Beloved Family:
“I am grateful it happened here!” The gospel for this past Monday’s daily Mass was “The Good Samaritan,” drawn from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Saint Luke—a parable unique to his book. On the one hand, I imagine most of us could easily narrate the story from memory. Being able to recall Scripture from memory is, of course, a good thing. Beyond this, the challenge is to obey Jesus’ mandate to the scholar who has asked him: “Who is my neighbor?” in the first place: “Go and do likewise.”
That brings me to the opening sentence of this article. You see, last Sunday, following the evening Mass, I made my way to the parking lot, to engage some parishioners who were lingering to catch up with each other. At a point, I observed a couple at their vehicle, obviously addressing a flat tire. On the one hand, it seemed that they had the situation under control. However, no sooner had I approached when it became clear that the tire change was not going to be as straightforward as originally perceived.
Even had I not been wearing my cassock at the moment, I would not have been much help in a hands-on fashion. However, in a flash several individuals who were equipped (one of whom is a high school senior!) unhesitatingly launched into action, and a successful “repair” was accomplished. This led to the comment: “I am grateful it happened here!” There was more than one good neighbor on the scene that evening!
Continuing on that theme, two Wednesdays ago, Johnna from our team (who does a lot related to Saint Vincent de Paul work) and I had the opportunity to tour the Homeward Bound facility here in Wooster. It is quite compelling to see what has been accomplished through the efforts of persons committed to making an impact on the lives of homeless and otherwise vulnerable members of this community. Having opened in February 2025, as of a July 1 article that appeared in the Daily Record, here is a snapshot of the impact:
• The Homeward Bound shelter in Wooster has served 119 people since opening in February.
• The shelter operates on a $750,000 annual budget, funded mainly by private donations.
• Services include meals, showers, laundry and case management connecting guests with resources.
• The organization seeks community support through volunteers, meal donations and financial contributions.
Clearly, there are many persons in our community who, although quiet and understated about it, are working tirelessly to make a difference for good. Obviously, no one organization can address all the needs. However, it is evident that agencies in Wooster and Wayne County are functioning with a cooperative spirit. There are numerous ways in which we can be involved. The shelter’s contact information is: (330) 439-2990 or contactus@homewardboundwwc.org. Let’s rejoice in the Spirit that good things are happening here, with the help of God.
Thank you in advance for your generosity toward St. Vincent de Paul’s Blanket Sunday this weekend.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
