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"For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
– 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Parishioner Monica St. Germain is a familiar face here at SJTW. Whether it’s proclaiming at Mass as a lector, directing live-streams for our daily and weekend liturgies, participating in the SJTW Book Club and so much more, Monica is driven to serve. In fact, serving the faith community is what drew her here. Her passion for liturgy and compassion for others is beautifully combined in her work with our funeral ministry.
The SJTW Funeral Ministry is truly a ministry of healing and blessing to our own community and beyond. Monica draws her inspiration for this work from the life of Jesus. “One attribute of Christ is how He was compassionate and empathic with everyone in every situation. Funerals are very stressful for the family. We attempt to anticipate the needs of the family and guests; we also listen to their stories and console them (with tissues) in any way possible. What we hope to do is lead them to Christ, the healer of all hearts, and possibly change a hardened heart or two in the process.”
This ministry to others feeds her own spirit in turn. The funeral Mass reminds Monica that she belongs to God, and that her final home is with Him. “My job on earth is to follow in His Son’s footsteps, especially when interacting with any person I meet. No person is a stranger, they are a friend who needs to be served.”
To learn more or get involved in the funeral ministry, visit https://sjtw.net/funeral-ministries or contact Tarri Nelson tarri@sjtw.net To learn how you can financially support this ministry through Commitment to Parish Life (CPL) https://sjtw.net/commitment-to-parish-life