Ladies Of St. Leo’s Build Friendships While Serving The Faith Community

Sometimes, it’s the little things that have the greatest impact. Like a welcome card in the mail from a stranger or a handmade blanket for a new baby’s Baptism. Here at St. Leo’s, we have a group of women working quietly behind the scenes to create special moments for our parish community — from our seminarians to the homebound, to families welcoming new babies.

The Ladies of St. Leo’s is a service organization of which all women of our parish are automatically a part. Ruth Armatys has been a part of this group for many years and has become more active since her retirement.

“To me, it’s just been a huge blessing to get to know the ladies involved in my church,” Ruth says. “When you work together on something, you get to know each other, instead of just being a face in the pew.”

With an active group of about 30 women, the ladies offer their time, talent, and treasure to ensure that everyone who enters the doors of St. Leo’s feels welcome and loved. They have a committee that makes hot meals for funerals, while another group sends cards to new members.

“We want them to feel welcome,” Ruth says. “They receive information about all the parish ministries so they can feel welcome to use their talents for our parish.”

The Newcomers Committee also sends cards to the homebound for Christmas. They send the seminarians holiday and birthday cards, and sometimes some spending money.

“We want our seminarians to know we support them and we are here for them,” Ruth says.

When Habitat for Humanity has a build day, the Ladies of St. Leo’s members make lunch and serve it at the site. They also hold a yearly appreciation lunch for parish staff. In addition, the group gives graduating seniors, the First Communicants, and Confirmation youth a small gift. The newly baptized babies of our parish receive a knitted or crocheted prayer blanket. The prayer blankets are also given out to those in our parish who are sick and in need of prayer.

The group’s hospitality efforts also extend to coordinating the monthly Donut Sunday, which gives parishioners a chance to be together after Sunday Mass. They host a Sunday afternoon event of playing the dice game, Bunco, to help group members get to know one another better.

“All of the little things add up to something big,” Ruth says.

To support this work, the ladies do a poinsettia and Easter lily sale each year, and people give $10 for a flower to be displayed in honor of someone.

Ruth has stayed committed and involved with Ladies of St. Leo’s because she enjoys the friendship and service, and because her mother set an example as a longtime member of the Altar Society. Ruth values all the friends she has made in the Ladies of St. Leo’s.

“Maybe before I became so involved, I didn’t take time to think about faith — I took it for granted,” Ruth says. “As I’ve gotten older, it’s meant more to me. This group is a community that has my back. That gives me a comfortable feeling.”

The Ladies of St. Leo’s meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Please contact Ruth Armatys for more information at 308-384-9884.

Ladies of St. Leo’s members gather at a recent meeting.