The Fourth Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday before Christmas, is a special day of giving and remembrance for the parishioners of Sacred Heart and Saint Ann's Churches. Volunteers make cookies, cakes, breads and other treats to deliver to homebound parishioners, and white poinsettias are sent to those who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past year.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Raeven Harkness, 12, of Auburn, sends her ball down the lane at Falcon Lanes as part of the free bowling, pizza and soda provided by The Auburn school resource officers.
Raeven Harkness, 12, of Auburn, sends her ball down the lane at Falcon Lanes as part of the free bowling, pizza and soda provided by The Auburn school resource officers.
Jackie Whatman is the secretary of Sacred Heart, and the coordinator of the project. She used the church records to identify the homebound individuals and those who have had a death in the family. This year there were 46 homebound and 38 bereavement gifts.
“We do this every year,” she said. “I've been doing it for the past five years. People bake and help us package and deliver the cookies. A lot of kids in religious education use this as a service project. I had to deliver one year when we were short of volunteers. It's so heartwarming. A lot of people are very lonely. Everybody should do this once to experience it.”
Beginning around noon, the goodies were sorted and packed. Long tables were covered with chocolate chip, chocolate filled, frosted, sugar and other varieties of cookies, plus holiday breads and small cakes. Pat Messina was one of the volunteers sorting cookies.
“I help out every year,” she said. “I bake and I pack.”
Volunteers from children to senior citizens sorted the confections and packed them neatly into sturdy plastic containers. Once they were filled and sealed, each was given a sticker that read, “Happy Holidays form the staff at Sacred Heart and Saint Ann Churches.”
The next step was the delivery of the packages according to pre-established routes.
Kathy Collier and her daughter Kate, were volunteering as a team. They have both helped out in the past. This year, they would be baking and delivering.
“It takes about two hours to do the deliveries,” Kathy said. “The city is divided into sections. The people are so happy to see us. Some of them have no families, and some have lost someone they loved.”
The spirit of giving does not end with the cookies and flowers. This past weekend and again on Jan. 4, the two parishes will collect gently used or even new toys, books, games, videos and CDs. The donated items will be distributed to community groups and agencies who serve needy children.
Baby items, such as high chairs, strollers and walkers will also be accepted.
For more information, contact the Sacred Heart Church office at 252-7271.
“We do this every year,” she said. “I've been doing it for the past five years. People bake and help us package and deliver the cookies. A lot of kids in religious education use this as a service project. I had to deliver one year when we were short of volunteers. It's so heartwarming. A lot of people are very lonely. Everybody should do this once to experience it.”
Beginning around noon, the goodies were sorted and packed. Long tables were covered with chocolate chip, chocolate filled, frosted, sugar and other varieties of cookies, plus holiday breads and small cakes. Pat Messina was one of the volunteers sorting cookies.
“I help out every year,” she said. “I bake and I pack.”
Volunteers from children to senior citizens sorted the confections and packed them neatly into sturdy plastic containers. Once they were filled and sealed, each was given a sticker that read, “Happy Holidays form the staff at Sacred Heart and Saint Ann Churches.”
The next step was the delivery of the packages according to pre-established routes.
Kathy Collier and her daughter Kate, were volunteering as a team. They have both helped out in the past. This year, they would be baking and delivering.
“It takes about two hours to do the deliveries,” Kathy said. “The city is divided into sections. The people are so happy to see us. Some of them have no families, and some have lost someone they loved.”
The spirit of giving does not end with the cookies and flowers. This past weekend and again on Jan. 4, the two parishes will collect gently used or even new toys, books, games, videos and CDs. The donated items will be distributed to community groups and agencies who serve needy children.
Baby items, such as high chairs, strollers and walkers will also be accepted.
For more information, contact the Sacred Heart Church office at 252-7271.
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