2 minute read
The Cleaning Angels: Keeping the Lord’s House Tidy
As we enter into March, we will have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for a full year. We have all certainly been challenged to grow and adapt throughout these last 12 months. From communicating in new ways to praying even when we were unable to attend Mass, to remembering to grab a mask on our way out the door — our lives have been filled with changes. For our Operations Manager Sheryl Lacy and her team, following additional cleaning and disinfecting protocols for the church has been part of the change they’ve experienced, while also adding to their workload. So, to help carry this burden and ensure that our building continues to be well cared for, Sheryl invites parishioners to consider becoming part of a new ministry, the “Cleaning Angels.”
“Volunteers would come in each Monday, after the weekend Masses, or when their schedule allows, to do little jobs, light housekeeping, dusting and polishing the pews,” Sheryl says.
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Although the Cleaning Angels' work would not be the frequent disinfecting tasks that Sheryl and her team already coordinate, other tasks like dusting and polishing our pews and fixtures will serve to ensure that the regular use of disinfectants doesn’t cause damage to our building.
“I take pride in our building,” Sheryl says. “It’s the House of the Lord.”
In addition to giving back to our community through service, being part of the Cleaning Angels is also an opportunity to spend time in silence, in the Presence of Jesus, in the tabernacle. For Sheryl, the time spent cleaning is one of her favorite ways to pray.
“A huge blessing for me is when I’m in the church, when nobody else is,” Sheryl says. “That’s the most rewarding time — it’s just me and Him in there.
“I have that time to reflect and have quiet time with Him,” she adds. “You can’t help but pray when you’re in there by yourself, in the Presence of the Lord.”
For the many visitors — Catholic and non- Catholic, alike — who come to visit St. Francis Xavier, the Cleaning Angels ensure that the beauty of our faith is captured and reflected in the physical building. For many who come to our church, this creates a sense of wonder and curiosity about the faith, and the God we seek to honor in our Church.
“There are so many visitors that come to our church because it is such a beautiful place from the outside and they want to see the inside,” Sheryl says. “I think it’s important we show them it’s as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. I want to pique their curiosity — I want them to want to know more about us, as Catholics, and why we take pride in this building.”
Sheryl encourages those parishioners who are looking for a way to serve but prefer to be “behind the scenes," to consider joining the Cleaning Angels. Especially around Christmas, additional help is needed.
“It’s behind the scenes — you can’t mess up,” says Sheryl, with a smile. “For people who don’t feel comfortable being up in front of people, this is their way to give back. I hope that the Cleaning Angels can take pride in what they do and have some sense of ownership in our building.”
