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St Ben's Community Meal has relied heavily on volunteers over the past 40 years.
There are many ways to help us.

We welcome volunteers and donors. To the left of this screen please follow the navigation to learn more on how you can help St Ben's, or call Br Dave Schwab at 414-271-0135 x15, or email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Feeding Those Who Feed Others

Over two dozen representatives of sponsor groups met on Saturday, May 12, 2012 for a time of prayerful reflection. Liz Hanna, one of our regular hospitality ministers and a pastoral minister, facilitated the session with Brothers Dave Schwab and Rob Roemer. Using Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary and Martha, Liz asked each person to share which type they were. Some said they were Mary’s, prayerful and reflective while others said Martha, serving by actions. Many offered that they were both, Mary’s at home and Martha’s when they arrived at St. Ben’s to serve the meal.

Liz said, “The motivation to serve at St. Ben’s comes from Scripture where we see Jesus feeding us like Mary to be a Martha.” A smiling volunteer said, “I serve as a greeter, I love to ask people how their day is going and I hear so many great stories.” Another volunteer commented on this year’s group of Marquette University students who serve saying, “They are one of the best at engaging guests that I’ve ever seen.”

After the break, Liz invited people to review the “blue sheet,” the mission, vision and values of the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order. She asked them to reflect on the values and how they might live them out at the meal as either a Mary or Martha. Here are some responses:

Capuchin Value

How Mary would serve at St. Ben’s Community Meal

How Martha would serve at St. Ben’s Community Meal

Hospitality

Eating at the meal with the guests and visiting with them

Serving food but also smiling at the guests

Partnering

Praying at Church that week for those the sponsor group will serve

When short on volunteer help some of the guests themselves offer to serve

Joyful Service

Reflect joy

Cajole people into accepting vegetables with humor

Justice for All Creation

Work on serving others as family. Asking “why” questions, why people homeless or hungry and then telling Martha

Organizing the community to seek justice for the homeless and poor

Compassion

Accept where guests are at and love them there. Don’t try to fix them, recognize that God is working in their lives

Reflect on how God is unconditionally compassionate and accept that as how I need to act when serving

Empowerment

Sharing own experiences with guests as if talking them over with family

Serving in a most natural way all those who attend

People shared critiques as well. One that Br. Dave thought might add a new dimension to the Meal experience is to give all of the volunteers name tags. This would empower the guests to address people by name and encourage more communication. The meeting ended and many people said that it had been a wonderful experience that they’d take back to their home churches.

Luke 10:38-42 (NJB)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking.

40 Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.'

41 But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things,

42 and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'