Charitable givers work to make a difference

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Maria Villar, director of charity and social services for Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish

SALT LAKE CITY — Among local Catholics who are putting their faith in action to serve those most in need are a teenager who created a program to help people experiencing homelessness, and a parish employee who sees her job as a vocation.

Helping Those Who are Homeless

A busy Juan Diego Catholic High School junior and St. John the Baptist parishioner, Liam Ross, 17, always made time when his family would serve others but recently he felt like he should be doing more.

“I’ve kind of had this guilt before where, you know, I show up to Mass, I pray every day, I say I believe in Christ’s teachings, but I find myself not really being a proactive Christian,” he said. “There’s two different things, you know: not sinning, and going out and doing the good works and feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, right? That’s two completely different things, and I found myself lacking.”

Resolving to make a change, Liam sought out opportunities to serve. A conversation with his father, John Ross, one day gave that desire direction. The elder Ross wanted to give to people who are experiencing homelessness, but was concerned that any cash he gave them might be used to purchase drugs. To address that concern, his son decided to find a way to give things they really need. From there the project Father Kapaun’s Bundles of Charity was born. Liam named the project after Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun, an Army chaplain and prisoner of war who routinely risked his life for his men during the Korean War. Fr. Kapaun died in a Korean concentration camp and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

When the project first started, Liam and his family filled and distributed bags filled with necessities such as a hat, gloves, socks, water, lip balm, shampoo, toothpaste and hand warmers to people who were homeless. Then this summer Liam decided to ask if his parish would like to take on this project. The pastor, Father Stephen Tilley, and parish leaders took up the challenge. Before long the whole parish became involved. Recently they held an assembly and distribution event where they gave out more than 950 Bundles of Charity with items provided by the parish hygiene pantry to parishioners who committed to share them with people experiencing homelessness and others who need them.

Doing this work and seeing the responses of those who are helped is a joy, Liam said. “The ones who really need it are always extremely grateful. I try to make a point when I do it to shake their hand, look them in the eyes, you know, treat them like a human being, with respect, as Jesus would, right? And usually smiles just light up their faces.”

Liam and parish leaders are now considering their next step; he would love to see such events take place at least bimonthly and wants to help others get a similar project going in their parishes.

To those who might consider themselves too busy for something like this, Liam has some thought-provoking words:

“I would say to those people to take a real look at their life and evaluate the things they truly value,” he said. “What I mean by that is, are you spending too much time watching TV, you know, browsing social media? Not that any of those things are wrong, but by ‘busy,’ do you mean you don’t have time, or you don’t want to make the time, right? Are you too comfortable?”

Contact Liam at ross.liam.e@gmail.com for information.

Serving the Vulnerable in the Wasatch Back

At St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, helping serve struggling families is the goal of Maria Villar, the parish’s director of charity and social services.

Villar sees her position as a vocation, not a job. A St. Mary of the Assumption parishioner herself, she has an extensive background in social services, including roles with the Park City School District and the Christian Center of Park City.

“This is a privilege; this program is rooted in compassion and the belief that everyone deserves help, regardless of their background,” said Villar, who is originally from Cuba. “This program is open to everyone in our community that is in need and is struggling. We believe that where there is charity, there is God. We know when the day starts, but we never know where the day is going to end, because we are serving the most vulnerable, as Jesus will. So we see the face of our Lord in every single individual that comes to our doors asking for help.”

Her position, which was created this year, is meant to help realize Pastor Father Christopher Gray’s vision for the parish, she said. “He wants the parish to be the sanctuary of compassion and love in Summit and Wasatch counties. He believes in charity and that this is the way that we can actually serve our community, and that’s why he really wanted to share that love with everyone that needed it, with the most vulnerable.”

Since January, Villar has directed the parish’s efforts to help struggling families cope with housing and living costs in the Park City area.

“There is such a need for affordable housing, and who is paying the consequences of that is actually the most vulnerable out there,” she said.

Along with helping these families, the parish provides emergency funds and support for victims of domestic violence or crime, and seniors with disabilities. Through Villar, the parish collaborates with various local organizations and has helped 27 families in recent months. The parish also offers a food pantry and the Gabriel Project, which assists pregnant mothers and their children. Recently, Villar’s efforts have been focused on suicide prevention.

“We are working really close with the suicide prevention [organizations] because usually the holidays are when those numbers go up, and then we really need to tackle that,” she said. “People know that they can come to us as a place when they are going to find that human connection, when they are going to find that referral, or someone that is going to advocate for them.”

Although many St. Mary’s parishioners are actively engaged in these programs and in helping provide financial support, more help is needed, Villar said. Contributions from other local Catholics could go a long way to help ease the burdens of those who are struggling, she said. Visit https://bit.ly/3UQp1zW for information.

Villar is willing to share ideas with other parishes that wish to help those struggling in their community. She may be reached at 435-940-5452.