Catholics dig in to grow mission

A recipe for success

It is nearing dusk on a balmy Sunday evening outside St. Paul's in Rock City Falls, a mission of St. Joseph's parish in Greenfield Center, but the work crew has no intention of putting down their tools just yet.

Some are having such a great time as they wield shovels, hoes and pickaxes on the grounds of the rural church that they literally whistle while they work -- or hum good-naturedly as John Cromie plays a tune on his tin whistle.

Blending in with the volunteers in a rustic t-shirt, khaki shorts and hiking boots is Rev. John Weyand, pastor.

"Father gets his hands just as dirty as the rest of us," explains Mr. Cromie, a regular on what he jokingly refers to as "The Chain Gang."

Renovations

The dozen or so volunteers were assembled to lay the groundwork for a major expansion project designed to double the size of the parking lot. That will be followed by the addition of a pavilion for cookouts, a playground, a grotto and a Stations of the Cross meditative walkway.

Parishioners eagerly roll up their sleeves to participate in such labor-intensive projects because for many members of the historic mission church, it's like a family gathering.

"It's hard for a lot of people who attend bigger churches to appreciate just how closely knit we are," reflects Mr. Cromie. "When we refer to ourselves as a `parish family,' we mean it."

His wife, Sue, agrees: "I think most people will tell you they really and truly feel at home when they come to St. Paul's. You might say it's like their home away from home."

Tight family

Father Weyand agrees with the couple's observations, saying: "Many parishes are family-oriented, but at this parish in particular the home really seems to be expanded into the church. Almost every single night, someone is here to work or to attend a meeting to benefit the church. These work crews that turn out often have 20 or 30 parishioners at a time, male and female, young and old. It is really incredible to see week in and week out."

Explains trustee Peter Zacheus: "We feel very strongly that everyone can make a contribution to our parish. At our church dinners, you'll see evidence of this. At 90, a parishioner might not be able to waitress, but she can still cut pies, and even fairly young children can take tickets at the door. When you bestow ownership, people really take it to heart."

In a rare show of faith, new members to the mission are presented with their own key to the church. "That is symbolic of the fact that the church belongs to them," stressed Mr. Zacheus. "In all the time we've been handing out keys, we've never had one thing stolen. On the contrary, people seem to want to give more back to the church."

'Out of woodwork'

Parish council president Pam Himmel said St. Paul's currently has more than 120 active member families -- making the parish twice the size it was in the mid-'70s. The mission prides itself on being self-sufficient, taking care of its own bills and finances. "It's as if people are coming out of the woodwork," Ms. Himmel said. "They say they like it here because the atmosphere is so welcoming and home-like."

St. Paul's, she adds, "is a church where everyone is a greeter, and people don't rush out the door when Mass ends. There's no stampede like you see at a lot of other churches. People like to stay and visit. Sometimes, we have to say: Remember to lock the door on your way out."

Sidebar Story #1

A great exchange: Land for dinner

St. Paul's mission church in Rock City Falls is situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks where tall tales are legendary and members of the region's Liars' Club insist they "always tell the truth even if they have to lie to do it."

It was, therefore, difficult to be sure if the story of how the rural mission church acquired the vast acreage it needed to expand and renovate was, in fact, true.

"I know it sounds pretty far-fetched," laughed trustee Peter Zacheus, "but the land really and truly was given to us in exchange for home-cooked dinners made by members of our church."

Over a period of years, St. Paul's acquired a total of 20 acres adjoining the church property from a non-Catholic woman who traded land for hot turkey and roast beef dinners with all the trimmings.

"Her name was Marion Dunkell, and she was just a great, very refined lady who almost seemed offended if anyone suggested she just pay the regular price for the home-cooked meals" served at church fundraisers, recalled Mr. Zacheus.

Initially, she joined other diners at the fund-raising dinners. Later, when she was in her eighties and could no longer get out, volunteers would bring the suppers to her home.

While about three-fourths of the acreage was "bartered" in exchange for the church dinners during Ms. Dunkell's life, the remainder was bequeathed to the mission upon her passing. (AH)

Return to top of page

Sidebar Story #2

A recipe for success

The problem with cooking up a new parish project is that there's no recipe to follow. But that hasn't deterred Jessica Zacheus Carter from forging ahead with plans to build a playground on the grounds of the mission church where her family has worshipped for four generations.

"I knew what I wanted to do but also knew we didn't have the money to make it a reality," recalled Mrs. Carter, religious education coordinator at St. Paul's in Rock City Falls. "That's when the idea of doing a cookbook hit me."

Working closely with Pat Samascott, Mrs. Carter solicited a combination of favorite family recipes from parish members last summer, then spent the winter organizing them into cookbook chapters.

The result is an attractive 72-page "folk art" style publication that the mission church is selling at $6 to cover the cost of the proposed new playground.

When Mrs. Carter, a certified elementary school teacher, was growing up, she enjoyed spending time with friends at a playground at the public school in Rock City Falls. But ever since it closed, youngsters have been without such an outdoor facility.

"I guess you could say I'm big on old-fashioned values and traditions," she said. "To me, it's important for kids to have a safe place to play together. Our parish is fortunate enough to have the extra land. All we need is the recreational equipment to put on it. A playground at St. Joseph's could be used by all the children in the community. It's just something I feel we need in this area."

If all goes well, the playground will be ready for action by next spring -- around the time the parish hopes to begin work on some other projects, including a grotto and Stations of the Cross walkway where adults can meditate and pray while their children and grandchildren safely play nearby.

(Those interested in purchasing a cookbook can leave a message for Jessica Carter at St. Paul's, 885-4877.)(AH)

(08-07-97) [[In-content Ad]]