Parishioners aid ailing woman

There are many evenings when Frances Fairweather is too tired to prepare a home-cooked meal for her own family. But lately, she's been doing precisely that for members of another household.

So have dozens of other parishioners of St. Mary's Church in Nassau, as have members of the nearby North Chatham Methodist Church.

Mrs. Fairweather, pastoral associate for administration at St. Mary's, said that the chief recipient of the hearty home-cooked meals is a Catholic who is suffering from cancer and receiving hospice care.

Linking to help

The ecumenical meal ministry began when some of the patient's Methodist neighbors began cooking dinners for her family as well as offering prayer support.

Wanting to do their part, St. Mary's parishioners offered to contribute a full month's worth of meals "to show our love and support, our caring and concern for her and her family during this very difficult time," explained Mrs. Fairweather.

The ailing parishioner, who asked that her name not be used, receives weekly visits from Rev. Antone M. Kandrac, OFM, Conv., pastor, as well as a copy of St. Mary's bulletin so that "she is still very much a part of our family," stressed Mrs. Fairweather.

Pitching in

"Our parishioners are doing the cooking for the family during the weeks of June 8 to 30, and one gentleman has even called to say he wants to mow their lawn," said Mrs. Fairweather. Other members of the two churches are helping with shopping.

In addition, Mrs. Fairweather said, several parishioners sent donations which will be used to secure restaurant dinners for any evenings when hot meals cannot be provided.

"It's been wonderful to see the response to this appeal," she said. "These days, so many of us, myself included, are so busy that we find it hard to get home-cooked meals on our own tables at night. But when we asked parishioners to help out this way, many wanted to do their share. "Some people offered to cook for more than one evening. Usually, they were the ones who had experienced sickness in their own homes in the past, so they really appreciate why the meals are so important at times like these."

(06-12-97) [[In-content Ad]]