Speading the faith to souls and bodies

By PAT PASTERNAK
Staff Writer

"We knock on doors. We walk the streets. We talk to everyone."

That's how Deacon William Gorman, administrator of the Church of Sacred Heart in Albany, describes the parish's evangelization efforts.

The 127-year-old parish has seen lots of changes in the past 20 or 30 years, including the arrival of a diversified, ethnically rich populace. What was once a predominantly Irish community now houses people of many nationalities: African Americans, Vietnamese, Indians, Hispanics, Asians and Filipinos.

Reaching out

"We have had to make lots of adjustments," Deacon Gorman said. For example, the staff has learned that if they want people to be part of their church community, they have to "meet people right where they are."

To do that, the staff has initiated several programs that allow them to reach out to those in need and evangelize those who are either "un-churched" or who have decided, for whatever reasons, to stay away from a church community.

Sister Sara Kirsch, CSJ, coordinator of the parish's social ministry, "really works hard to get to know those that come to us for help," he said. "Whether it is through the welcoming table, food pantry or community service programs she initiates, the work she does is vital."

Sister Sara helps to provide the poor, needy and ill with help for whatever needs they may have. This may include food, clothing, shelter or even just an ear to listen, he said.

Although the staff at Sacred Heart is small, evangelization is a big part of what they do -- and what the parish is all about.

Invitation

"One summer day, one of our staff members met a woman that was eating her lunch on a bench in the park across from the church," said Deacon Gorman. "The staff member asked the woman, who works near the church, if she could share the bench. They got talking and, before long, the staff member had discovered that the woman did not go to church. In fact, she had been a Catholic but for many years had not attended Mass and had not been the member of any parish."

The staff member explained that each day, a Eucharistic service is celebrated at Sacred Heart at 12:10 p.m. and invited the woman to consider attending sometime on her lunch hour.

"The next day, the woman came to the service," Deacon Gorman reported. "Then she came back again. Now she is a member of the parish. Occasionally, she even brings a co-worker to our services. So, you see, talking to people about what we do here is a very important component of our parish life."

Newcomers

Low-income housing is being built by the City of Albany in the neighborhood that surrounds Sacred Heart. By next spring, the staff expects about 200 new families to be settled in the area. In order to make them aware of the services and programs available at Sacred Heart, Deacon Gorman said, "we plan to introduce ourselves to each and every one of them."

The staff knows that this process will take a lot of work and planning, but they want these new families to know that the people and staff of Sacred Heart parish are there for them, ready and willing to assist them should any need arise.

According to Deacon Gorman, how they will do that is simple: They will knock on doors, walk the streets -- and talk to everyone.

Outreach

Meanwhile, at St. Henry's parish in Averill Park, the staff has made great strides in developing a strong outreach program that embraces social justice issues.

Cyndi Hermann, faith formation coordinator of the parish's youth ministry and religious education programs said that social justice awareness at their parish began with a "hunger for justice" weekend held in March for youth and adults.

She credits that retreat with opening everyone's eyes to the social justice needs of the larger community.

Forming to help

The youth and adults who participated in the retreat heard speakers talk about what it's like to be poor, to have spent time in jail or to be hungry. The retreatants also underwent a 24-hour fast, engaged in simulated poverty experiences and viewed the social justice movie, "Romero."

"Out of that weekend, a social justice committee was formed that eventually evolved into the active team we now have," Ms. Hermann said.

The social justice core team is comprised of ten adults and about 20 teens between grades 8 and 11.

Helping others

The young people "are experiencing aspects of social justice that incorporate helping others, improving community and being sensitive to issues of the poor," she said.