Father Ralph – Barbara and George Gorman reported the December collection was $1,137 and the January collection was $554.
Crispus Attucks – Rob Blott reported the December 10 meal went well. They served 110 people and had plenty of food. Leftovers were brought to the Water Street Mission. Pat Smith played Christmas music on her keyboard. Pauline Ferrara indicated many people were thankful for the statues, crucifixes, medals, etc. which were given out. These items were left over from the Religious Gifts table at the bazaar and from Beads of Peace donations. The next meal is scheduled for Saturday, February 18. Please give Rob a call at 626-1417 if you can help.
St. Mary’s Meals – Kathy Cardos reported 140 people were served a ham dinner on Friday, December 23 at St. Mary’s on Vine St. in Lancaster. Many parishioners stepped up to help with the cooking, baking, serving, etc. for this Christmastime meal! The next meal will be Friday, February 24. If you would like to help by baking, preparing the meal at St. James, serving or cleaning up at St. Mary’s, please call Kathy at 627-1201 or Renee Billow at 575-8142.
Habitat for Humanity – Ed Ulicny reported we do not have another work date yet. HFH is using a different method of scheduling—more of a month-to-month basis. He also indicated that winter is slow anyway.
Respect Life Shower – The gifts donated in October for Audubon Villa were taken to them on Thursday, December 22 at 1:30 p.m. There were 13 volunteers from St. James (three of whom were children) who visited most of the rooms personally. The residents that could make it to the social room sang Christmas carols, with our own Pat Smith on the keyboard. All were touched by the kindness of St. James parishioners!
Catholic Worker House – Jeannette List reported CWH is continuing with the Saturday lunches. Joe Dougherty indicated they could use more space in the kitchen for food preparation. They are thinking maybe shelving or rolling counters that could be moved out of the way afterwards. Another project he is working on is fixing up the basement. The floor has been cemented and he is working on reinforcing the deteriorating wall bricks with cement. Labor and materials are needed. Ed Ulicny will try and round up some of the skilled Habitat volunteers to help. After explaining the situation to Fr. O’Blaney, he approved the Soup Supper proceeds to go to CWH.
Beads of Peace – Pat Smith reported many prayer books, little statues, etc. which were donated by parishioners, were brought to the people at the December 10 Crispus Attucks meal. Rosaries and lighter-weight items are shipped to Beads of Peace in Wyoming.
Fair Trade – Jeannette List and Pat Smith reported there were not as many shoppers at the December 3/4 sale as in previous years. They also had many discrepancies when dealing with Catholic Relief Services--Work of Human Hands (SERRV) warehouse in New Windsor, MD. We were shipped items we did not order, and we did not get credit for some of the items which were returned. Jeannette and Pat had to travel to Maryland to return the consigned items, and also made a second trip. After considering this and discussing it with the group, it was decided we should discontinue this Alternative Gift Sale. The small profit of $155.21 will be donated to Hope International, 227 Granite Run Dr., Su. 250, Lancaster, PA. We toured their poverty exhibit in June, and they have an awesome microfinance program in African, Asian, Caribbean, and Eastern European countries.
Mayak Machaar – Jeannette List gave an update on our “Lost Boy from Sudan.” Mayak left for Sudan on Christmas day. Southern Sudan is now independent, so he decided to go over to where his mother and brother are living and help them start a business. This way his family will be set even if they can’t come to the U.S. The bad news is tribal warfare is stepping up in the region. He is planning on staying there for a total of three months.
Christmas Giving Tree – Pat Kirchner headed up another super-successful parish Christmas giving project!
Manna Bag – We have secured the weekend of February 11/12 for manna bag distribution to parishioners. Phyllis will obtain a list of needed items for the Lititz-Warwick Community Chest pantry and publish it in the bulletin that weekend. February 26 after the 11:00 Mass will be the time for sorting, boxing and delivering the food to the pantry. Ed Ulicny will also coordinate the project. Please call or email Phyllis at 627-0138 raspbcms@aol.com if you can help distribute the bags after any Mass or help on 2/26.
Lenten Soup Suppers – We have secured the Wednesday dates of February 29, March 7 and March 14 for the Lenten Soup Suppers. Kathy Cardos has again agreed to coordinate groups, menus and publicity for this project. So far, the Knights have agreed to take one date. She is going to see which date the Men’s Club may agree to do and the SJN will do the remaining Wednesday. The proceeds of the freewill offering will go to Catholic Worker House for their renovating projects.
Easter Project – Linda Lowe has again agreed to coordinate this project. We just got word, however, that the Lititz-Warwick Community Chest is not getting involved in recommending names of needy families in the community. We will do the Easter meals and baskets for needy families within our own parish. The plastic eggs containing a slip of paper with a needed item will be put out the first weekend in March.
The next meeting will be Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 104.
Respectfully submitted,
Phyllis Schwartz, SJN secretary