The Cocoon Tree Project: Giving for a Springtime of Hope

It’s a Scripture passage with which many of us are familiar — Jesus instructing His followers to care for those in need, telling us that whatever we do “for the least of these,” we do unto Him (Matthew 25:40). It’s a powerful challenge — one that all of us, as Christians, are called to take to heart. And in this past year, many of those needs have been made even clearer.

Yet, amid all the uncertainty in the world around us, the House of Bread and Peace has continued to serve some of the most vulnerable in our community — women and children suffering in situations of violence.

“In 1985, one of our Benedictine sisters started the House of Bread and Peace,” says Sister Pat McGuire, OSB. “It’s a shelter for women and children, and today it provides a safe home to approximately 100-125 individuals each year — a third of those are children.”

The home is for women and children without permanent housing. There is no fee to live there, and the residents are responsible for cooking and other chores, as well as working on personal goals, during their time there. Except for minimal grants, the house is dependent on donations from the community. From monetary donations and food to cleaning supplies, all variety of gifts help to sustain the house and its mission. For the past many years, St. Benedict Cathedral has been helping to support the House of Bread and Peace through the annual Lenten Cocoon Tree at the parish.

“Each year, the grade school children make cocoons and we put labels with items inside them, and we hang the cocoons on trees,” Sr. Pat says. “People will take a cocoon, purchase the item, bring it back, and put it under the tree.”

The generosity of the parish makes a significant difference in the lives of the women and children who live at the House of Bread and Peace.

“Some of the things that are collected will carry them over for the entire year,” Sr. Pat says. “They’re very grateful.”

The cocoons will be available for people to pick up in church all through the season of Lent. Sr. Pat encourages parishioners to donate, even if they don’t pick a specific item through a cocoon. Non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, bath soap, laundry detergent, paper products, toilet paper, diapers, and garbage bags are always needed.

“As Christians, we’re called to become one with others and to share what we have with them,” Sr. Pat says. “Sometimes it can seem like a small thing, but when we all work together, it can help people greatly.”

Sr. Pat reminds parishioners that Lent is the perfect time to focus on being generous through almsgiving and caring for those in need.

“Authentic prayer always leads to action — reaching out to help others,” Sr. Pat says. “Ask, ‘What is it that I am trying to do this Lent to deepen my relationship with God and others?’”

Sr. Pat hopes that the generosity of those who support the House of Bread and Peace will serve as a powerful sign of God’s love to those who live there.

“I hope that through this, residents can see the love of their brothers and sisters,” Sr. Pat says. “I think it helps them to see that God cares about each one of them. Others are instruments in showing that love and showing them the face of God.”

For more information on how to get involved in the Cocoon Tree Project, please contact Sister Pat McGuire, OSB, at 812-425-3369, ext. 160 or pmcguire@evdio.org.

Children from our school make paper “cocoons” which contain ideas of items to donate to the House of Bread and Peace, a local shelter for women and their children.