| Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet | September 10, 2010 |
Ministry Stories
Sister Sara Kirsch, CSJ (Sister Martha Daniel)
by Sister Carol Rohloff, CSJ, Director of Development
Our congregation from its foundation has been dedicated to the exercise of "all of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear neighbor." Originally, this call included ministry to orphans, the sick poor, young girls, the destitute and others in need. We continue in this spirit and engage in works of compassion and mercy which respond to the spiritual and corporal needs of persons in our times. We do this in a way that:
- heals and reconciles
- serves all persons without distinction
- makes known through our lives the Gospel we proclaim
- enables others to assume a more active responsibility for continuing the mission of Jesus
- recognizes and defends the human dignity of all persons
- promotes justice with a particular concern for the poor.
- (From the Constitution of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Ministry, #20)
Like many of our sisters who serve in parishes, Sister Sara Kirsch, CSJ, was previously a teacher, but she began working in inner city parishes in 1981. With a brief break of four years working with our infirmed sisters at the Provincial House, Sister Sara has had years of experience ministering in the Albany inner city. She served as parish associate at St. Joseph's; as community outreach worker at St. John's/St. Ann's; and as administrative director at St. John's Center. Since 1998, Sister Sara has served as the parish social minister at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Community in North Albany, NY. The Sacred Heart Community has a food pantry where those in need may come and receive staples and produce, depending on what is available at the food bank. Once a week, on Wednesday, Sister Sara and Sacred Heart volunteers prepare a meal for their Friendship Table Lunch. All are welcome to attend the luncheon. On one Wednesday, while I was visiting, the senior group had come in early and prepared baggies of celery and carrot sticks for the people coming to the Friendship Meal to take home. There was a delivery by a man in the parish who collected bread and milk that a retail store was going to dispose of. In addition to the veggies, the needy now had bread and milk to take home. Sister Sara encourages the people to gather and visit before the meal. In years past, the participants would have been sitting on their porches and visiting on the street but now, with so many of their friends moving, they enjoy gathering to socialize in the hall each week.
Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked are not the only works of Sister Sara. She shares her ministry with many volunteers who help in preparing and serving the weekly meal and also volunteer at seasonal times. The group helps prepare baskets for both Thanksgiving and Christmas and is always willing to pitch in and help with a special project.
Other parts of Sister Sara's outreach program, which she usually does in the afternoon, include visiting the sick at home and in nursing homes, attending wakes and helping the families with burial services. Of course, there is always the phone. The phone calls may be a person in need of furniture, food, advice and, sometimes, just a listening ear.
Before Mass began, the people gathered in the rear of the church and received a flower. The children formed an honor guard and, after processing up the aisle, each person placed his/her flower in a vase in front of Mary's statue. After synchronized hand movements to a Marian hymn, sung in Vietnamese, the children placed their wreaths on the trellis, and a young girl crowned Mary's statue. All were very reverent and devout.
Sister Sara's active involvement in living the works of mercy, "all that woman is capable of and which most benefit the dear neighbor," is an awesome call and a grace for those whose lives she touches each day.