Sisters Johnice, Rose, Catherine and Juanita formed a team that provided a special gift of Love to people that are the homebound, shut-in and elderly on the East Side of Buffalo.

 

The Sisters start with a trip to the Buffalo Broadway Market to gather everything needed to assemble the baskets. The baskets include sausage, ham, horseradish, cross bread, butter lamb, coffee cakes, twisted bread, cup cakes and the Sisters make specially decorated Easter Eggs.

 

 

     By Mike Gilhooly

The Sisters of the Response to Love Center provide Easter Blessings to the Homebound.

It started many years ago when Sister Johnice would visit the elderly and homebound to deliver the Eucharist. Sister would sense sadness in their hearts especially around the Easter Season.

It was a tradition for people to bring their Easter food to Church in an Easter Basket that would be blessed on Holy Saturday. The food would then be shared at the Easter Day dinner.

“As we saw the parishioners aging, without transportation, physically unable, alone and without family the season became difficult for them,” Sister said.  “It was then that the Sisters engaged in a special Ministry for preparing the Easter “Swienconka” Basket,” she continued.

Easter Blessings Abound

Sisters Spread the Love of Christ

Response To Love Center Newsletter

RTLC News

Response To Love Center

Summer 2007

Volume2 Issue3

Special points of interest:

· March for Life 2007

· From the Director

· Spring Raffle WINNERS RESULTS!

· Returning Vet Honors RTLC

 

Hunger Awareness

By Dave Richards

 

    The Response to Love Center in collaboration with the Community of Christ the King Seminary helped contribute to the efforts of ending hunger.

 

March 15, 2007 is recognized as National Hunger Awareness Day.

 

 The idea was sparked through the Peace and Justice Chair from Christ the King seminary, Robert Marino

along with a nudge from Sr. Johnice of  The Response to Love Center.  We put into action a "take home meal" plan. The plan was to provide 100 brown bagged lunches for all of the clients from the center visiting on March 15th.  Twenty people from the seminary community gathered in an assembly line and had the lunches prepared in about forty-five minutes.  Our efforts were in loving memory of Virginia A. "Ginny" Barrow she worked in the kitchen for forty-one years at Christ the King Seminary. 

Her life was cut short from a tragic automobile accident on March

4th, 2007.  As a community response to her giving spirit, we wanted to honor her memory by sponsoring this event.

The list of people has grown to more than 25 and as the population ages the needs increase.

The baskets are blessed on Holy Saturday and delivered the same day in time for Easter Sunday.

 

People really look forward to this gift. When Sister finds out about someone in need of a basket she will call and tell them to expect a basket. Some people have called to ask if they will be receiving a basket this year.

 

“It now has become an East Side tradition where none existed,” said Sister.

 

Good Friday has become preparation day for the baskets and the decorated eggs that adorn the baskets. The Sisters take great care in making sure the baskets are colorful and loaded with delicious and fresh foods and treats.

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