We are not always able to do something directly to keep folks from landing out front on the bench next to Homeless Jesus! However, it is possible to donate to the little-known parish fund, begun 55 years ago by Fr. Hritz, which has been struggling to provide assistance with rent, utilities, etc. to the needy in our “Old Angle” neighborhood. Over the last two years, a volunteer team (currently comprised of a staff person, a council member and a parishioner) was sought to help Fr. Gurnick & Jeanette by reviewing applications, calling the individual and coming up with a possible amount from the limited parish money available that month. The team decided to be named the Mother Teresa Ministry (MTM) for Saint Teresa of Calcutta, who so aptly said: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
The most common request we get is for back rent payments caused by a hardship or unexpected expense. Additional requests have been for utility payments (to keep power on or restored), vehicle repairs and even for a pair of steel-toed boots required for a job. Assistance is typically limited to once a year and money is always sent directly to the landlord, utility, etc. Sometimes the team has been able to offer appropriate referrals to community agencies. The primary goal of the MTM is to provide crucial aid during a time of extreme need to keep folks on the verge of homelessness from ending up on the street. Every little bit helps! Cash donations (in an envelope marked “MTM”) can be put in the collection basket during Mass. Donate by visiting the St. Malachi website, www.stmalachi.org, and click on the donate button. (choose: One-Time Gift: Mother Teresa Ministry)