Comforting the Afflicted

“The world is starving for the love of Christ, especially children. Helping them to know they are loved, valued, and seen is the foundation for them to recognize their God-given dignity,” said Jina Masters, Theology Department Chair, at Tampa Catholic High School. 

She and her students partnered with Celebrate Birthdays to make birthday boxes for foster children in Tampa.

“We were so excited and very intentional when creating these boxes! We received an information sheet for each child, which allowed us to keep their dignity and preferences in mind as we prepared each package,” Masters explained. “This allowed TC students to ‘shop’ for each child in a personal way through the Celebrate Birthdays workshop. We chose everything from decorations, cake mix, books, party plates, balloons, and gifts. After each box was checked twice, we wrapped it in festive paper and topped it with a handmade birthday card. This volunteering experience was pure joy for us all!”

Celebrate Birthdays serves youth rescued from difficult living situations and has recently expanded to minister to the elderly in assisted living facilities.

“This service event pulled my students out of themselves and opened their hearts to the reality that some children are not celebrated on their special day. That realization inspired them to recruit friends to become more active in this ministry, because it is so worthwhile,” Masters added.

Visiting the Sick

Rita Torres from St. Cecelia Catholic Church, in Clearwater, brings hope to hospital patients by bringing them Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. She is one of 14 volunteers in the parish who visit up to 40 people each week.

“This ministry is such a feel-good ministry. You never know who you are going to encounter,” Torres said. “Sometimes these people don’t have anyone to visit them, and they are grateful to have the support.” 

Volunteer Tom Migliore added, “Patients need to be reminded of God’s presence with them throughout their illness.”

Another volunteer, Thomas Typrowicz, shared, “Visiting patients gives me the sense of being with Christ — the suffering Christ — in the flesh. It is very peaceful.” Compassion and love are at the forefront of this ministry. “You are going to encounter hundreds of people, and some are facing really serious and difficult things. So, we try to bring a little bit of peace into their lives with each visit,” added Torres.  

Feeding the Hungry

Lisa Limberger, youth minister at St. Matthew Catholic Church, in Seminole, gathers once a month with teens from the parish to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those in need.

“Watching our teens — our young church — happily and very willingly take time and energy to joyfully make these sandwiches was a validation that our God is on the move in the hearts of His young Church,” Limberger said.

She believes every act of mercy matters. “You will never know how much of an impact you can have on the world until you help someone else. Small acts accomplished with love touch both the giver and the receiver,” she added.

Visiting the Imprisoned 

Visiting the imprisoned is an act of mercy for the incarcerated, as well as those who are confined due to age or health. Some parishioners, like Laura Decarlo, are bringing hope to the elderly who are homebound. “So many residents have no one, and I have become like family to them through Christ,” said Decarlo, a parishioner at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Trinity. Every Friday, Decarlo visits Balanced Healthcare, a nursing home in St. Petersburg, to bring lunch, sodas, and treats to residents. 

It’s in these small moments that she brings great joy, a listening ear, and hope to those who may have no one or may otherwise feel forgotten. 

“Volunteering in these types of facilities can be heavy at times, but my faith has helped me see the joy and purpose in each day,” shared Decarlo. “These visits have truly become a way of life for me. What started at the nursing home has grown into something bigger, an extension of my faith in action.” 

Praying for the Living and the Dead

“Faith is my greatest gift,” said Judy Cunniff, a parishioner at St. Paul Catholic Church, in St. Petersburg. Cunniff and other parishioners gather to pray for the living and the dead while knitting chemo caps for oncology patients and “twiddle muffs,” colorful hand muffs with sensory accessories for dementia patients. 

 As they knit, they join in prayer for the healing of the sick and for the repose of the souls who have died. 

“Giving is better than receiving, and doing this gives me a happy heart,” Cunniff quietly reflected. “This ministry has helped me dive deeper into my own faith by reaching out to others in their time of need.”

Teaching Others About God and the Faith

“We are called to proclaim our faith and to courageously live the Gospel. Teaching others about the faith builds and strengthens the Church,” said Ron Sanchez, a parishioner at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, in Temple Terrace. 

This year, Sanchez facilitated a retreat for men at his parish to help them dive deeper into their faith and grow their relationship with the Lord. “I find that many of the men who attended the retreat often go to Mass but are just going through the motions,” Sanchez explained. “This retreat helped them enter into a one-on-one encounter with the Lord that deepened their faith.”

Sheltering the Homeless

“The homeless are human beings, children of God. We are all here to take care of each other,” said Gail Metcalf, an associate with the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati and a parishioner at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, in Spring Hill. 

Metcalf joined other parishioners to make mats and pillows for the homeless out of used plastic bags. “We make the mats 4’x7’ — the size of a twin or full bed. This size accommodates tall people, sometimes two people, and others use it as a blanket,” added Metcalf. 

This ministry began when Theresia Griffin, an associate with the Sisters of Charity and a parishioner, had the idea to make the mats for the homeless. Theresia learned this art from her German grandmother, who made small floor mats, and felt it would be a great community project. 

The group met with two organizations that work with the homeless community in their county to explain what they wanted to do, and ask if there was a need. As a result, they have been making mats for the homeless for over two years.

“It was humbling to see the look on people’s faces when they were told we had made the mats for them to use and keep. They couldn’t believe we would take the time to hand-make these beautiful mats for them, just because of who they were: homeless. The fact that they have something waterproof to sleep on instead of the ground makes them feel like they matter.”

Discover Ways to Serve and Share Christ’s Mercy! 

Looking for ways to live out your faith this season? Reach out to your local Catholic parish — they’ll guide you on ways to serve, pray, and grow in your faith!

For a full directory of Catholic parishes in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties, visit www.DOSP.org/Parishes.