Editor’s Note: “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.”
A newfound home, plus newfound time in retirement set Mike and Ellen Barrett on the path toward dedicated stewardship at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Cape May Court House.
Originally from Mickleton, Gloucester County, the Barretts worked full time while raising two daughters, Kathryn and Lauren. They attended Saint Clare of Assisi Parish in Swedesboro, where their stewardship consisted primarily of financial support.
“We were so busy raising the girls and working that we didn’t have a lot of time to volunteer. It was so nice when we retired to be able to move here and live near our daughter Kathryn and her family,” Ellen Barrett said.
“We found a great community at Our Lady of the Angels and started getting involved by donating regularly to the food pantry,” her husband added.
Then, the pandemic hit. The parish put out a call that new food pantry volunteers were needed. The Barretts jumped in, volunteering a couple days per week. Eventually, their stewardship grew to include helping out three and four days weekly. Ellen Barrett also became an extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the parish, and now serves the Catholic community at Cape Regional Hospital in this ministry and at Sunday Mass.
“Our pastor, Father Tom Barcellona, was new to the parish in 2020. We wanted to help him out,” Mike Barrett said. “He’s so grateful. He always thanks volunteers at Mass and points out how much food has been distributed.”
When leadership roles opened in 2022, the Barretts stepped up to lead the team of dedicated food pantry volunteers.
“We made some changes based on what other organizations were offering to those we serve and what their needs were from us. For example, there are other organizations that provide paper products. Then, we connected with the Food Bank [of South Jersey] and began receiving between 2,000 and 2,500 pounds of food donations per month. We also implemented the gleaning program where ACME and Wawa would provide food that didn’t have a long shelf life,” Mike Barrett said.
In the years since the Barretts began leading the food pantry ministry, costs have been cut in half and clients served have increased by 100%. After the summer rush, the needs rise. Many people living in the area have seasonal work, with tourism increasing business from late spring to early fall. An average of 40 families are helped each week, with each family receiving 30 items ranging from bacon and sausage to milk and cheese, to canned goods, peanut butter and more. For holidays, the outreach grows. For example, last Thanksgiving, volunteers provided 124 families each with a bag of food.
Ellen Barrett attributes the ability to help so many families to the parishioners’ dedicated stewardship. “The parishioners are extremely generous. We couldn’t do it without their donations and volunteerism. We’ve met a lot of great people who all like to help others. It’s really a lot of fun. And, the people we help, we build relationships with them.”
Father Barcellona agrees that the parish has a great team. He calls the volunteers the living homily: “Every one of our volunteers goes out and lives what we learn in Mass. They’re evangelizing through their good deeds. Mike and Ellen embody this; they’re fantastic.”
“They’ll do even more than the day-to-day work,” he continued. “For example, we wanted to build up our inventory since the numbers of those served increased. Plus, the food pantry is set up in a garage, and we needed to fix some of the infrastructure, cracks in the driveway that could be dangerous. So, I asked Mike to organize a golf tournament that benefits the food pantry and the parish, 50 percent each.”
Proceeds from the first golf tournament in 2022 were used to purchase food and build the inventory. The second year, the golf tournament funded carpet removal and redoing the floor, purchasing two freezers and additional shelving, and replacing the driveway.
A couple times per year, there is an open house where parishioners are invited to tour the operation.
“At the open houses, parishioners visit the food pantry garage and walk through as if they were a client. They receive a bag, go shopping. It really helps them understand the service we provide. After each open house our donations really go up,” Mike Barrett said.
Father Barcellona added, “The parishioners see that it’s so much more than food. It’s comradery and building relationships. It’s an atmosphere where those helped come and bring the volunteers Christmas cards or cookies, donations when they are back on their feet, or even go back to attending church when they haven’t for a while.”
“It’s just beautiful,” Ellen Barrett said. “We’re very fortunate to have had a great life and are thankful that we can help others. It’s a blessing.”
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 Stacy Napolitano, director of the diocesan Office of Development, at 856-583-6126.
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