LETTER WRITING MINISTRY: THE “SHEPHERD’S CORNER”

I never thought of letter writing and phone calls as a ministry until recently. Our Constitutions tell us that “the sisters…translate the prophetic mission of Christ…in the service of charity to the abandoned, the sick and the elderly” and they “consider all types of correspondence as a means of good relationships and, in some cases, as aids in the apostolate."

We had several Sisters, now with the Lord, who did just that. They took time once each week to write letters/notes and make calls to people who were ill, lived alone or simply needed support. This “Shepherd’s Corner” ministry consoled and encouraged many persons for a long time.

Sr. Anne James Guerin asked me to revive it in May 2021. I reached out to four parishes and received a response from Church of the Holy Spirit in Cortlandt Manor. Four parishioners- three women and one man- said that they would very much like to receive letters. After obtaining the pastor’s permission, I began writing to them in early July.

Since then I have been privileged to not only receive responses from one of the women, but to visit one of our Riverbend (condominium complex) neighbors and bring her the Eucharist.

The parishioner from Holy Spirit always sends notes that are filled with gratitude to God for His blessings. Although our neighbor has difficulty getting around, she has confident trust in His love and care. He has truly used these experiences to remind me that we are never alone on this journey of faith; they are a light in the darkness of these very challenging times.

 Sister Lisa Grace Carlone