It has been more than a year since several senior Sisters of St. Joseph began making approximately 130 sandwiches a day - Monday to Friday every week - since COVID-19 took our world by storm. Our assistance augments the reduced work of our soup kitchen help during the pandemic.
Sisters Stephanie and Mary Raphael hard at work
To expedite our sandwich-making project, early morning dietary staff set up several dining-room tables with the tools of our trade: white and brown bread, butter, meat, cheese, lettuce, wraps, etc. At 9:15 a.m. the Sisters arrive on the scene and the work begins in earnest. Three Sisters butter the bread, five build and wrap the sandwiches and one Sister serves as “gofer” running back and forth replenishing supplies. Christian, our talented chef keeps an eye on production and listens to our advice and comments. In less than an hour, the tables are laden with nutritious sandwiches and packed into sturdy brown boxes. Mark, our trusty driver, hurries the boxes into the van and heads to our soup kitchen with the precious cargo.
There are unseen heroes in the sandwich-making process. Generous grocery store owners and private individuals donate the meat to our hospitality centre. Bill, who supervises this downtown ministry in London, Ontario, sends these food donations to our home. We supply the bread, butter, cheese, lettuce, various treats, drinks and especially, the labour. “Sister-power” finishes the sandwich-making process in short order.
The ongoing community support of this ministry is such a continued blessing to our guests, our volunteers, and our congregation.
Yes, sometimes, like everyone caught in this pandemic, we sigh and wish that Mr. COVID and Mrs. Variant would pack up and leave town. However, we are determined throughout the pandemic to provide our loving service to the dear neighbours who depend on St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre.
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj
Sisters Loretta and Nancy continue the work