May 3, 2020

Anonymous donor helps Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish help the community

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – While churches remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, physical outreach in the community is a challenge. But one anonymous parishioner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Springfield just made it a little easier.

Mt. Carmel pastor, Stigmatine Father Robert White, was surprised when he received a note reading, “Enclosed is $2,000 to use at your discretion to alleviate the suffering of people dealing with this virus.” Father White, in turn, used the money to buy food and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and first responders.

“I think about donors who give from their own resources, perhaps unable to physically assist but willing to share their bounty to provide help in a different form. I believe that’s God’s grace at work too,” said Father White, who is also the provincial superior of the Stigmatine community in the United States.

He used $1,000 to buy 110 panini Italian sandwiches and chips from a neighborhood business, Zonin Deli, which is part of La Fiorentina Pastry Shop in Springfield’s South End. The sandwiches were delivered to staff at Mercy Medical Center. Father White donated the remaining $1,000 to the Springfield police and fire departments to buy much needed personal protective equipment for first responders.

“I think about all the doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, hospital and nursing home staff who expose themselves and, when you stop to think, their own spouses, children, and loved ones, to the risk of infection,” said Father White.

“Someone doesn’t do that just because they’re paid to do a job. Somehow I believe God’s grace is at work there, giving them courage and generosity, inviting us to do the same,” he said.

At Easter, the parish donated pre-ordered lilies to different businesses in the neighborhood. Since there was no public Mass, due to pandemic, Sister of St. Joseph Elizabeth Matuszek, the pastoral minister, called ahead to several businesses in the South End to see if they would accept the Easter lilies as a gift.

Volunteers delivered the flowers to Pride Gas Station headquarters, Milano Imports, Mom & Rico’s, La Fiorentina Bakery, the Springfield Police kiosk at Main and Morris streets, and Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street.

“It’s kind of like the church buildings are closed but the living church, as part of the body of Christ, is connecting with people’s needs both in the neighborhood and beyond,” said Sister Matuszek. “We are able to respond to needs that come to us because of the goodness of people who make up the living church.”

Father White said even though churches remain closed, God is not taking a break.

“Maybe we have to do what believers have always done and look back and see God at work in the midst of human tragedy and sorrow. We have to be like the ancient Hebrews who looked back and saw God’s hand delivering them from slavery. We have to be like those first followers who looked back through the prism of the resurrection to begin to make sense of that painful trek up Calvary. After all, it wasn’t until Jesus rose from the dead that they understood,” Father White explained.

“To paraphrase someone far more insightful than me, if it’s not revealed to us in this life, it will be in the next,” Father White said. “When we really take to heart Jesus’ assurance ‘Do not be afraid,’ that’s when we’ll be touched by grace, that’s when we’ll know hope that’s beyond some transient feeling, that’s when we’ll begin to rise.”