Our Lady, Queen of Hope Award

Each year, the Norwich Diocesan Women’s Conference presents the Our Lady, Queen of Hope Award to a woman in the diocese for her vision and leadership in the Catholic Church. The award is named after Mary, our mother, who is our role model and in whom we place our trust. This year’s recipient is Michelle Cavarnos, a member of the Divine Mercy Community consisting of Our Lady of the Lakes, Oakdale; St. John the Evangelist, Uncasville; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Quaker Hill.

ence volunteering and serving others, whether bringing homemade baked goods and blessed Afghans to the homebound, organizing rosary events or acting as secretary/ treasurer of Our Lady of the Lakes Ladies’ Guild.

MARIANNE NICHOLAS is the administrative assistant for the Office of Faith Events. She is an artist and she and her husband have two sons.

Michelle (Shelley to her friends) has been an integral part of Our Lady of the Lakes Church for most of her life. As well as attending daily Mass, serving as reader and counting the collections, Shelley has spent more than 20 years on the three-church choir. She also serves her community as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Shelley is treasurer of our

Legion of Mary and also the treasurer for our Norwich Diocese's curia. With the Knights of Columbus, Shelley and her legion group say the rosary before the 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Masses each weekend at Our Lady of the Lakes. Shelley has also been instrumental in organizing her legion group’s monthly communication with seminarians.

Shelley has years of experi-

These are only a few of the areas where Shelley’s strong faith is on display. Her commitment in living out Catholic/ Christian values and spiritual leadership is an asset to both her parish community and the Diocese.

Shelley is described by her friends as compassionate, trustworthy, conscientious, creative, willing and dependable. All who know her feel blessed to have her in their lives.

When I first wrote in this space a few months ago, I talked about some ministry outreaches in which I’m involved. After I read the article in print, I realized I should have spent more time, perhaps the whole article, on what I do most of my time: soup kitchen ministry.

It all started about 40 years ago when the Sisters of Mercy opened St. Vincent de Paul in Middletown.

As far as I knew back then, I just helped the sisters rehab the building. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after opening that I decided to check out the place. I got a meal from the serving line and sat at a table with a couple of patrons.

After our friendly “Hey, how ya doing,” the patrons did all the talking. They said St. Vincent was “a lifesaver.” They thanked God for a safe place where they could come to eat, meet with friends and get help for needs beyond a meal.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. A lifesaver? Really? As I looked around the dining area, I saw people laughing, hugging and really enjoying their meals. I came back a couple of days later, and again a couple of days after that. Eventually, I ended up helping on the serving line, did some food prep and just listened to amazing and sometimes heartbreaking life stories. I was hooked.

Isn’t it amazing that you never know how the Holy Spirit is working in your life until you open the door and walk in?

That was then. St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich is now.

I am one of the chefs there but, believe me, it’s by no mere gift of mine. I learned and am still learning from more experienced chefs and a great band of knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers.

I’ve learned from them that you don’t work in a soup kitchen, you serve there, and not just food. Service in a soup kitchen is ministry.

And it’s a wide-ranging ministry. It’s serving food that’s healthy and safe, a good portion. It’s listening to what patrons are saying, hearing what’s going on in their lives, steering them to agencies or people who can help.

It’s giving groceries from our food pantry, clothing, hygiene products, even furniture.

In short, it’s responding to the Gospel call to not only hear the cry of the poor, but to act on it.

So what makes all this possible? For me it’s the Eucharist. The presence of Christ in me works through me. How else could we get this done? And as always, Christ keeps the door open. So, stop in, have something to eat. You never know how the Holy Spirit works in your life until you walk through the door.

Contact Deacon Ben LoCasto, deaconlocasto@norwichdiocese.net

FOUR COUNTY CATHOLIC

The magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Norwich

PUBLISHER

Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. Bishop of Norwich 860.887.9294

EDITORIAL OFFICE 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/ EXECUTIVE EDITOR Wayne Gignac 860.886.1281 wgignac@norwichdiocese.net

MARKETING/PRODUCTION MANAGER Deacon Benedict LoCasto 860.887.3933 deaconlocasto@norwichdiocese.net

SENIOR WRITER/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Ryan Blessing 860.887.3933 rblessing@norwichdiocese.net

WEB SPECIALIST/WRITER Morgan Martens 860.887.3933 mmartens@norwichdiocese.net

THEOLOGICAL ADVISOR

Very Reverend Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V. 860.887.9294

MAGAZINE LAYOUT & DESIGN Matt Watters