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On 16 January 2020, just over 14 Months ago, Lusica and I participated in our First Social Concerns Meeting.  As we ventured into that first meeting our thoughts and prayers centered upon our Purpose, Values and Vision.  Our purpose is to identify the significant social issues that either enhance or compromise the well-being of individuals in the community while directing the parish’s response to those issues.  Putting our Catholic social teaching values into practice with aiding the poor and those in need.  And finally, a vision with our Parish sharing material resources, personal gifts, and talent with guiding ourselves and the community in being true disciples of Jesus Christ. 

At that time, we understood the challenges ahead and realized that these were all achievable goals and that our effort would be in a form of a crawl, walk, run.  As the call went out for volunteers to support this effort a core group formed with 15 members forming the Social Concerns Commission.  This group epitomizes those values with offering their time, talent, and treasures to assist and support those not only within Our Lady of the Lake Parish but also our community.

Since that initial meeting two important documents have emerged within our Diocese and Our Lady of the Lake that intensifies our support within our Parish and community at large.  The first document issued by Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City is “A Steward’s Journey – Our Call to Greater Communion”, A pastoral Letter on the New Diocesan Pastoral Plan.  Bishop McKnight highlights the need for Parishes to become Centers of Charity and Sanctuaries of Mercy with becoming beacons of hope for their parishioners and the wider community.  With “charity” and “mercy” signifying all the ways in which Christ’s presence in the community of believers is experienced with feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, providing transportation for the homebound, etc. 

Recently, Monsignor Makarewicz published the Pastoral Plan 2020 for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church that has three activities to include promulgating and staffing a Steward Commission; development, chartering, and staffing of a Parish Pastoral Council; and finally becoming a center of mercy and charity.  With becoming a center of mercy and charity was a start with providing the place, resources, support, and opportunity where our efforts can be focused through the Social Concerns Commission.  With that end, two rooms at the Parish that had been used for religious education were reassigned as an administrative center and providing for storage of the materiel required for outreach and our Neighbors in Need.  Our program, called Salvavida (Lifesaver) through personal contact, assessment and networking resources assists those in need to include helping them find resources they lack.  We finally initiated and developed a “Blessing Bag” support for those that needed some immediate food assistance.

It is during the winter months, but more specifically when the temperatures become sub-zero with wind and snow where the need for those in need, especially the homeless, becomes crucial.  On 23 February 2021, “Lake of the Ozark Homeless Coalition” had their first meeting.  Initiated and sponsored by The Tree Ministries in Camdenton, the initial meeting brought 40 Churches/participants (Our Lady of the Lake being one of these 40) together to actively discuss the needs of not only the homeless but also for all our Neighbors in Need.  Many Churches and organizations, to include Our Lady of the Lake, are providing support to Our Neighbors in Need, in which we are all “stove piped” in our individual organization support where we need to coordinate and synchronize our stove piped efforts into a well-organized and combined effort.  This is a long term versus a short-term seasonal effort that has started.  An effort which must continue even when our temperatures become warm and the homelessness issue gets shoved to the back burner.  It is “A journey of a thousand miles that begins with the first step!”

It is with great earnest that Our Lady of the Lady Social Concerns Commission reaches out to those that would like to be a part of making us a Center of Charity within the Community.

If not you – WHO?  If not now – When?  If you would like more information regarding the Social Concerns Commission, please feel free to contact me through the Parish Office.  Thank you for all that you do! Blessings – Dcn Jim