Activity of the St. Katharine Drexel Social Ministries Committee
by Chris Nielsen
The St. Katharine Drexel Social Ministries Committee has been active with a variety of pro-life and charity projects since its first meeting in the fall of 2004. Its active members include Laurie Hemmer (Coordinator), Denise Moriarty, Amy Roth, Tammy Roth, Melissa Nielsen, Beth Adamson, and John Scheafer. Meetings are held once a month and most recently have taken place at various local restaurants. An important task at each meeting is to decide what charities our parish will support with its monthly tithe. Just as it is important for an individual to give of his or her “time, talent, and treasure”, the church needs to lead by example by reaching out and responding to the human needs within our society.
Amy Roth, Tammy Roth and Laurie Hemmer discuss pro-life information sent to the church at the August meeting.
Because Planned Parenthood, which has performed as many as 819 abortions in a year, lies within St. Katharine Drexel Parish boundaries, our committee feels an even deeper obligation to support pregnancy help centers such as Planning Life, the Alpha Center, New Haven, and Birthright. In addition to our parish’s monetary contributions, our committee also aids these agencies by posting their flyers on bulletin boards and other public places throughout Sioux Falls.
One of our most exciting pro-life projects implemented by our group is “Operation Rosary”. Last August, our parish provided each of its members households with a small packet containing a rosary and a leaflet with all 4 Rosary mysteries and instruction on how to pray the Rosary. Parishioners were then invited to commit to one specific day each month that they would pray the Rosary individually or as a family for the specific intention: “For an end to abortion especially for the closing of Planned Parenthood in Sioux Falls, conversion of heart for those who work there and the healing of all victims of abortion”. Over 130 families and individuals responded by signing up for this commitment.
Continuing on the pro-life front, our member Amy Roth is the author of the pro-life prayer that is now in place on the inside cover of all of our song books. We have added the 25th of each month at 5:30 pm to the 1st, 10th, and 15th noon times that we share with St. Michael Parish for parishioners of both parishes to gather together to pray the Rosary in front of Planned Parenthood. We also have had the pro-life table set up throughout the year with bumper stickers, bracelets, and other items available to spread the “life” message to the public. One such item is the children’s book Angel in the Waters. Our parish purchased several copies of this book and donated them to all of the Sioux Fall’s Catholic Elementary schools for use in their libraries. Our committee also was granted permission by the Siouxland Children’s Library Director to donate these books and have them available to check out at the main and local library branches in Sioux Falls.
Ever mindful that St. Katharine Drexel supported charity toward the Native Americans, the St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, the Sacred Heart Center in Eagle Butte, and the Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Marty, SD are all examples of some of the charities we have selected for our parish’s monetary donations. We have collected blankets and other items from our parishioners for the “needy” in our community in the fall and at Christmas time with our “Advent Giving Tree”. In addition, on the third Friday of every month, Beth Adamson faithfully organizes our parish volunteers to provide and serve dinner at the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls.
