Volunteering at Mary Rose Mission

         Mary Rose Mission located in Florence, Kentucky does a wonderful and needed service—befriending and feeding the needy and hungry. Sr. Cathy Bauer who had already volunteered there invited me to accompany her in early September. At the time Mary Rose Mission served evening dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. My visit on Tuesday, September 2, was for me a new, rich, informative and realistic experience. A grateful 119 adults and 20 children were served dinner by a devoted group of steady volunteers—teens to retirees-between the hours of 4;)0 to 6:00 pm. An opening prayer welcomed early arrivals and a closing prayer after the departure of guests and cleanup ended the meeting. My assigned job was EXIT. That meant I engaged guests in a bit a conversation and asked if they had any special prayer requests after they dined and were headed for the door. My responsibilities began a bit later than some of the others so at my post at the door, I was able to watch the other volunteers carrying trays, clearing tables, helping the elderly, and washing trays. All was done steadily but leisurely, one at a time, in groups or family units of all kinds. This was my heart warming, heart moving first experience at the Mary Rose Mission. I learned much about our guests and their concerns and needs—two long pages worth—and this were the intercessions at our closing prayer. I had a “new” experience at this “old” time of my life. I looked into the faces of the homeless, the desperate young, the lonely old, young families and handicapped—all children of our God who had been fed and comforted. So far I have four visits to Mary Rose Mission. Sr. Rosemary McCormack joined Sr. Cathy and me in January. We will be going on the first Tuesdays of the month. Mary Rose Mission is adding Thursday as another serving day in January.
       Sr. Andrea Collopy, OSB

For more information on Mary Rose Mission or to volunteer there, go to http://www.maryrosemission.org/maryrosemission/Welcome.html.