving God, you created enough food for everyone. Help us to know how we can bring fairness into the world so that each person has enough to eat. We pray that you be with people all over the world who are hungry today and that you be with us as we learn how we can make a difference in your name. Amen
Food for Thought
- Who are the homeless in your area? The alien? How do you welcome these?
- Have you ever seen or met a person who is homeless? How did that make you feel? How do you think a homeless person feels?
- What do you think it would be like to be in a country where you do not understand what people are saying and they don't understand you?
- How do you react to people who look different from you, speak a different language in your presence, or practice customs different from yours?
- How does your community treat those outside the majority? How can we change them to better reflect God's rule of love and justice?
- What can you do to improve the plight of the immigrant to this country?
Food for Action
Welcome new parishioners to St. Raphael
Join St. Raphael's Welcome Ministry! Call (630) 355-4545, ext. 129, 123 or 163
Welcome the homeless
- Volunteer your time at Hesed House PADS (630) 897-2165 or at DuPage PADS (630) 682-3846.
- Create and deliver a "Party-in-a-Box" for the guests at Family Shelter Service (Robbie MacRoy, (630) 221-8290).
- Help build a home:
DuPage Habitat for Humanity, 213 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton (for every hour spent building a house, 3 other volunteer hours are needed), (630) 510-3737
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, Aurora (630) 579-6108
Be a mentor for a Transitional Housing Program. Call Catholic Charities, (630) 495-8008.
Welcome the immigrant
- Teach ESL classes:
- People's Resource Center, 1506 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, (630) 682-3844
- Dominican Literacy Center, 260 Vermont Ave., Aurora, (630) 892-1712
- Literacy Volunteers of DuPage, 24 W 500 Maple Ave #220, (630) 416-6699
- Volunteer in Catholic Charities' Refugee Resettlement Program, (630) 495-8008
- Make a Welcome to America! gift pack. Exodus World Service, (630) 307-1400.
Advocacy
- Call your county, township or city offices and ask about the availability of low income housing in your area. Advocate for its presence.
- Join Illinois Coalition for the Homeless (847) 742-4227
Food for the Soul
Lord, you told us a wonderful story about welcoming people who are homeless in a foreign land (The parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-36). Help us to follow your teaching by welcoming every person we meet. Help us to treat each person the way we would treat our neighbor. Amen.
Food for Thought
- Have you ever had to share at home or at school? In what ways have you shared? Is it easy or hard to share? Is it easy or hard to borrow? Would you rather borrow or share?
- Do you like to have clothes that are in style? Have you ever had to wear something that is o longer in style? How did you feel?
- What do you do when you are cold? What do you think people with little money do?
- What people suffer from inadequate clothing or blankets? In what ways do they suffer?
- Have would you feel about receiving hand-me-downs? When people offer to help you, does the way in which they help you make a difference? What qualities do you appreciate most in someone who tries to give you a hand?
- What is the difference between working for the poor and marginalized and working with them?
- To what extent is the physical separation of most of us from the poor a matter of accident, to what extent is it a matter of choice? What factors affect each?
Food for Action
Host a baby shower!
- Give newborn clothing to: Care and Counseling Center, 1131 Fairview Downers Grove, (630) 960-1060
- Birthright of DuPage, 608 S. Washington, Suite 101, Naperville (630) 355-9888
- Meld Young Mothers, (630) 790-8433, ext. 283
Participate in St. Raphael's Undy Sunday Collection - October 4-5, 2003
Donate new underwear, socks and pajamas for Catholic Charities. Boxes will be placed in the church narthex.
Clean those closets!
- Call a local clothing donation site to donate those almost new clothes.
- Drop-off Locations:
- Hesed House, 659 S. River St., Aurora, (630) 897-2165
- Goodwill, 539 Forthill Drive (Rt. 59 & Aurora Ave), (630) 357-6258
- Wayside Cross Mission box, behind Walgreen's at River & Ogden
- Pick-Up Services:
Sharing Connection, (630) 971-0565
St. Vincent dePaul, (630) 231-4658
Salvation Army, (312) 738-4360
Amvets, (708) 388-7800
Cancer Federation, (800) 962-3260
Collect winter coats or blankets
For distribution by DuPage PADS, (630) 682-3846
Participate in St. Raphael's Christmas Sharing Program
Choose an angel from our narthex Christmas tree and purchase the clothing item listed.
Call a community school and offer to buy an outfit for one child.
Advocacy
Write to your elected representatives about fuel assistance funds for the poor or elderly.
Food for the Soul
Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful world and for all the blessings in our lives. Teach us how to share with one another so that everyone has enough. Amen
Food for Thought
- When families are poor, children may not have warm clothes or enough food to eat. How do you think this will affect their health?
- Have you ever been sick? How did it feel? What did you want most when you were sick?
- Who are the sick people of society that are the most neglected?
- In what way are you called to minister to the needs of the sick? How does this change their situation in life? How can it change you?
- How do health institutions enhance the life and dignity of people? How are the sick dehumanized? What steps can you take to improve conditions in local institutions or hospitals?
Food for Action
LOVE LETTERS
Sends over 5000 pieces of mail per month to seriously ill children. They need volunteers to write letters, postage stamps, greeting cards, stickers, gift wrap. 837 S. Westmore, Lombard (630) 620-1970
DuPage Community Clinic, 1506 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton (630) 682-0639
A medical/dental clinic serving the un- and under-insured of DuPage County. Volunteers are always needed!
Visit residents of Nursing Homes
- Manor Care Health Services, 200 Martin Ave., Naperville, (630) 355-4111
- Alden Rehabilitation & Health Care , 1525 Oxford, Naperville (630) 983-0300
- Meadowbrook Manor
- St. Patrick's Nursing Home
Edward Hospital 801 S. Washington (630) 527-3189.
Bring the Eucharist to hospitalized Catholics through St. Raphael's Minister of Care program. Call (630) 355-4545, ext. 129, 123 or 163.
Hospice Volunteers
Provide respite for family members, read to patients, run errands, support families during bereavement, assist with clerical work.
CNS Home Health Hospice, 690 E. North Ave., Carol Stream, (630) 690-9000 St. Thomas Hospice, 8230 S. Madison, Burr Ridge, (630) 856-6998
Prepare a meal, do some shopping or household chores for a homebound person.
Send get well cards to parishioners who are on our parish prayer list.
Advocacy
Call or write to the governing boards of health institutions in your community advocating better compensation for health care aides.
Food for the Soul
Loving God, you spent much of your life taking care of people who were sick. Bless the people who have followed you in that ministry - the nurses, the doctors, people who work in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Teach us ways that we, too, can make people who are sick feel your caring presence. Amen
Food for Thought
- Have you ever done something you shouldn't have done? How did you feel? Did anyone forgive you? How did it feel to be forgiven?
- God made us to be like Him (Gen 1:27). Then He looked at everything He had made and saw that it was good (Gen. 1:31) How do you think people in prisons are like God? How are they good?
- Who are the imprisoned? What factors contributed to their being imprisoned?
- What is your attitude toward criminals who are in prison?
- What can you do to give prisoners a new start?
- Should the focus of prisons be on restitution or on rehabilitation? What can you do to improve prison conditions in this country?
Food for Action
JUST of DuPage
Serves inmates of the DuPage County Jail. Lead bible studies, facilitate support groups or teach computer skills. To volunteer, call (630) 682-7805.
College of DuPage
Needs volunteers to teach G.E.D. classes to inmates. Call (630) 942-3798.
Companions, Journeying Together, Inc., Western Springs, Illinois, (708) 386-7288
Assemble "Pamper Yourself" kits for men or women recently released from prison.
Mother's Day Project for Incarcerated Women - Assemble stationery packets for the incarcerated to help them strengthen their relationships with family
Provide books and blank audio tapes for "Aunt Mary's Storybook Project." This project allows imprisoned women to record a story book on tape. The book and tape are sent to their children as their special gift. Book lists are provided.
As a group or as individuals, correspond with a prisoner. You can use Companions' return address.
Advocacy
Find out your company's policy on hiring ex-offenders. Is this a just policy? If not, take steps to change it. Invite a JUST of DuPage representative to your church, service club or group to present a community education program.
Food for the Soul
Lord God, you know that people who are in prisons need to be cared for, too. Help us to know that there is something good in all people - even people who are in prison. Please give us and the people who work in prisons, the gift of compassion. Amen.