Volunteer's advice: Get involved now

When it comes to getting things done in a parish, Ambrose Nash Jr. has few peers.

At St. Peter's Church in Troy, when assistance was needed on a project, "they would call, and I'd go down and help," he said.

That "can-do" attitude -- and his lifetime commitment to St. Peter's and Catholic life in the city -- is why Mr. Nash, 77, is among those being honored at this year's Rev. Thomas K. Flanigan Humanitarian Awards Dinner.

Memories

Mr. Nash began his volunteer service as an altar server. He recalls peeking out onto a nearly full church with his cousin and the priest joking, "'Boys, they're still coming in.' Oh, the crowds that were there."

After attending LaSalle Institute and Troy Business College, Mr. Nash married Joan Ann Mooney. They and their six children all went to Mass at St. Peter's, and most of their children graduated from St. Peter's Academy.

Mr. Nash has participated in many aspects of parish life: from serving on the parish council and being a trustee, to arranging dinners, working at bazaars and coordinating Bingo games. He has also worked with the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society, and packed and delivered Christmas baskets for the needy.

A first

The service he's most proud of is becoming the first Eucharistic minister at St. Peter's.

"Father Flanigan asked me," he remembered, referring to a long-time pastor. The invitation came after the priest had surgery on both knees and needed assistance in giving out communion.

"I didn't think I could do that job," Mr. Nash said, but the priest replied, "'Think about it.'"

Installed on a Holy Thursday, Mr. Nash remembers that he looked out onto the congregation, squeezed the ciborium tight and had one thought: "I hope I don't embarrass Father!"

He added, "I was proud to think that I was worthy enough to do that."

Changes

Mr. Nash's time at St. Peter's has seen many changes: from four Sunday Masses and four priests in the rectory to one Sunday Mass and a pastor, Rev. William Gorman, who is responsible for more than one parish.

But those things haven't changed Mr. Nash's commitment; he's still a familiar fixture at the entrances of local banks, selling tickets to fundraisers, dinners, Christmas events and summer barbecues.

"It's something that's inside of me," he said. "I can't explain."

Called

Mr. Nash, who is a part of the "Called to Be Church" planning group at St. Peter's, is already living some of the changes the planning process may call for.

While he goes to daily Mass at St. Peter's, he attends First Friday liturgies at St. Patrick's and goes to Our Lady of Victory for Saturday morning Masses.

He advises Catholics to "get involved. All the churches need help today to survive. You do what you can. You gotta get involved and help out because there's always someone that needs a helping hand."

(Other honorees are former legislator Pat Casale and the late Charlotte Cichacki. The Father Flanigan day, April 22, includes a 4 p.m. Mass and an awards dinner at 5 p.m. at Franklin Plaza.)

(4/12/07) [[In-content Ad]]