Blog

Our Lady of the Lake

Social Concerns Commission

Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Support

Team: This past year was a great year to be a member of the Social Concerns Team, aiding and supporting not only Our Lady of the Lake but also our great community.

1. Our Lady of the Lake Parish Directory:  This began in December of 2022 and with the efforts of many volunteers assisting after Mass with scheduling, we had our first photo taken on the 2^nd and 3^rdMay with follow on photos 30, 31 May and 1,2,3 June.  The final draft editing was completed on 5 Dec 2023 and sent to Universal Church Directories.  We had 183 photos, and many pages dedicated to the ministries, commissions, and organizations of Our Lady of the Lake.  Distribution took placethroughout the first quarter of 2024 (Jan, Feb, Mar).  We anticipated having 64 overage that will be provided to new parishioners (gratis) and current parishioners that would like to purchase a copy for $15. This was a great project that took many hours along with dedicated parishioner support.

2. Ministry to Families & Ministry to those in Need: (Salva vida {lifesaver}Outreach)— We continue to provide services for those requesting assistance with monetary help, i.e. rent, rent downpayments, electric bills, phone bills, food, moving, homelessness, displaced because of a house fire, blessing bags, gas cards, etc. This support is with the great assistance of our office staff; Joan Wolf, and Kelly Hamrin,who are the first line of compassion with gathering initial information to back brief with information that helps with providing a course of action for assistance.  At times, we also have some great organizations in the area we refer those in need of assistance to include Hope House, Compass Health, The Hub, and Missouri Ozarks Community Action (MOCA).   

3. Funeral Dinners, Compassion Meals & Kindness Meals: Lusica continues to spearhead Kindness Meals each month along with the assistance of Barb Hermreck and Jill Simpson.  Supporting 117 kindness meals, 34 compassion meals, five funeral dinners.  These ladies continue to provide meals along with visiting and spending time with each recipient.  Compassion meals are on a case-by-case basis and depending on the situation, surgery and such, they again provide a meal along with spiritual/communal comfort.  Lusica appreciates all the support that is volunteered and is always looking for those that would like to assist/support with this ministryand also for any names of people who would be needing kindness or compassion meals. We have supported five funeral dinners.  Funeral dinners were headed by Cindy Hutzler, but with Cindy becoming ill and passing, the last two were chaired by Mel Graessel and Marilyn Daly. A Chair for Funeral Dinners is needed.  

4. Ministry of Health and Well Being – We have those that provide a service reaching out to those homebound or in nursing homes for not only spiritual but also visiting and lending a kind visit.   Jan Metz, Glenda Hinrichs, John Akscin, Ann Wallace, Jeanie Freeman and Carolyn Loraine minister the Holy Sacrament of Communion while they along with Dianne Richardson reach out with either calling or visiting those that are homebound or at a nursing home center.

5. Trivia Night (3 February 2024) report from Karen Blevins (chair):  The Trivia Planning Team once again provided an incredible night of entertainment for a very good cause.  Many people voiced their support in choosing the Jeff Barry family as our recipient. The community truly came together in contributing to this cause. We raised approximately $5500 with the players fees, a 50/50 drawing, mulligan sales, raffle sales, and extra donations that evening. Karen Blevins will be collecting all donations from Kelly on the 28^th, estimating the total being close to $7000.  The Trivia committee was thrilled with the financial support that was shown to Jeff, Rachel, Simon and Hattie.  Each committee member donated a $25 gift card from local businesses that served as door prizes between each round. Committee members, along with other parishioners, assisted in donating food for the event. Each year Twiggs donate pizzas, too, and The Lodge of the Four Seasons allows us to use a stage free of charge. We had three members of our youth group volunteer their time to serve as runners during the event.  This event is a testament to “it takes a village”.  

6. Ministry for Protecting Life (Pregnancy Help Center): Theresa Faber, Director of the Pregnancy Help Center, provided an update at our 14 March 2024 meeting.  The 7 March 2024 chili cook-off made approximately $10,000 of that $8,500 was from Sponsorships, $1,220 from the dessert table, and $1,160 was taken at the door.  The Social Concerns Commission provided Theresa with a check for $770 that was taken from donations from our parish that participated at the chili cookoff.   With these funds, an ultrasound machine is being purchased for the Versailles location that is currently being remodeled to accommodate it.  The Versailles location served 29 ladies during February while the Camdenton location served 52. They are getting ready to begin the baby bottle drive. Our Lady of the Lake has asked for 100 bottles. Theresa said that they normally make about $50,000 during this drive. These Centers provide much needed classes tothese new mothers. Classes are given on: Finances, Life Skills, and Parenting. They also aid those of low income to help pay for gas, rent, and utilities.  We then supported the Baby Bottle Campaign for the PHC on Mother’s Day, 12 May, at Our Lady of the Lake, with 100 bottles for those that would like to take one home and return on Father’s Day, 16 June 2024..  The total raised is a record: $5,268.73 with 77 bottles returned.

7. Church Marquis –  Working with four vendors, Dcn Jim coordinated the efforts with getting the finalization and approval for a Church Marquis that will be emplaced in the current marquis locations.  Installation will occur in January 2025.  

8. School Supplies: Social Concerns was the spearhead for collecting school supplies at Our Lady of the Lake, delivered to Hope House during July – Aug 2025, that began distribution at the beginning of August 2024.  Our Lady of the Lake provide two shopping carts full of school supplies.

9. Social Concerns Commission Wall in Fellowship Hall – Jackie Hiegert is the Social Concerns Commission Point of Contact (POC) for the updated Social Concerns Information wall in Fellowship Hall.  The wall displays were redone/updated with providing pertinent information within the Commission, such as our updated trifold, to include information for other organizations such as the Pregnancy Help Center and Hope House.

10. American Red Cross Blood Drive:  Social Concerns began with coordinating with and supporting the American Red Cross out of Columbia with hosting our first blood drive on 8 July 2024, 1000 – 1400 (2pm).  We have continued that support through Calendar Year (CY) 2024 and will start up with our first blood drive on 10 January 2025.    

11. Ministry to the Community/Advent Angel Tree 2024 – Our Advent Angel Tree 2024 began in late September with gathering names through the final distribution of 188 gifts on 5 December 2024.  Of those 188 gifts; 160 went to Hope House clients; 10 to Stonebridge residents; 10 to Ozark Rehab residents; and 8 to Helping Hands residents.  This is a 2-month plus process with lots of coordination and support.  Thanks go out to our co-chairs Patty McNally and Stephanie Koch along with Lusica Hankins for coordinating the sign-up volunteers at Hope House.

12. Queenship of Mary Novena (Wed 21 Aug) – We had a very large group participating with lots of great food, dessert and fellowship afterwards.  Thanks to all that provided support with reading and providing food.

13. Ministry of Hospitality and Fellowship:  From the Grateful Living Sessions small group, the idea of somehow welcoming new parishioners was brought to light. A Meet and Greet was thought to be a positive way in which to accomplish this.  Social Concerns coordinated with all commissions, parish council, and other Our Lady of the Lake organizations to have a potluck (the new parishioners will be guests, and the potluck will be provided by the different commissions) once a year to welcome new parishioners and also make them aware of the different commissions and organizations one can become a member of at OLOL.  This event occurred on 5 October 2024 with 16 new parishioners along with their families and also representatives from all of the commissions and service organizations, i.e. Knights of Columbus, Lady Knights, Sewing Group, etc., were there to talk with each of the new parishioners.  Lusica indicated that this year’s Meet and Greet will be on Saturday, 5 Oct, starting at 6pm in Bestgen Hall. 

These are the events that the Social Concerns Commission sponsored/supported in 2024!  

Great and fantastic job to all of you for your support and assistance.

New Year’s Blessings to you and your families.

Dcn Jim