EAST CHICAGO – Like a well seasoned meal with all the trimmings, the soup kitchen at St. Patrick was a sight to behold earlier this month. It ran like a well-oiled machine, even though Jan. 6 was the first time St. John the Evangelist parishioners brought food from St. John to East Chicago to provide meals for parishioners.
The two parishes united in ministry after Keith Burke, SJE’s service and outreach coordinator, and SJE pastor Father Sammie Maletta brainstormed several months ago about the value of serving others while evangelizing. They began working with St. Patrick administrator Father Diego Florez, and the pieces fell into place.
Similar to the initial soup kitchen, hosted at the parish hall, 3802 Grand Blvd., East Chicago, subsequent meals will be provided at the same location on the first Saturday of each month, and Burke invited all to attend “this community-building event for food, fellowship, and more. We really want this to grow into more opportunities, more than a soup kitchen – a way to unite, support, and evangelize.”
Father Declan McNicholas appreciates the multifaceted benefits of this new program that stretches beyond perceived parish boundaries. Director of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization for the Diocese of Gary and associate pastor of SJE, Father McNicholas said that the outreach ministry represents much more than volunteers helping feed those who are hungry, that it is about evangelizing and building communities.
St. Patrick parishioner Rosa Marian, who hails from Crown Point, was on hand to help set up and serve. “It is so wonderful to be here and to have all these people help. We are working together, getting to know each other, and enjoying ourselves. It makes this such a joyful event as we reach out and serve those who come for a meal.”
St. Patrick parishioner Raul Lozano attended with his wife Juanita Lozano. “This is our home,” he said. “We love it here and get involved with everything. The food is good. It is good to be here.”
Volunteer Maria Lopez, a St. John parishioner who grew up in East Chicago, attended with her husband and was glad to reconnect with old friends. “It is so important for me to be here. I grew up in East Chicago on the Harbor side. I am happy to see people I grew up with. The fact that we are partnering here with families is very special. These are my roots.”
Lopez is also excited about the prospect of bringing the Alpha initiative to St. Patrick. Alpha is an evangelistic program that introduces Christian faith basics through a series of talks and discussions, providing food and fellowship.
The course has been very successful at SJE, and Burke pictures the outreach partnership eventually including Alpha, Eucharistic Adoration, job-skills training, employment opportunities, and other ideas generated by parishioners from each parish. “Food and fun are just the beginning of this outreach.,” he said. “We are here present with them. We want to build comradery and continue to grow with them in this faith journey.”
Matt Rohr is an SJE parishioner who would like to use his talents in such an effort. He hopes to use his knowledge and experience as a retired human relations executive to help people update resumes, realize their employable strengths, and work together to build a network of support.
“This is about more than getting fed physically, it is about fellowship and joining together in support,” explained Rohr. “It’s about getting your feet under you and then life gets better. We just begin by feeding them.”
The meal, which was prepared at St. John and transported to St. Patrick, included chicken kiev, rice, beans, salad, bread and cake. A St. Patrick parishioner brought Rosca de Reyes, which sparked conversation about the sweet bread made to commemorate the Epiphany of Three Wise Men, guided by the Star of Bethlehem to the newborn Jesus.
Raul Lozano explained that the sweet bread is shaped like a crown with fruits representing the jewels of a crown and the Magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three small plastic figurines signify baby Jesus and are hidden within the Rosca before cutting. Finding a figurine in your slice is considered a fortunate occurrence, he said. The person who finds a baby Jesus is entrusted with hosting a fiesta and providing tamales on Día de la Candelaria, which falls on Feb. 2.
T.J. Nee is in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program at SJE and was thrilled to volunteer. He is in the process of joining the Catholic faith. “I am here because the Holy Spirit led me here. I have a heart for helping others. I see Christ in their eyes. I told Father Declan I was looking for some way to help others, and he told me about this opportunity. I wasn’t sure if I could make it, but here I am!”
Father McNicholas said he appreciates how many SJE parishioners volunteered. “It warms my heart to see evangelizing happen in service. We are not isolated. Working together, we can continue to grow. I am super excited to see so many people excited about the possibilities.”
About 30 people volunteered and about 30 attended to be fed on Jan. 6.. Father Florez hopes about 75 people will eventually attend for the meal and additional opportunities.
“This is a beautiful opportunity for two different cultures, Hispanic and American, to join together and work together. I hope this continues to grow. For me, this is a beautiful experience. We have so much to share, and we are not so different,” said Father Florez.
Caption: St. John the Evangelist parishioners T.J. Nee and Matt Rohr assist Rosa Marian, of St. Patrick, in putting together plasticware settings. The three participated with about 30 other volunteers who prepared food and served about 30 people at the St. Patrick Soup Kitchen on Jan. 6. (Lynda J. Hemmerling photo)