Mission Statement:
The Social Concerns Committee seeks, first of all, to raise the consciousness of the parish community in terms of social responsibility, emphasizing that the primary obligation of Christians, while growing in relationship with God, is to be bearers of the Gospel message of peace and non-violence in our world. Further, it strives to investigate the social needs of the community, formulating and implementing action to combat identified injustices.
Striving to meet our mission statment, St. Agnes Social Concerns Committee works on the following projects during the year.
Each year, St. Agnes provides over 120 Christmas gifts to Jefferson County residents who may not receive a remembrance of the greatest gift--Jesus. Committee members solicit eight Jefferson County Agencies for gift suggestions for people who may be forgotten during the Christmas season. CCD children make the decorative ornaments to attach to the requested items, the youth assist with last minute shopping, wrapping, and delivery, and Parish members purchase and wrap the majority of the gifts. This project requires numerous committee members to coordinate with agencies, the CCD Director, the St. Agnes youth, the Parish Secretary, and the entire Parish Community. This is an annual project starting at the September planning and work assignment meeting, and ending in January with the summation report presented in the the bulletin.
The Shepherdstown Ministerial Association supports the Jefferson County Community Ministries, a ministry that provides help for needy people in Jefferson County. St. Agnes Social Concerns committee provides a basket at the back of the church for collection of food, paper goods, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies donated by the parish members. The committee transports the donated items to the New Street Methodist Church food pantry. This is an on-going project.
Eastern Panhandle Agricultural Workers' Task Force requests assistance each summer in collecting personal hygiene items for newly arrived migrant workers. A committee member composes bulletin announcements informing the parishioners of the specific needs and then transports the items collected to the Task Force. This project takes place during the summer months.
Each Friday during Lent, the Committee promotes Rice Bowl participation by providing a "Soup and Bread" meal at the Parish Center. Prior to each meal, a committee members reads information about a normal meal in a third world country, reads a scripture lesson, and blesses the meal that is shared as a parish family. Donations are collected weekly for the Rice Bowl. Catholic Relief distributes these monies, 75% to the needy throughout the world and 25% with the needy in West Virginia.
Under the guidance of committee member, Lynn Dunlevy, a number of parish nurses prepare numerous health-related programs throughout the year for St. Agnes Parishioners. This committee prepared and distributed a health survey, organized annual Health Fairs, and has responded to identified health issues with educational and participatory health programs. Health-related projects are planned and executed monthly.
According to Anna Bretsch, national literacy figures indicate that one (1) out of every two (2) people in the United States is illiterate. Although Jefferson County has an intelligent and highly educated population, the Jefferson County student dropout rate is 35%, resulting in numerous under-educated, often highly illiterate young adults. Many of our Jefferson County young people become parents early in life and have a difficult time coping with everyday issues. Open Door assists uneducated and often illiterate females, heads of households in Jefferson County by providing easily understood information on important issues such as money management, parenting skills, health and nutrition. Open Door also provides one-to-one tutoring for reading and comprehension. St. Agnes Social Concerns Committee assists Anna Bretsch, Director of Open Door and a member of the Social Concerns Committee, in promoting volunteerism for tutors and transportation providers. This is an on-going concern and project.
The Shepherdstown Ministerial Association supports GSIVC, a ministry providing spiritual, emotional, and physical support to the elderly and disabled in Jefferson County. At. Agnes coordinators, Pat Lewis and Cathy Riffey, are members of the Social Concerns Committee. The Committee assists GSIVC in numerous ways: obtaining house-repair volunteers, transportation volunteers, home visitation volunteers, gifts at Christmas for clients, and donation collections when appropriate.
WHAT IS SHARE? Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) is a program where people can purchase a package of food for $14.25 PLUS two (2) hours of community service. Groceries consist of 4-5 meat items, 8-10 produce items, and 1-3 grocery items that retail between $22 and $30. Food is purchased at a discount by SHARE food buyers direct from growers, brokers, packaging plants. The food is never donated, nor is it government surplus or salvage food. EVERYONE can participate, there are NO INCOME RESTRICTIONS. SHARE is a community service defined as friendly acts of goodwill, or service to the benefit of one's neighbor or community. Anything you do for another person or organization WITHOUT PAY can considered community service. Children, as well as adults, can be included in giving service whether it is cleaning up a neighborhood, or running errands for the elderly.
St. Agnes has SHARE representatives to help facilitate the program. The second weekend of each month is designated "Share sign-up weekend" when a representative is available after each Mass to "sign you up". Bring $14.25 in CASH. You will receive your SHARE receipt. It is a record of your community service hours. You will need to have it signed by someone from the community organization for whom you are volunteering. Remember, you only need TWO (2) hours. You then bring your receipt to a designated sight to pick up your food. It's that simple! SHARE is a good way to stretch your food dollars and get involved in your community. The Parish Coordinators of Share are Jennifer Wood (876-6298) and Kathryn Murphy (263-4693).
Finally, other organizations who have identified local social concern issues that require additional support are: Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Community Services, and the Family Resource Network. Other projects that we are in the process of taking on are Project 5000, Alzheimer's Support Group, a Sister Parish in Appalachia, and support of the LaLeche Project.
Rev. T. Mathew Rowgh, Pastor
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