New service ministry aims to continue where St. Joseph left off

Published: 2007-08-01

GARY, Ind. (CNS) -- While little is known of the quiet, gentle man who served as the protector and human father of Jesus, the image of Joseph as a carpenter invokes creative thoughts of how he might have served his God and neighbors. With this fatherly saint as inspiration, St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John has launched a new endeavor -- the St. Joseph the Carpenter ministry. Defined in their mission statement as a diverse group of people in service to the less fortunate, the group vows to help "restore the dignity of our brothers and sisters in Christ through love, compassion and home-repair assistance." Traveling on a warm July Saturday to the Black Oak section of Gary, a group of nine men and women assisted resident Maggie Arreola. Arreola, the mother of three, has been plagued with health problems, but more immediate concerns are her kitchen floor and several nonfunctioning drains in the home. Her plight came to the attention of some people at nearby St. Ann Parish who called on the new ministry for help.

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