CHARLOTTE — The country’s largest Catholic parish has stepped up in a big way to fight the opioid epidemic in the local community. The parish recently gave a total of $60,000 to six local charities which are coming to the assistance of people struggling to put their lives back together in wake of addiction.
Each of the six organizations – Dove’s Nest, The Dilworth Center, Hope Haven Inc., Safer Communities Ministry, The Bridge to Recovery and Adult and Teen Challenge USA – received $10,000 to further their ecumenical ministries.
The funds were donated from the offertory given by more than 10,600 households at St. Matthew Church as part of the parish’s charitable tithing commitment.
Father Pat Hoare, pastor, shared why this cause is so important to the parish.
“In recent years, I have been saddened by the prevalence of accidental death and suicide related to drug addiction, and have also spoke with many individuals who either struggle with addiction or are impacted directly by someone in their families who does,” Father Hoare said.
St. Matthew Parish recently hosted a forum on the opioid crisis in which families in the parish who have lost a child to this epidemic were generous and brave in sharing their stories. A coordinated panel discussion was also part of the event.
“After this event, it became clear to me that we had to do something to help the countless families who feel helpless in facing the problem,” Father Hoare explained. “The organizations we chose were as a result of the recommendations of those who personally knew of the good work these agencies were doing in combating the problem.”
One of the organizations receiving a $10,000 donation, Safer Communities Ministry, is headquartered in Monroe. This non-profit organization provides rehabilitation programs for inmates, ex-offenders, addicts and their families.
They partner with churches, religious organizations, community and government service providers, businesses and civic groups in Union County and the surrounding area.
Safer Communities Ministry offers life skills training and support through volunteers who believe in the power of the Gospel. Their goal is “to build safer communities by transforming lives so that the broken find healing, takers become givers, and tax liabilities become tax paying, law-abiding citizens.”
The Rev. Daryl Oliver is the executive director of Safer Communities Ministry.
“Because of St. Matthew’s kind donation, I was able to make a line-item budget, and we call it the ‘St. Matthew’s Catholic Fund.’ What we are able to do now, is we take the money from the St. Matthew Fund and we can be the hands and feet of Jesus on a case by case basis,” Oliver said.
He shared that there are people in his addiction recovery program from all over the Southeast. He recalled recently that a man was participating in their recovery program who had five children. The ministry was able to provide the children with bookbags, clothes and shoes so they would be ready to start school.
There was another woman who called Oliver and left him a message, he recounted. Her husband had abandoned her and her five children, and she had no way to get groceries.
“I drove to Aldi’s and I called her to ask her what she needed,” he said. “She asked for sugar so the kids could have Kool-Aid. I loaded the buggies up with all I could and then went to Wal-mart and filled one up. Because of St. Matthew, I was able to go over there with that,” Oliver said. “All five kids helped me unload the groceries. Then we were able to stand in a circle and pray and thank God for everything. That is what the gift St. Matthew gave is doing in our community.”
Another organization that benefited from a $10,000 donation was Dove’s Nest, a part of Charlotte Rescue Mission. The cost-free women’s recovery program opened its doors in 1992 with a 12-bed residential home in the heart of historic Dilworth.
There is now a new 120-bed facility on the Charlotte’s west side to provide a structured yet loving and stable living environment, with a dedicated staff aimed at helping women understand and deal with the core issues of addiction as a disease.
Dove’s Nest is using the $10,000 donation from St. Matthew to sponsor three women through the recovery program.
“We are grateful for the generosity of St. Matthew’s,” said Barbara Thompson, Dove’s Nest program director.
St. Matthew Church also directly helps people who are recovering from addictions. The parish offers a counseling program at its Ballantyne Commons Parkway location in south Charlotte, coordinated by Mercy Sister Marie Freschette.
The parish also hosts several groups for regular meetings on its campus. The Alcoholics Anonymous group offers meetings five days a week, every week of the year. Meetings average 100 participants, which means the parish serves more than 26,000 people in this program during the course of the year.
Father Hoare noted that when meeting with individuals and families whose lives have been shattered by addiction,
“My heart breaks, and very often, there are no words to say. I can only cry with them and share in their pain. The parishoners at St. Matthew are blessed to help in even a small way to love our brothers and sisters in need.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Did you know?
September is National Addiction Recovery Month. For more information about the support groups offered at St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, go online to www.stmatthewcatholic.org/support.