Page 39 - Catholic Extension Magazine Winter 2019

Extension | Winter 2019 39

The surrounding residents, who Catholic Extension. Early this year,
are mainly Protestants, started they dedicated St. Teresa of Kolk-
noticing the GHM, who were ata Church, with 142 families.
reaching out to the poor, home- Parishioner Ken Barren said,
bound and elderly in the area, “We have become a true commu-
regardless of their faith. For many, nity. Many people here live in rural
the missioners are the first Catho- areas with faraway neighbors. The
lics they had ever known. church is a gathering point for us.”
At one fundraiser a woman Additionally, in neighboring
approached Father Tom and said, Rutledge, Father Steve and Broth-
“I’m a Baptist, but I see ers Craig, Tom and Joe are
how much good you’re creating a Catholic com-
doing in our community. I 2019 u 2020 munity called St. John Paul
want to see it continue — II Catholic Mission.
here’s a check for $500.” In an area where one-
Additionally, the com- third of the children live
2 munity received a $50,000 below the poverty line, the
matching grant from Cath- Lumen
GHM collect and distrib-
New churches in olic Extension to build St. Christi ute food, clothing, blankets

Appalachia built Michael the Archangel AWARD and backpacks filled with
with our support Catholic Mission, which FINALIST school supplies. They orga-
was completed in 2018
nize summer activities for
and has 115 families. children.
— started from ground zero. They In nearby Maynardville, a simi- The missioners are building
took out ads in local newspapers lar story unfolded. With no church churches for isolated Catholics with
to announce meetings and held when the GHM arrived, Father few places to gather and worship
Masses in makeshift spaces. Steve held a “bring-your-own- together. They are bringing the
Father Tom began with a hand- chair” Mass for 26 people in a presence of the Catholic Church to
ful of Catholics gathering in some- house’s carport. Soon the congre- a region that is largely non-Cath-
one’s living room in Erwin. Soon gation turned to big spaces and olic. True to their spirit, they are
they rented local spaces and started fundraising. They too received the hands and feet of Christ for so
fundraising for a church. a $50,000 matching grant from many who have never met Him.

Fathers Pawelk (left) and Charters with parishioners at two new churches in Maynardville and Erwin that Catholic Extension helped to fund.