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Outreach to the Poor and Marginalized at Rendu Services
September 22, 2011
| Pennsylvania, Rendu Services
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| Sister Alice O'Connell and Sister Ann Horvat, two SCNs working for systemic change in Western Pennsylvania. |
I recently had the opportunity to travel and visit Rendu Services in Fayette County, in Western Pennsylvania.
Rendu Services works with the poor and marginalized in this area providing a wide variety of social outreach. They use a renovated RV as a mobile health clinic parked in 18 locations around the county. During my trip I caught up with Alice O'Connell, SCN, where she was administering blood pressure checkups in front of the local post office.
There I learned first hand, from the mother, the story of one young pregnant woman who had been rushed to the delivery room after a routine checkup at the Rendu Services mobile health clinic van. She was not aware of her high blood pressure, discounting the discomfort as labor pains. Mobile clinic nurse Sister Sarah Geier's quick action sent the young woman to the hospital, and as this mother explained, ended up saving her daughter and her unborn grandson.
Later I visited with Ann Horvat, SCN, at the St. Vincent DePaul store. Sister was finishing a meeting with a family, helping locate clothing for children. She meets directly with the economically depressed people of the community, to work with them and create access to the basic needs of daily living.
Also, Rendu Services, a collaborative ministry with Sisters from the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, and the Sister of Charity of Nazareth, provide to the poor and marginalized, services in after school activities and outreach programs for children as well as a monthly food pantry distribution center.
Mary Francis Bassick, D.C., administrator of Rendu Services said something that really made the whole idea of the program come to light for myself. She said, "that this program is not about bringing Christ to the poor, that Christ is already with them. It is Rendu Services that provides a moment of peace in someone's life, whether it be a break for their children in an after-school program or peace of mind at a health screening. So that in that moment of peace, that they may find Christ in their lives.
Spalding Hurst is the communications specialist with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. He is currently traveling with the SCNs throughout their global community — learning first hand about their ministry work, helping to connect through technology the SCN Community, and recording the stories of the Sisters around the world.
Rendu Services works with the poor and marginalized in this area providing a wide variety of social outreach. They use a renovated RV as a mobile health clinic parked in 18 locations around the county. During my trip I caught up with Alice O'Connell, SCN, where she was administering blood pressure checkups in front of the local post office.
There I learned first hand, from the mother, the story of one young pregnant woman who had been rushed to the delivery room after a routine checkup at the Rendu Services mobile health clinic van. She was not aware of her high blood pressure, discounting the discomfort as labor pains. Mobile clinic nurse Sister Sarah Geier's quick action sent the young woman to the hospital, and as this mother explained, ended up saving her daughter and her unborn grandson.
Later I visited with Ann Horvat, SCN, at the St. Vincent DePaul store. Sister was finishing a meeting with a family, helping locate clothing for children. She meets directly with the economically depressed people of the community, to work with them and create access to the basic needs of daily living.
Also, Rendu Services, a collaborative ministry with Sisters from the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, and the Sister of Charity of Nazareth, provide to the poor and marginalized, services in after school activities and outreach programs for children as well as a monthly food pantry distribution center.
Mary Francis Bassick, D.C., administrator of Rendu Services said something that really made the whole idea of the program come to light for myself. She said, "that this program is not about bringing Christ to the poor, that Christ is already with them. It is Rendu Services that provides a moment of peace in someone's life, whether it be a break for their children in an after-school program or peace of mind at a health screening. So that in that moment of peace, that they may find Christ in their lives.
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| Sister Mary Fran in Dunbar, Pa., working in the field for Rendu Services. |
Spalding Hurst is the communications specialist with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. He is currently traveling with the SCNs throughout their global community — learning first hand about their ministry work, helping to connect through technology the SCN Community, and recording the stories of the Sisters around the world.