BRIGANTINE – Women of faith from Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish and nearby places of worship were spiritually fed during a recent retreat on the gifts of giving and receiving.
“Our purpose is to build the kingdom of God here on Earth with random acts of kindness, and any act of kindness that makes this world a better place, goes a long, long way, no matter how great or small,” said Father Timothy J. Capewell, VF, pastor of Saint David the King Parish, Princeton Junction.
He emphasized the depth and scope of doing good in the name of God by adding, “All the ministries and all your work mean you are putting what you believe into action.”
Father Capewell, a priest of the Trenton Diocese, addressed the Women’s Club of Saint Thomas as part of a Night of Reflection Lenten retreat. The retreat was an opportunity to acknowledge those women from the parish and neighboring faith communities who have volunteered their time, talents and unwavering dedication to the service of others.
“The more you give and the more you do for others, the more you get back,” Father Capewell said.
That sentiment was on the minds of members who have made it their mission to serve their communities, especially during the trying – and often isolated – times of COVID-19.
The club, a Christian-based group of women, began in 2015 at the request of then-pastor Father William Vandegrift, and was organized to foster a spirit of Christian charity toward the homebound and needy, and to underwrite these charitable works through various spiritual, social, educational and cultural activities. It was meant to not only offer aid to others, but to promote friendship and goodwill among its participants.
“We are a diverse group of women who share a common sense of duty, and that has given us the ability to reach out to help people, such as those who may be in shelters or those who are alone or sick,” co-president Rita Wade Pagoulatos said.
Added Lynne Flanagan, corresponding secretary, “When you stop and think that we have prepared and donated countless items for our veterans, for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, for the newly born, or provided scholarships for students who wish to attend Catholic high school … it gives purpose to our day.”
Fellow co-president Joanna Guglielmo said the Night of Reflection was a much-needed moment of peace for the ministry, a time to reflect on how the women worked through the limitations brought on by the pandemic.
Father Capewell, too, spoke on the importance of seeing some of the pandemic limitations lifted, saying a virtual connection cannot be a substitute for human interaction. “There’s something very profound when we come together as a community under one roof. We can gather for a common goal, and that strengthens the soul.”
To learn more about the Women’s Club, visit stthomasbrigantine.org/parish-ministries/womens-club.
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