Holy Trinity, Williamston
“Blessed are we...”
The Sunday I visited Holy Trinity Church in Williamston, the second reading was from First Corinthians: “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” Fr. Frank Stangl, the priest serving this mission church that day, elaborated in his homily: “All the parts of the body work together and affect the others. Every part is necessary for the body to function as it should.”
That image, every part contributing all it can to a vibrant community, accurately describes Holy Trinity, a parish with many needs and many gifts, a parish continually grateful and unfailingly generous.
The needs of the people in this poor, rural area are basic: food, shelter, clothing, heat and water. The parish’s Caring House, in cooperation with the Food Bank of the Albermarle, is able to purchase and distribute food for a small fraction of its cost. Almost every parish event includes a meal, often with contributions from local restaurants. Recently parish members brought logs and blankets for a family without heat. The parish home, the Youth and Young Adult Center are frequently a shelter and safe haven for the temporarily homeless or victims of domestic abuse. Every member of the parish has a key to the church for personal prayer as well as a place to cook, a shower or receive clean water.
Holy Trinity has been wonderfully successful in mobilizing the generosity of not just its own members but of Catholics from all over the diocese, (and elsewhere: for instance, volunteers from churches in Scranton, where the IHM Congregation has its motherhouse). Since 1999, more than 1800 people of all ages have participated in themed mission trips to the parish. Help both from within the parish and outside have been instrumental in ongoing physical improvements to the church: a new sign, a covered picnic area on the grounds, a ramp for the disabled, and additions to the youth meeting areas at the parish home, including most recently a computer lab.
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Msgr. Michael Shugrue, Vicar General for the diocese; parishioner D.J. Williams; Sr. Kieran Williams, Pastoral Administrator; and Bishop Michael Burbidge during the Bishop's recent pastoral visit to Holy Trinity. |
Sr. Kieran Williams, IHM, Pastoral Administrator of Holy Trinity, talks about these missions in terms of the Beatitudes. “Except,” she says, “they would begin ‘Blessed are we…’ The people who come bring so many necessary items for roofing, carpeting, as well as clothes and food to share.
The greatest gift they bring is themselves and being open to see the face of Christ in everyone they meet.” “We always look forward to the summer,” Sr. Kieran says. During those months, when school is out and many parents are working in the fields, the parish sponsors summer programs for the children. The county provides transportation and our children receive breakfast and lunch.
Volunteer teachers offer a bilingual fine arts program, with sports, music lessons, vacation Bible school and parish retreat.
“It’s a miracle,” is a phrase Sr. Kieran uses frequently. It’s not hard to believe her as she tells about the people, groups and grants (far too numerous to acknowledge in this article, although she names every one, from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, to other parishes in the diocese, to Holy Trinity’s senior citizens, K of C, to Martin County agencies, to the Filipino “Tech Team,” and on and on) who have gifted Holy Trinity, and tells stories of the dramatic differences these gifts have made in often tragic circumstances.
Through the leadership and outreach programs initiated by Sr. Kieran, Sister Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, people have experienced God’s unconditional love.
The gifted and hard working community at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, continue to grow in their faith, as they see the face of Christ in one another and reflect a beacon of light and hope in Williamston, NC.
- Rich Reece