Loving Our Neighbor
Through Corporal Works of Mercy
Jesus tells us the greatest command and the second is to love our neighbor (see Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31).
To love someone is to care about them and want the best for them. Our love for our neighbor can be made manifest in performing Corporal Works of Mercy as Jesus describes in Matthew 25:31-46. From Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46, our Catholic faith lists seven Corporal Works of Mercy.
- Feeding the hungry
- Giving drink to the thirsty
- Clothing the naked
- Welcome the stranger/sheltering the homeless
- Visiting the sick
- Visiting the imprisoned
- Burying the dead
Some people think Catholics think that we must do works to be saved. That is not true. James 2:14-16 states, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” The point is that if we have faith, we will do good works but it is the faith that saves us. We must put our faith into action to help others for, as James 2:26 states, “faith without works is dead.”
In our parishes we complete Corporal Works of Mercy in the following ministries:
- Corporal Works of Mercy #1 & 2 – Community Table – through the work of many volunteers, the financial generosity of our parishioners, and significant grants through the Food Bank, we provide a hot meal served in our Parish Center each Monday (except holidays) at 5:00 p.m. We strive to serve not just food and drink but also to welcome those who come by eating with them.
- Corporal Works of Mercy #1 & 2 – The Schuyler County Outreach Food Pantry (a ministry of the Catholic Charities of Chemung-Schuyler) is located in our Parish Center as a significantly reduced rent and with utilities at no cost for its ministry of offering food to others.
- Corporal Works of Mercy #1, 2, 3, & 4 – Our United for Life Ministry connects those in need with other local ministries by making available these brochures listing several local resources
- Walking with Moms in Need :: Download brochure
- Walking with Dads in Need :: Download brochure
- Walking with Families in Need :: Download brochure
- We are seeking to make a stronger ministry of visiting our homebound as well as continue our Masses/visits in nursing homes.
- We recently developed a booklet with a list of resources for those dealing with mental health issues :: Download brochure
- In January 2024, we started a monthly Mass in Spanish Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm for our Spanish immigrants.
- Under the seventh Corporal of Mercy, burying the dead, of course we offer funerals for the recently deceased. We also operate two cemeteries to provide a loving place of rest and offer bereavement books to the families.