By Denise Seibert Townsend
Catholic Charities
“Dare to dream that one day, if someone saw somebody doing something nice, they would say, ‘They must be Catholic.’”
I recently read this anonymous quote, and it has stuck with me ever since. It has challenged me to be more intentional about how my actions are perceived and whether they truly reflect my faith to those around me. Do my actions show bystanders that I must be Catholic?
While our world can be filled with negativity, acts of kindness occur around us every day. It takes a few small gestures to create lasting change.
At Catholic Charities, we have the privilege of providing kindness and hope to our community’s most vulnerable members. Often, when people contact us, they are going through a challenging period and are unsure where else to turn. Our team listens and helps them problem-solve to meet their needs. For many, this basic act of kindness is the first time they truly feel like someone cares.
Every day, we witness the profound ways Christ works through our staff and volunteers to provide help and hope in times of uncertainty and suffering. Whether we are providing counseling for those grieving a loved one, helping a child develop coping skills for anxiety or assisting an individual struggling to cover a utility bill, hope and kindness remain at the core of everything we do.
Over the summer, parts of our communities were impacted by tornadoes in June. While we were blessed that overall damage was limited, those who experienced home and property damage faced significant stress and uncertainty. In the days and weeks following the storm, our team followed up with a number of people who had reported damage. Fortunately, most did not need financial assistance or additional resources and were able to clean up, repair and rebuild with the help of insurance, family and friends. However, even among those who did not require additional support, nearly all commented that they appreciated the call and that it meant a lot to know others cared.
Showing kindness and support is part of our daily work at Catholic Charities, but each of us can spread kindness in our everyday lives, whether by listening, offering a helping hand, smiling, volunteering, sharing an encouraging word or praying for others. Let’s make it our mission in the coming weeks to spread kindness, so that one day someone might see our actions and say, “They must be Catholic.”
Denise Seibert Townsend is executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Evansville