When I became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, a brother priest encouraged me and said that it is important for the Catholic Church to be in Camden. The Catholic Church, he said, is a “beacon of hope” in a city that faces many challenges.
Thanks to the support of devoted parishioners in our multicultural community, and to the thousands of friends who support us from afar, Sacred Heart Parish continues to be that “beacon of hope.” The light of Christ shines very brightly this time of year at the parish, as toys and food are distributed to needy families in Camden.
Our “Toy Store,” for example, helped hundreds of families provide new toys for children at Christmas. New toys were donated to the parish by area schools, parishes, businesses and individuals. At the “Toy Store,” set up in the Sacred Heart Church basement, parents are asked to pay a minimal amount for new toys, which they can choose for their children. The small payment gives them the dignity of purchasing gifts for their children.
Sacred Heart also continued the tradition of providing Christmas meals for Camden families. More than 600 Christmas bags of food were prepared for families, thanks again to the generosity of hundreds of people and with the help of Ron Murphy and Murphy’s Market based in Medford. Volunteers worked hard to carefully fill the bright red bags with potatoes, rice, stuffing mix, gravy, cranberry sauce and fresh fruit and vegetables, along with a turkey and pie for dessert. Every bag also contained a Christmas greeting and information about our parish and an invitation to learn more our Catholic Faith.
The Joy of the Gospel is shared by helping others encounter the love of Christ. We pray that those who come to us at Christmas, and throughout the year, experience the love of Christ and recognize that they are loved by God, and by us, the Sacred Heart Parish community. We are proud to continue this Christmas tradition started by Sister Peg Hynes, SSJ, and Father Michael Doyle. We strive to be a “beacon of hope.”
Father Vincent Guest is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden.
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