Pastor experiences work of charitable agency first-hand

(Editor’s note: Father Sirianni, pastor, St. Helena Parish, Edison, recently spent three days with Catholic Extension in the United States Virgin Islands in one of the poorest dioceses in the United States. Since Catholic Extension was founded in 1905 by Father Francis Clement Kelly in Lapeer, Mich., the now Chicago-based Papal Society has contributed more than $500 million — $1.2 billion in today’s dollars — to poor mission dioceses in the U.S. where the faith is thriving but the resources are scarce. Below is an excerpt from a message from Father Sirianni to his parishioners about the visit.)

When I announced this at church everyone thought I was going to be swimming in the Caribbean and spending time at the beach because so many people do go there for vacation. I understand this rationale and was looking forward to some nice weather myself, but once I arrived on the island, and visited the places destroyed by weather and poverty, I looked at this place from a different perspective.

The first place I visited was the Catholic Charities Homeless Shelter. This shelter housed many elderly and disabled left behind when the masses of young families left after Hurricane Dorian struck. With very little help, except for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the local Catholic Charity organization does its best to care for the needy. The responsibility is great since it is responsible for a region consisting of three islands: St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.

Bishop Herbert Bevard, who is responsible for all three islands said, “It is an odd entity: a diocese that was created by carving out a region from some of the former diocese’s poorest parishes.”

I also visited schools that were just recently being rebuilt by FEMA. Many in the United States don’t realize that in the United States Virgin Islands, FEMA was not allowed to help religious organizations.
On the islands, the government moves at a snail’s pace and the governing body does not prioritize things like we would on the mainland of the United States. So, with the recent help of FEMA and the continual support of Catholic Charities, along with the local population, the schools are now habitable but do not rise to the level they once were. Lack of electricity destroyed technology and a weak economy have all threatened the continuation of Catholic education on the islands. Parents sacrifice a lot to send their children to Catholic school. Paying tuition is difficult because of the economy. Some students travel far distances to attend Catholic school. One example is a seventh grader whose family lives on Saint John Island. He has to take a boat to get to Saint Thomas to go to Catholic School.

Being with the students, you can understand why parents make the sacrifice. Amidst the hot and humid weather, students sit in crisp clean uniforms eagerly waiting to learn. Many demonstrate the morals and teaching learned from a Catholic education.

Teachers and staff are dedicated to their jobs and come to school cheerful despite the lack of electricity and technology.

It was inspiring to see the living Gospel at work and manifest itself in the acts of the 14 priests, religious, deacons, and laity who care for the poorest of the poor every day. These religious men and women truly live out the mission by performing Corporal Works of Mercy.

Catholic Extension is funding the diocese in St. Thomas Virgin Islands and allowing the Bishop and the diocese to work hand in hand with them to serve those in need. The money goes right to the people in need.

I want to thank Catholic Extension for allowing me to have this experience and I look forward to supporting Catholic Extension in the future.