Rural ministry booms in North Country

Last winter, a young mother carrying her baby down a frozen street in Warrensburg met a member of North Country Ministry. The mother was near despair: Her child had no diapers left, and the town hall where she had gone to get some could not help her.

The NCM volunteer brought the woman to a grocery store, bought Pampers for her son and invited her to counseling. Today, she is on her way to providing a healthy life for herself and her child.

That's just one example of the work of North Country Ministry, a pilot project in the Albany Diocese now entering its fourth year -- and in need of support if it is to continue. The project seeks to provide the presence of women religious and counseling, financial aid, clothing, support, and faith formation for rural Adirondack Mountain communities of the Diocese.

North Country Ministry originated in 1992 with four religious communities that wanted to collaborate to serve rural areas. They realized that residents of the North Country were among the poorest in the Diocese, with rates of unemployment, alcoholism, abuse and suicide much higher than average.

"Economically, there are problems unique to this area," explained Sister Fran Husselbeck, RSM, one of the founders of North Country Ministry. "A lot of the work is seasonal; a lot of people are working poor."

The religious communities, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, and the Warren County parishes of St. James in North Creek, St. Cecilia's in Warrensburg and Sacred Heart in Lake George each agreed to partially fund the new program for three or four years.

Priest shortage

The three parishes who requested NCM's aid also needed help to combat the shortage of priests. For example, Rev. Joseph O'Brien serves as pastoral administrator for Blessed Sacrament parish in Hague, St. James in North Creek, and St. John the Baptist in Chestertown.

"A pastor who has three parishes to serve can't possibly provide" for all their needs, said NCM volunteer Pat Jordan. "It's just impossible."

Sister Fran and Sister Mary Flynn, CSJ, were the first staff members of North Country Ministry. Taking lists of needs surfaced by parishes during the Pastoral Planning process, they decided which ministries would most immediately benefit those in need.

"It seemed like overnight" that North Country Ministry was on its way, volunteer Sharie Wallerstein remembered. Within a month, a thrift shop had been opened in Warrensburg to distribute free clothing and counseling was being offered to Adirondack residents.

Place to gather

"The Gathering Place" also opened. Located in the parish hall of St. Cecilia's church, The Gathering Place provided free lunches, social interaction and "hostesses" to connect individuals with social service agencies for more help.

"The support groups started about six months later," Sister Fran told The Evangelist. "People had to see us, get to know us. We spoke at parishes."

Volunteers came on board. More than 20 people offered to make lunch and talk with visitors to The Gathering Place; others began to work in the thrift shop and bring Communion to the homebound. The core group of volunteers branched out into a set at each parish.

Sister Ann Thorne, a Dominican Sister of Hope, recently replaced Sister Mary on the NCM staff. "What good is it if you just pray for one another?" she said of her decision to join NCM. "We're here for the needs of the community, and we will do what we can for those needs. I want to be a part of this ministry."

Various needs

The most immediate needs varied in each town served by NCM. For example, Lake George residents requested adult faith formation, a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults group for those wishing to join the Church, a support group for women and counseling. Warrensburg, home to The Gathering Place, also needed counseling and referrals to social service programs. North Creek asked for help in becoming "a faith-filled community of the '90s."

Soon, area residents began to hear about the new services available to them. Many, Sister Fran said, casually strolled by The Gathering Place, "checking it out" before they ventured inside. When they did, they found welcoming volunteers who could help them to connect with local aid in a more relaxed setting than that of a public office.

"We give them a dignity they would not get, going down to Social Services," said Ms. Wallerstein, who serves as an outreach and advocacy worker, offering help to young mothers. "We're not another system to give them a handout. We're actually relating to them."

Success stories

So far, said volunteer Kathy Dorman, North Country Ministry has seen "more successes than failures." The thrift shop is booming; The Gathering Place serves dozens each Tuesday and Friday; and support groups have formed at each parish served by NCM. A new resource library loans out hundreds of books on faith. "I can't even imagine life without it," Ms. Dorman declared.

Best of all, North Country Ministry serves as a model of collaboration for parishes struggling through Pastoral Planning.

"It brought our parishes together. Our relationship with parishes in our cluster would not be the same without it," said Ms. Jordan. "I would hope that other parishes would emulate it."

Funding problem

However, North Country Ministry has a problem. The program was funded for only four years and must now raise money without the help of the Diocese, the sisters' orders or parishes. To meet expenses for the coming year, $20,000 is needed.

NCM volunteers have formed a guild to raise funds, but even the many grants they have applied for will last only a year. Volunteers hope that parishes across the Diocese will "adopt" families from their program for Christmas.

Meanwhile, participants and volunteers alike worry about the ministry's future. Guild member Pat Jordan said that "we are in serious danger of losing the program."

More to come

Despite those needs, Sister Fran continues to plan for NCM's future. Parenting sessions will soon begin at Sacred Heart parish in Lake George.

Furthermore, "there are a lot of widowers and widows. What's being done to meet their needs?" Sister Fran queried. "What can we do about our youth problems? The next part of our energy will be geared to that."

(North Country Ministry is looking for financial support and donations of in-season clothing. To make a contribution, call 251-4425 or write PO Box 111, North Creek, NY 12853.)

(09-12-96) [[In-content Ad]]