Sioux City parish promotes peace and justice projects

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
May 26, 2005

St. Michael Church in Sioux City is one of the parishes in the diocese that has an active peace and justice group. The group sponsors projects each year that the entire parish can become involved in.

Annette Tague, leader of the peace and justice committee at St. Michael's, pointed out that one of their ongoing projects is the collection of food for the needy. She pointed out that they used to do this one week every month, but often people would forget to bring the items.

"So what we did was start collecting food for an entire month, every four months," she explained. "That way if people forget, they can bring it the next week."

This food usually goes to The Center in Sioux City. The food collection is given added visibility at Thanksgiving time during the month of November when the food items are placed by the altar. In addition to November, the collections are usually held in March and July.

She pointed out that this last March, rather than the traditional project the peace and justice committee opted to go with something that would help out military personnel serving overseas.

"My husband was in the military, retired from the Navy and Coastguard, and we were stationed twice in Quantanimo Bay," noted Tague. "We have friends that were stationed with us. Her church has been sending items every two months to military people through Operation Military Shoebox."

At last year's October meeting Tague brought up the project to other members of the peace and justice committee. They knew they wanted to do the traditional food collection in November, but agreed to think and pray about this alternative project.

"Later we decided that we would do this in March instead of collecting food and that was during Lent," she explained.

Her friend provided the St. Michael group with a list of approved items that were needed by the service people. Tague narrowed down the list somewhat and had parishioners donate things such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, wet wipes, lotion and beef jerky.

Uncertain of the response, the St. Michael group originally named it Operation Military Zip Lock - hoping to get enough items to fill several Zip Lock bags. In the end, parishioners donated so generously that they filled 45 boxes containing 22 to 24 items. The boxes weighed in at about six pounds each. An additional four flat-rate boxes and one larger box contained assorted items that could be distributed to whomever that needed something.

Along with items, some parishioners gave money. Almost $400 went for postage to mail items and $200 was used to purchase additional items such as socks, Tylenol, envelopes and seven phone cards. Members of the peace and justice committee and their families helped pack the boxes.

The boxes were sent to Sgt. Bret Arnold who distributed them to soldiers who didn't get many packages from back home.

"He was our Easter bunny," said Tague. "With each one (box), we wrote a letter and said where it was from - the peace and justice group at St. Michael's. We said that we were praying for them and that we supported them. I also included the intentions of the men in the intention book."

The sergeant's mother resides in Siouxland and informed the St. Michael group that right before they received these packages they were having a tough day. The packages brought up their morale.

"I cannot say enough for our parish's response to the food collections and on this one they went over and above," said Tague.

Another of the regular projects organized by the parish group is the Christmas Giving Tree. Students at the Catholic grade school decorate ornaments that go on the tree. The ornaments contain necessary information to purchase gifts for people at two nursing homes and three other agencies such as the Crittenton Home.

The parish group also joins in on projects with the Interfaith Resources. This group collects clothing and food for the needy.

Tague stressed the importance of parishes taking an active part in peace and justice projects.

"The peace and justice groups are there to help people who cannot help themselves," she said. "It also helps us realize how lucky we are."