A Message from Fr. Daniel Griffith: Thank You Basilica Volunteers!
During Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25), some Basilica volunteers share why they devote time and talent to our parish community.
Bill Keller: “Volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul makes my cup overflow from the Lord’s blessings to my life. It is so incredibly uplifting to work alongside other volunteers and to do something meaningful in our community.”
Bill and his wife Nici are also active as Ministers of Hospitality and Nici is an Eucharistic Minister.
Karen Harrison: “I volunteer at The Basilica because I support and believe in the mission of the activities with which I’m involved, which are the Grief Coalition, the Mary Garden, and being an Eucharistic Minister. Volunteering is one of the best ways to meet parishioners I might never have met—sharing a mission promotes great friendships.
The first volunteer activity I can remember was organizing a ‘nurse-mother’ program at the Basilica school in about 1972 or 1973. I found mothers who were nurses and we set up a room where kids could come who were sick or injured.”
Emerson, age 10: “I love to volunteer at The Basilica because I feel like I am helping celebrate God.”
Emerson’s parents, Kari and James Corniea: “She’s so incredibly proud to be Catholic, and The Basilica is a beacon to her. When we finally included Emerson in making the decision for our home church, we picked 5-6 churches and attended Mass at all of them. We went to The Basilica as our second investigative visit and then finished out the rest over the next month or so. When we were all done, it was unanimous that The Basilica is impossible to match and that would be her church. She later said that the moment she walked into BSM for the first time, she was done looking at any other churches. But she played along because she thought it was only fair.”
Constance White: “I volunteer as a Eucharistic Minister, as it brings me closer to Christ and the Trinity. To see the faithful partake in the Eucharist brings me great joy. I also volunteer as a sponsor in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process. To walk alongside a person who is exploring their faith and the Catholic Church is meaningful beyond measure. I look forward to this every year.”
Jerry White: “I volunteer because the more time I spend at The Basilica, the closer I am to God. Whether serving as an Acolyte, a Eucharistic Minister, or serving newcomers to our Catholic faith on the OCIA team, it all brings me closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Tara Coyne: “I love volunteering and giving back to the community that I live in. It is always so wonderful to watch all of the children learn at Sunday school, and to see where their faith journey takes them.
I also volunteer with the Access and Inclusion Ministry. Striving to advocate to help break barriers and bring change where it is needed, so everyone can access the church, regardless of disability or if you just need a little extra help getting into the church.”