Selfless love and service by its parishioners are essential to any parish, and most can point to at least a few who seem to go above and beyond, even way above and far beyond, the norm.
At St. Joseph in Hawthorne, school principal Tina Whelan recalls arriving eight years ago and spending the first two weeks saying to Mary Lee Rutherford, "You do that, too?" --- and, since then, hearing Mary Lee say to others on staff, "I can do that for you," or "I'll take care of that."
"Mary Lee sees what needs to be done and does it," says Whelan, "and she sees what other people need to do and says, 'I can help you with that.'" Most of her work to make things run smoothly is behind the scenes.
And following the example set by her own mom at a neighboring parish, Mary Lee has imparted her work ethic to daughter Karen, co-chair of the parish festival for the last ten years. Both women also volunteer at St. Margaret's Center in Lennox for their Christmas program; they take photos of the children with Santa each year; and they barbecue dinner for parish volunteers after the annual fireworks sale.
"She's there until the last thing is done, until 2 a.m., packing up the truck," says pastor Father Perry Leiker. "And she never complains."
Why do they give so much? "We saw it from example," Mary Lee says simply. "It's what you are supposed to do."
Adds Karen: "It's kind of just a given. People still ask me why do I do it - and my friends and co-workers ask, 'Why do you put in all that time?' Because my mom did it, so I have to do it. But I like it - no problem."
At St. Joseph, lay volunteers and workers increasingly take on leadership roles - essential in a parish where more than 8,000 attend ten Masses each weekend, enough for Father Leiker to note, with a laugh, that his parish is sometimes referred to as "the diocese of Hawthorne."
"Lay involvement here is the key," says the pastor. "There are so many ministers." Some of the parish's ministers of the sick are in their 80s and have been visiting the sick for 30 years or more. Then there is Madonna Bartasavich, who has played the piano and organ at St. Joseph's for 57 years and never misses a beat, whether it be "Pescador de los Hombres" or something more traditional in English.
"The energy here attracts me tremendously," says Father Leiker. "We have two Spanish Masses with 1,200 people literally lining the walls and out the doors. And when they respond and sing, there's a powerful sense of faith present. There's a great sense of devotion and devoted labor for God and church."
That is personified by catechetical leader Maria Rivera, who smiles, "I have more passion than I am tired."
The sheer enormity of her program is awesome: 1,000 students in elementary, junior high, and the RCIA for children; 216 in two-year confirmation; 17 young adults who mentor confirmation students; 45 seniors in "Semilla del Reino"; 1,041 youth in First Communion (including 125 high school students and 11 special education); 900 parents in a catechesis program while their children attend classes on every level; and, very important, over 100 teachers.
What has inspired this native Nicaraguan to work so hard? "God asked me to do it. And I say, 'You know what, God, it's too much. But if you want me, I'll do it. If you find somebody else, send me somebody else.' But I'm still waiting for somebody else," she adds, laughing. "I like what I am doing. I have passion for it. I believe in education. That's why I moved from Nicaragua to here."
As a single parent, Maria worked multiple jobs day and night just to get by, when she brought her son Douglas and daughter Arlene to the U.S. at ages 11 and 12. Now Maria points to her son's UCLA law school graduation photo, and says, "I believe in education."
"When Father Perry gave me this position, I said, 'Now it is my chance to educate the people.' That is why I have family catechesis. We offer workshops about domestic violence, gangs and guns. We try to reach the people, to bring them to a better life - knowing Jesus, but also they have to know that they are precious, they are a gift, they are wonderful people.
"If we educate the parents, we can have better kids tomorrow. That's why I took the position. I have a passion for what I am doing." |