Parish Social Ministry

Deacon John speaking with a
parishioner after Mass

I'm a new reader of John Sureau’s blog and am pleased to be among the people he has asked to write a ‘guest posting’.   My topic is Parish Social Ministry, which is something that runs deep for me.

I coordinate our Parish Social Ministry program at Saint Anne’s, where we are fortunate to have Deacon John as a seminarian from his assignment in late June to his ordination in December.   One of his first comments to me was that he was glad to see us publish these words in the bulletin each week on the PSM page:  “Saint Anne’s is here for you…" If parishioners are struggling with something and not sure where to turn, our parish provides confidential support and assistance.  Serious illness, financial problems, marital difficulties, unemployment, mental health concerns and caring for the ill and elderly are issues we all may face at different times in our lives.  "Saint Anne’s is here for you” is the message we strive to live each day.

Parish Social Ministry is our faith community’s response…to the needs we perceive in each person we encounter, and to God’s call to share our gifts in service to one another.  At Saint Anne’s, PSM includes direct service for people who are ill, elderly, poor or hungry.  Support is offered to the bereaved, to those who are unemployed, to those who have cancer, to those who have disabilities and to persons who are divorced.  Small communities have been formed for mothers in our parish, for seniors, for families who have children with special needs and for people in their ‘middle years’.  Together, we seek to find God in the Eucharist we share as a faith community and in the relationships we form with one another - especially with those who are most vulnerable.

In Parish Social Ministry, we strive to bring hope and comfort to people in need by being present to them, listening without judging, finding common ground, offering assistance and giving of ourselves with compassion, whatever their difficulties may be.  A prayer we have often shared is:

                  “Father, we ask You to increase our competence and compassion.  Help us reaffirm our covenant with You and Your people.  Give us sensitivity and patience, but also a sense of humor.  Teach us that as we ‘do’ for others that we ‘be’ with them.  Teach us the ministry of presence.  Amen.”

John Sureau, in the short time he has been with us, has demonstrated his understanding of this message and his willingness to live it.  The faith community of Saint Anne’s is blessed to have him spend this part of his journey to ordination among us and we are thankful for the gift of his pastoral presence. 

~ Linda Leone