Rotunda Volunteer Scheduling Software

As a parishioner of St. Elizabeth’s in Tecumseh, I feel the need to reach out.  I guess not only as a parishioner, but a human.  Our Priest asked my husband and me if we would assist with the Baptism program at our parish, to help polish and reconnect it.  We wholeheartedly jumped at the chance not knowing exactly what was in store, but then again, does anyone ever really know what’s in store?  We sat thru a few meetings of content change and program design and began working with our Deacon and his wife to help the families of our parish bring their children to our faith.  During this time, it’s been over 5 years, we have met many families, shared in their triumphs, joys and sorrows.  We have helped families bring their children to the Church, but more importantly I have seen the face of Christ reflected in a newborns smile, been asked to read at a families wedding, held the hand of a mother who lost her son, cried with them and celebrated the continued life of his twin sister.  I have become entwined with many families of our parish at a level that is deeper than seeing them on the weekend.  I feel like I am a part of their family, and I hope, somewhere, they feel the love of Christ through me and know that he is a part of their family also.   Baptism is one of the most beautiful Sacraments we offer as Catholics.  The ability to make the choice to open your heart to the Lord and his teachings as an adult or the expectation of bringing your child into a faith community when they are infants.  The act of committing them, or yourself, to the church is a blessing that we should all remember and embrace in our daily lives.  Even though I had no idea what I was getting into, I cannot now imagine my life, my faith journey or my parish without this monumental Sacrament.

Dawn Klauke

Tecumseh, MI

It was the summer of transition between my Junior and Senior years of high school. I wanted to do something in the world that I could claim responsibility for, with pride and honor. My friend Conor and I had decided that we would sign up with a global medical-care giving group and travel down to Nicaragua for ten days. We were both aware of the economic hardships found in Central America, but no amount of research of literature or pictures, could have prepared us for the world that we met.

We drove through the countryside in two buses on varying types of roads: gravel, brick, paved, and the good old-fashioned dirt. Attempting to reach our first destination south of Managua, the clouds began to open up and we were then asked to push the bus up hills that would otherwise be impossible ascend in such large vehicles. Five pushes later, we had arrived at our first clinic location and set up shop. It was the journey reaching the clinic that made me realize the poverty and desperation within the country though. It had taken twenty able-bodied men and women to push buses up hills in the rain, and serious dedication to reach the unnamed community in the mountains where people required regular medical care. I then understood why these people lacked such attention from their government, the amount of effort needed to reach these people was considered not to be a priority and so fell at the wayside. At first I could not comprehend the magnitude of that reality, I had grown up in England and been educated for the most part in the United States, and while we learn about the misfortune and poverty of cultures less fortunate, words are just words without true meaning until you witness the reasons for the poverty. My eyes were opened to causes of poverty and disease in developing nations but despite all the hardship the people had to endure in the mountains in Nicaragua, none of the adults were bitter and the children had the largest, happiest smiles.

As I stood in the middle of our mobile clinic inside of an open-air church in the mountains of one of the most beautiful countries, I came to the realization that these people that surrounded me were genuinely happy. They didn’t need spring break vacations, new cell phones on a regular basis, sports cars, or any other ridiculous luxuries that we perceive often as necessary. These Nicaraguans were happy with their life, they had been given a chance and had decided to not waste it. From that moment on, I wasn’t just standing among people in a church; I was standing and assisting in the diagnoses of members of a community. A community that relied on every person within it in order to survive and prosper. For the next nine days the sea of happy faces that we saw from one clinic to the next amazed me.

The trip put many trivial things in my life into perspective and made me appreciate the “little things.” I was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to go down there as a high school student and give care to those who needed it, and what sounded like a neat summer project, evolved into an experience that changed my entire view of the world and the people within it. Life isn’t about material possessions or the quality of life you are born into, true life is the laughter and the smiles that people produce despite not having anything to their name. I’m not sure if we were able to change the lives of the people we visited during those ten days traveling around the country, but I do know that every single one of them changed my life by strengthening and having me rethink my values that I held most dear. It challenged me to seriously think about entering the medical field and enabled me to envision a life of helping people who genuinely need and appreciate help. I loved my experience, and I loved the people. I love the world around me with such resolve now, that I question what kind of person I was and what type of society I was in before that. And with that energy I encourage others to do similar acts of kindness for them to see the world as it truly is without the blinders of society on, and to change peoplep’s lives for a difference. I did, and that feeling and doing changed me and my view of the world, forever.

Josh Skitmore

St. John Vianney recently had one of its members, a 2 year old girl by the name of Noelia Hurtado, get diagnosed with a brainstem tumor. Noelia was getting treatment at St. Jude’s Hospital and her expenses were mounting. Our children’s Religious Education director youth ministry decided to try and develop a means to raise money for the family. It was decided to have a Trivia Night and try and raise as much money as possible to give the family some relief.

Sign Up sheets were put out and at the time of the event put together 34 tables with 8 members per table. The Activity center was filled to capacity. There was a raffle for concert tickets, a silent auction and a drawing for chances at movie tickets, Hawkeye Football Souvenirs, and beauty supplies. Noelia was there and did the drawing. Noelia would hold up the winning ticket and someone would announce the number.

The Trivia Night raised $6000 for the family. The prizes that were won from the Trivia questions were returned to the family. The members of SJV have very big hearts and show that we care enough about a little 2 year old girl to come together and try and make a little difference in her life.

Larry Fitkin

St. John Vianney Catholic Church

Bettendorf, IA

Last November, a group of adults and teens from Sts Peter and Paul Catholic church-Beaver traveled to a special needs orphanage in Vokhma, Russia.  The remote orphanage with minimal resources but a very committed staff serves about 86 special needs children.  The orphanage teachers and staff equip the special needs children, up to 16 years of age, with life skills.  The goal is to train the children in skills that will enable them to make a living once they graduate.  They brought supplies to assist the orphanage and the local hospital in their mission to assist the underprivileged.

They are traveling back again this June 17.  This will be the fourth time our church has traveled overnight by plane, then an overnight train, followed by a 3 hour bus ride to get there. This time they will be working on outfitting a religion classroom at the orphanage and a playground as well as much needed medical equipment for the hospital.

We are truly blessed to have a unique opportunity to provide furniture for a religion classroom in this special orphanage.  What a unimaginable gift to the Lord this will be!  Furnishing a religion classroom in Russia!

Without the support for our parish, they live on a very limited stipend provided by the government.  We are the only outside agency providing additional assistance.

–
Patty Heinle

Imagine living on the streets, hungry and confused.  Every day people walk by, averting their eyes and giving you a wide berth on the sidewalk.  The world is a hard and uncaring place.

Almost 25 years ago this plight moved St. Paul’s youth to action.  Mentored by our youth worker, our young people initiated a program to prepare and serve meals to women in a homeless shelter on North Broad Street.  The youth cooked dinners after school and then delivered them.  The program was much more than just a food service:  the emphasis was to provide an experience just as if these women were guests in someone’s home.  Fresh produce, nutritious ingredients, family recipes and care went into each dinner.  The youth gave these women an immeasurable dose of Christian compassion–praying and singing hymns together and bringing Christ’s love where it was both needed and appreciated.

Through Trevor’s Place, founded in 1983 by 11-year-old Trevor Ferrell to provide blankets to the homeless and eventually blossoming into a nationally recognized nonprofit that provided education, counseling, meals and shelter, our youth and adult volunteers began cooking and serving hot dinners from a van or truck parked near 8^th and Race Streets.  By now participation had expanded to a busy schedule for shopping, cooking and delivery.  No garlic powder or frozen foods for this crew, which tirelessly peeled pounds of carrots and potatoes and chopped mounds of garlic cloves. Cooks often stood over hot stoves for hours in July frying chicken.  Countless stories of selfless devotion and unsung heroes could be told.

Handing out meals on a street corner was not without risk.  Admiration and gratitude are due to the volunteers who put their personal safety aside to serve cold, hungry individuals who could grow aggressive waiting for a meal.  One of our members wandered among those waiting, patting backs and making eye contact and easy banter.  As he greeted new faces with a genuine smile, tensions eased.

The last major change in the program’s history was Mayor Rendell’s mandate that all feeding of the homeless be done through shelters and not on the street.  Consequently St. Paul’s partnered with the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County in Upper Darby to provide 200-250 meals each month.

Almost everyone at St. Paul’s has participated as a volunteer or a donor to support this worthwhile effort.  Grateful to all who have served in the last 25 years, we look to the future.  What do the next 25 years hold for this program and those it serves?

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…”  Matthew 25:34-35

Jane Knappe

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Ardmore, PA

Six years ago one woman in our parish solicited the help of two others and initiated the project of making prayer blankets to comfort the sick people of the parish.  They agreed on the design of the prayer blanket: (one yard by one yard) and bought some material that could be matched front and back.

They then solicited help from the parish for others to sew the blankets.  A number of parishioners volunteered to help and they began to make these prayer blankets.  When the Prayer Blanket Group was formed (about one dozen women) It was agreed by all that they would pray every day for the recipients of the prayer blankets.

Each blanket has a cloth sign sewed into the corner that says: This blanket will bring relief to the suffering and peace to the fearful.  Know that you are not alone, that you are covered in prayer and that those who care about you are praying for you.

The finished blankets are folded into one foot squares and tied around the middle with a matching ribbon.  Attached to the ribbon is a stock paper sign that shows a picture of a church and these words:  You’re Covered in Prayer!  Please accept this prayer blanket that was made, for you, with faith and love.  It carries our daily prayers for You.  May it also bring you God’s blessings.  God Bless You!  The Parish of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Each blanket has been blessed and sprinkled with water from Lourdes

The blankets are given to parishioners who give them to those in need.  There is absolutely no charge for the blanket.  To date over 1100 blankets have been made and distributed.  There are blankets for babies, young children, teenagers, and men and women.  They are loved by people having surgery or chemo therapy.  Blankets have been sent all over the world to those in need.  One man was so happy with his blanket that after he got well he took it to a tailor to have in split in half for his sister, even though he could have had a new one for his sister.  Many letters of praise and appreciation have been received from those who received the blankets citing how much comfort and strength the blankets have provided.

Although the blankets cost about six plus dollars to produce and are free for the asking, donations come in from those who take them.  To date not one penny of Parish funds has ever been used to support this ministry.  The Holy Spirit provides!

Deacon John Hanna

St Pio Parish

Marcus Hsia

The Austin Stone Community Church

It’s unlike any Baptist-produced Easter video you’ve ever seen, and it’s gotten more than 600,000 views on YouTube — and lots of positive feedback from around the world.

This high-energy music video called “Dance Your Shoes Off,” and shows 2,000 members of Second Baptist Church in Houston dancing and worshipping to a song about Christ’s resurrection. With the Houston skyline in the background and with hundreds of curious people watching, the members move their arms, legs and feet to the choreographed dance steps that took about a month to learn. At the end of the five-minute video, the dancers point to the sky, and then walk off the field without their tennis shoes, and all the shoes — brand new — were collected and donated to those in need throughout the city of Houston.

In His Steps,

Shawn Callander

Campus Pastor

Second Baptist Church, Houston – South Campus

An inspiring story has the power to motivate ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We recognize that you and your peers are inspiring individuals, families and entire communities through ministry.

Whether it’s leading a person to Christ, helping a family get through difficult times or bringing communion to the sick, these actions build community and make the world a better place. We’re asking you to share the inspirational work you, your church, or your peers have done so we can highlight your success stories and encourage other people to follow in your footsteps. In return, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2, or $600 to support your church or a non-profit organization of your choice! Also, if your story is selected, we’ll share it with the over 1,400 churches we work with. This is our small way of recognizing the extraordinary work you’re doing.

When responding, please follow these guidelines:

• You may submit a written account or a short video of your success story.
• Written accounts should be up to 500 words in an editable format (like MS Word), and may optionally include up to three pictures (in PNG or JPEG format.)
• Videos should be no longer than 2 minutes.

All submissions should be submitted via email to support@rotundasoftware.com with the subject “Inspirational Story Raffle” and must be received by May 15th, 2011. When the results are compiled, we’ll share them in this space and on the Ministry Scheduler Pro Facebook page, which you can follow by clicking the “Like” button below. We look forward to learning about the outstanding work that you do!