Love Tree has fruit for young and aged

At St. John the Evangelist/St. Joseph's parish in Rensselaer, a tree of love is growing -- and it bears fruit for both the old and young.

Last year, Linda Banker, pastoral associate for pastoral care, got the idea for the Love Tree after reading a book about parish ministry.

"I decided that it might benefit our homebound parishioners," she told The Evangelist.

It turned out that it benefitted children as well.

Un-decorate

"Our tree of love is not decorated with garland," Mrs. Banker explained, "but with the names of homebound parishioners, seniors and nursing home residents -- anyone from our parish who is on the list for care and prayer."

The Love Tree was set up on the first Sunday of Advent.

"We asked that everyone help to un-decorate it by taking an ornament home and remembering our homebound parishioners with a Christmas card," she said.

Re-decorate

Once the tree was bare, parishioners were asked to re-decorate it on the third Sunday of Advent.

"We asked people to bring in new, unwrapped toys to place under the tree," she said.

The toys were delivered to the Christmas Store program at St. Mary's Church in Clinton Heights, a program sponsored by CoNSERNS-U of Catholic Charities.

The program assists needy families in Rensselaer County. Parents in the program are invited to "shop" at the store for gifts for their children.

Tree's fruit

"With everyone's help," Mrs. Banker said, "this has truly been an intergenerational effort. Our first year was wonderfully successful, with about 250 cards being sent by school children and families in the parish to all our homebound, seniors and those in nursing homes.

"Receiving these cards means a lot to someone who might get only one or two cards during the holiday season. I visited one of our parishioners in a local nursing home. She told me how much it meant to her to be remembered by people at church.

"The connection of the faith community to those homebound who can no longer make it to Mass or parish activities is very important. It lets them know that they are still thought of and included in our prayers and thoughts.

"The love tree has brought the generations together. What can better spread the Christmas message of joy, peace and love?"

(For information on the love tree, call 465-0482.)

(12/21/06) [[In-content Ad]]