“The Call to Stewardship” is a periodic series profiling individuals and families throughout the Diocese of Camden who have shown an inspiring response to the call to Christian stewardship highlighted in 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
In nearly every parish, there are men and women who do the quiet work of preparing for and assisting at Mass. Sacristans may care for altar linens, order wine and hosts, arrange liturgical books for the altar, lay out vestments for the clergy, light candles and even help with cleaning up after the Mass has ended.
Father Yvans Jazon is administrator of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Collingswood, which includes Saint John Church in Collingswood and Holy Saviour Church in Westmont. Originally from Haiti, Father Jazon considers the service of his sacristans indispensable. “Their presence in the sacristy makes me comfortable and ready to celebrate for the people, he said.”
“I don’t know how a priest could do it well without his sacristans, to celebrate Mass properly for all of his church,” Father Jazon said. “All the sacristans live in the church and for the church.”
Mary Ann Mercer, who along with her husband Robert is a longtime member of the parish, is one of the parish’s eight sacristans who make sure that the priest has the help that he needs at every Mass.
Father Jazon sees Mary Ann, and all of the sacristans at Saint Teresa, as true models of stewardship, as women and men serving God and the church in any helpful way possible. They give of their time and efforts in humble, quiet fashion and their efforts help make it possible for the church to bring the Eucharist to the people. “Sacristans are always in contact with the Lord, always in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, while making the church welcoming for the people,” he said.
“Father Yvans finds that sacristans are very important,” said Mary Ann. “He knows what’s involved, because he served as sacristan when he was in the seminary.”
She loves helping behind the scenes because she knows that as sacristan, she’s helping to make it possible for the Mass to take place.
Being helpful, said Mary Ann, “gives me satisfaction. I enjoy it.” And it’s clear that she enjoys being deeply involved in her parish, since in addition to her duties as a sacristan, she spends time everyday doing “something that is church related.”
“I’ll order flowers for the altar, and help with decorations at Christmas,” she said. One day a week, Mary Ann works in the church office doing “anything that’s needed,” from answering phones to helping with the House of Charity. “It’s always different,” she said. She even sometimes serves at Mass as altar server. Then there is the Hospitality Committee, which offers coffee and donuts after Mass to help foster a community spirit in the parish. Mary Ann is part of that, too. It’s all part of creating a parish home for everyone.
“We’re trying to bring in the younger people, young families, and we’re doing it,” said Mary Ann.
Church, community and family are all at the center of Mary Ann’s life. Her granddaughter was married at Saint John last fall, and the groom’s grandparents are fellow parishioners. Mary Ann added, “When we’re at Mass on Sunday, we see the in-laws.”
For Mary Ann, being a good steward is about serving, to be sure, but it’s also about really getting to know others, as well. And in being involved, said Mary Ann, “you get to know everybody. I love knowing people’s names, and not just their faces. Because now I can address them by name.”
Like Mary Ann, so many parishioners give of their time at Saint Teresa’s and, as Father Jazon says, “They bring the community together by serving together and by bringing the people closer to the Lord.”
The mission of the Office of Stewardship is to help the disciples of Christ who live in the Diocese of Camden to live out Christian charity in a sacrificial way that “we might understand the grace that comes from giving back from our blessings so that in all things God may be glorified.” For more information, contact Deacon Russell Davis at 856-583-6102.
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