“No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach.”

- Woodrow Wilson, Speech, 1912

What will it take to completely eliminate world hunger? In a one word answer “us.” The faith communities of Auburn are joining forces to raise money for those living in abject poverty. They are planning to use Heifer International to support these efforts.

Sacred Heart, St. Ann's, Westminster, St. Hyacinth's, First United Methodist, Unitarian Universalist, Calvary Presbyterian, First Presbyterian and St. Luke's will spend the rest of 2006 planning projects to raise money to support Heifer International in its work to give quality animals, technical assistance and training to struggling people.

Heifer International got its start when Dan West, a youth leader and farmer, was a relief worker during the Spanish Civil War. He was assigned to pass out powdered milk to children on both sides of the conflict, he grieved when the supply of milk ran out with children still waiting in line. He reasoned, “Not a cup, but a cow is needed.” He challenged friends back home to send heifers. And because he believed that everyone who receives should also experience the dignity of giving, he conceived the idea of “passing on the gift.” Every family who receives a Heifer animal, he insisted, should pass on one of the animal's offspring to someone else in need.

Heifer has programs that provide more than 20 different kinds of food and income-producing animals in dozens of counties on five continents. Since the beginning in 1944, they have supplied animals and the opportunity to become self-reliant for food and income to families in 125 countries and 40 states in the United States. They've helped at least 7 million families directly and indirectly through “passing on the gift.”

Next year will begin the year of the Heifer Project for any and all churches in the Auburn area that wish to join in ending world hunger. It's not too late to participate. The Auburn churches will continue planning the remainder of 2006. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 (meeting place to be announced.)

For more information about Heifer International, visit the Web site at www.heifer.org. If your congregation is interested in joining the Auburn group, you may call 253-9215 or e-mail cgraceandpeace@aol.com.

Thanks so much to Dawn Corriveau of Sacred Heart/St. Ann's and Jill Fandrich of Westminster for inspiring this effort, and sharing this great news.

On a similar note, I was also moved by the words and work of some of our local missionaries; the Mission from the Heart group from Sacred Heart who visited the Dominican Republic and Maureen Famiglietti of St. Mary's who visited Lesotho, Africa to work with AIDS/HIV patients. Amidst extreme poverty and suffering, they found people grateful and giving thanks to God for what little they have and for each other. It sure puts things into perspective and gives us all something to think about. I was touched by how their hearts were changed, and by their can-do attitude, “We have to start somewhere.”

In other news:

St. Hyacinth's Church on Pulaski Street in Auburn would like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend their celebration of the Worldwide Day of the Rosary with Marian Devotions at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1. The Marian Devotion will include Eucharistic Benediction, as well as prayers consecrating families to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, along with a Living Rosary which will be prayed while the children display tableaus of the Glorious Mysteries. If you have never taken part in a Living Rosary, it is very beautiful, as each person says one prayer, which represents one bead of the Rosary. Participants in the Living Rosary are asked to submit their names in order to take part and help plan the event. Music will be provided by the St. Hyacinth's choir with organist Marek Nowak, conducting. The presider will be Father Eugene Dobosz, pastor of St. Hyacinth and St. Francis churches.

Also, on Friday Oct. 6, and every First Friday of the month, following the 9 a.m. Mass, St. Hyacinth's will celebrate Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The church will be open for Adoration until 3 p.m., at which time prayers to the Divine Mercy will be prayed with the Blessed Sacrament exposed and Eucharistic Benediction. Confession is available from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on that day.

Many thanks to Theresa Dec for sharing this news with us. For more information or to sign up for the Living Rosary, contact her at 253-9452.

These opportunities for quiet time to be with Our Lord bring to mind some beautiful words Father Dennis Shaw shared with us this summer. It's not enough to believe in Jesus and follow all the rules. God wants us to KNOW him. He sent his only Son to Earth to help us come to know him. He wants us to spend time with him. He loves us more than the love of a parent for a child. He wants to be there with us when times are hard, holding us safely and securely and confidently in his embrace, just as your parents held you so tight when you were afraid. We call him Father ... the word actually used in the Bible, as translated, is such a loving, personal term, it actually means “daddy” or “papa.”

God loves you so much; if you are sad, or tired, hurt or broken or disillusioned, run to the safety of his loving embrace and your life will be forever changed. God made you, and he loves you as if you were the only person in the whole world. Have a good week everyone.

Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com