SHOULDER TO SHOULDER MINISTRY
Lightens
T
hat person sitting next to you at ministry receives applications from Mass or walking in front of you in parishioners needing financial help, the line to receive Communion — their with specific needs outlined and demeanor, their appearance is perfectly financial documentation provided. Chris normal. But behind that normalcy could reviews the applications and deletes be a terrible financial struggle. And that all identifying information before the struggle is why our Shoulder to Shoulder ministry members receive them. The Ministry was created. members review the applications and Mike Oakland serves in the ministry make their recommendations to Fr. Jim. that has helped 160 families since its The first grant was made on Aug. 10, founding in 2008. 2009 — to date, $472,828.68 has been “Fr. Jim recognized during distributed. the recession of 2008 that some Funding for the ministry comes from parishioners were having a very difficult the rebate Saint Michael Parish receives Parishioner, Mike Oakland time with money,” Mike says. “So, he from the annual Catholic appeal. created the Shoulder to Shoulder Ministry that serves “An important point is that we don’t write checks only parishioners. We do have ministries that serve to the individual applicants,” Mike says. “We write the whole community, but he wanted this just for checks to the service provider.” parishioners. It helps with unexpected, unanticipated Mike cites one case in which a single mother financial burdens.” with a disabled son was dealing with a terrible roof The name “Shoulder to Shoulder” means that we leak. The leak was causing a serious mold problem are standing side by side, helping our neighbors. that was complicating the son’s health. Shoulder to “My vision is standing side by side with those Shoulder recommended that the ministry pay for a in need,” Mike says. “That has been one of the new roof. Other typical cases involve families who revelations for me. You go to Mass and talk and visit are behind in their rent because their work hours with people, and have communication with people, have been cut. but you often don’t see the hurt behind them. You “There have been people wanting to take additional don’t know of their struggles, perhaps with eviction, classes so they can qualify for a higher wage at work,” or they are consumed with guilt because they can’t Mike says. “They can get more pay to help their family. pay medical bills. You don’t understand the depth of This is an example of a need we pay for.” hurt until you have a program like this.” The Shoulder to Shoulder Ministry provides an The Shoulder to Shoulder Ministry consists excellent means to practice stewardship within our parish. of five members with the parish administrator, “People understand that when we exceed our Chris Peterson, as the staff representative. The goal during our annual Catholic appeal, that money
“You go to Mass and talk and visit with people, and have communication with people, but you often don’t see the hurt behind them. You don’t know of their struggles, perhaps with eviction, or they are consumed with guilt because they can’t pay medical bills. You don’t understand the depth of hurt until you have a program like this.” — MIKE OAKLAND 6
