Interfaith Tea speaker focuses on poor

By LINDA M. LINONIS

religion@vindy.com

youngstown

Patti Rossi welcomed about 180 women of various faith traditions to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 343 Via Mount Carmel, where the 67th annual Interfaith Tea took place earlier this week.

The president of the hosting St. Monica Guild said the women who came with an “open heart” gathered to honor “our Maker.”

The Rev. Robin Woodberry, associate pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, offered the invocation, recognizing “church women united for a purpose and cause.”

The situation of the poor provided the topic for the speaker, Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director of Beatitude House.

She cited part of the passages from Isaiah 58, which were read by Marylin Oyer of Congregation Rodef Sholom, ... “[Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh.”

Sister Patricia said she was glad to hear that the “plight of the poor” had finally been mentioned in the political campaign though the poor are an ongoing ministry of many denominations. Sister Patricia asked, “In a subtle way, do we blame the poor for being poor?”

She told the story of “Nancy” to demonstrate how extracating one’s self from poverty remains challenging. She said Nancy married at 16, had three children and left an abusive relationship. Sister Patricia continued that Nancy, who went through the Beatitude House program, earned a General Education Diploma, continued her education to become a licensed practical nurse. “She got a job and employment ... part of the American dream,” Sister Patricia said. “No, not quite yet. She’s still struggling.”

Ironically, though Nancy works in health care, she does not have health insurance through her employer and can’t afford it on her own. “She makes just a little too much to get help from the government,” Sister Patricia said. When Nancy or her children must see the doctor, it puts her into a financial hole.

Sister Nancy said Beatitude House, founded by the Ursuline Sisters in 1991, recently marked its 20th year. “We are called to give and obligated and honored to do so,” she said.

She said 57 women and 193 children are in the Beatitude program. Sister Patricia said Beatitude House provides a “a foundation of education and support to get your life together.”

Sister Patricia said she witnesses how the program works, as she lives among participants on the North Side. “It’s up to you to respond to the needs of the poor in the way God calls you,” she said.

Monsignor Michael Cariglio gave the blessing, asking that the women “look at the connectedness to one another.” He said the tea, begun in 1946 by Marion Roth of Rodef Sholom Sisterhood, promotes interfaith understanding. That was 40 years before world religious leaders convened in 1986 at the suggestion of Pope John Paul II to pray for peace.

At the tea in the social hall, Shirley Megown of Church Women United presented a Human Rights Award to Bonnie Deutsche Burdman, director of Jewish Community Relations Council of Youngstown Jewish Federation.