The parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish have been so generous in their donation of “leftover” school supplies for the parishioner’s children of St. Anthony’s Parish and the residents in Neopit. The Dignity of Life committee thanks you for your generosity.
Amy and I drove out to Neopit together to deliver the “leftover” school supplies. The collection of used school supplies filled the back of my van. The receptionist at St. Anthony’s Parish was delighted to see the collection of notebooks, pens, pencils, book bags, and art supplies as some of the assistance the children used to receive from other resources is no longer available.
Our parish has embraced the opportunity to assist the folks in Neopit since our parish started. They face poverty and obstacles that we cannot imagine. However, they have an amazing gift of faith and spirituality that they embrace. While in Neopit, Amy and I took a tour of St. Anthony’s church. The rich culture of their connection to nature and the love of the land are evident in their church.
St. Anthony’s Parish shares a priest with a parish in Keshena. Because of this, for many years their only Mass was on Saturday evening. The folks in Keshena struggled with recognizing Saturday as a time for worship and really wanted a Sunday morning Mass. They are so happy that they now have a Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Their attendance at Mass and participation in the church community is growing. In fact, they invited our parish to join them in a celebration. This is something we may want to consider.
Thank you for helping these children have supplies to enjoy this summer and to use in the fall when they return to school. Once again, our parish family has been so kind and generous.