The Youth Ministry of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson, N.J., turned this year’s annual Blessing of the Animals into an opportunity to do a little more than bless the beloved pets.
Held in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the parish’s annual Blessing of the Animals became the starting point for a pet supply donation drive. Parishioners were invited to bring gently used towels, sheets, blankets, and other supplies for local veterinarians, animal hospitals, shelters, rescue organizations, and others who care for animals in need.
The family of St. Gerard Majella rose to the occasion, again.
The blessing was celebrated bilingually, with Msgr. George Hundt, pastor of St. Gerrard’s, and Father Sebastian Muñoz, the parish’s newly appointed parochial vicar. Seminarian Jairo Jaramillo assisted with the blessing.
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Youth Ministry leaders Mike Stracco and Kathleen Lockard, along with a few parents, collected donations after every Sunday Mass and continued after the blessing.
What started as a simple request for a towel, blanket, or sheet quickly became something much bigger. Parishioners’ generosity was incredible. Donations came in, and before long, the Youth Ministry realized it had a lot to sort.
“Our love at the parish extends not only for the people of our parish, but to our animal friends as well,” said Msgr. Hundt, summing up the effort.
That love was certainly evident.
After everything was collected and sorted, the Youth Ministry prepared and delivered 15 40-gallon bags of towels, sheets, blankets, and other supplies to local veterinarians and animal hospitals.
Those bags represent parishioners who saw a need and decided to help. They represent young people who didn’t just talk about service but actually rolled up their sleeves and did something. They represent the truth that sometimes a small act of kindness can make a very real difference.
That spirit of service is at the heart of the St. Gerard Majella Youth Ministry. Its guiding theme reflects the parish’s newly developed motto: “One Family in Christ, Growing in Faith, Rejoicing in Hope, and Changing the World with Love.”
Sometimes, it starts with a towel.
The Youth Ministry has become very active since its inception. Over the next several months, the young people will gather for a gratitude-filled Friendsgiving, share a prayerful reflection on the Christmas story, conduct their annual Souper Bowl collection, and, in the spring, host a “Senior” Prom designed to bring some joy, laughter, and fellowship to the senior members of our community.
The young people of St. Gerard’s are learning that being a disciple isn’t simply about coming to church. It is about believing, gathering, growing, loving, and leading — and then taking what we have received and sharing it with others. Perhaps that is the best lesson from the pet supply drive.
