Fr. Fabio has lived and served here for 8 years and has helped our communities to navigate the challenges of Covid and the hard work of helping different cultures build bridges of trust and faith. We still treat Covid as a serious problem, but we have “opened up our doors” for pastoral ministry, and the rebirth of important pastoral and communal projects and programs that build community and foster faith and volunteerism.

We have moved beyond the pandemic strategies of Zoom and distancing, to “hands on” ministry with the help of Parish Councils, staff (C.Ss.R. and laity), and faithful parishioners who are willing to be generous stewards and volunteers.

Many good and faithful people have helped us “reset” after the pandemic. The English-speaking members of our community have responded to the call of “re-engagement” and renewed volunteerism.
We have resurrected parish events like our barbecue as a fundraiser and community builder. We have learned through the years that we can evangelize even with the simplest of means like barbecue!

And with that in mind, I intentionally mention and cite the ministry of Fr. Fabio, who has impressed us with his expertise in working with and guiding our Hispanic brothers and sisters in both of our parishes.

The summer of 2022 began with our Parish Festival at St. James in early June. This event has been one of our largest and most successful gatherings for years. Largely directed and staffed by our Hispanic members, hundreds gathered to celebrate with food, games, shows, and cultural folklore. Singers, dancers, and theatre moved our spirits. Fr. Fabio is always the Master of Ceremonies and reminds us of a seasoned game-show host.

At St. Joseph parish in Kannapolis, under the direction of Fr. Fabio, there has been an almost unbelievable physical renewal of all the buildings. Fr. Fabio understands that culturally the issue of stewardship is unique among the Hispanics. Many of the countries and cultures that our people come from do not have the “envelope, internet giving programs” that we are so used to here. Rather, they focus more on time and talent as their preferred means of stewardship.

Food sales, raffles, festivals, and special charitable collections raise an amazing amount of support. And with Fr. Fabio’s special gift for fostering benefactors (Padrinos), the people of our parishes gladly volunteer their time and talents for the renewal of our buildings.

All the buildings at St. Joseph parish have undergone major renovations and the labor to do the work was donated completely by parishioners. The only cost was materials, and some of those were donated as well. The hands on approach of Fr. Fabio, combined with the call to volunteerism has produced an amazing “face lift” of St. Joseph parish.

The spirit of the parish and the sense of ownership has truly grown and improved during Fr. Fabio’s ministry. A wonderful spirit of generosity has been elicited from the members that would not have happened if we had just continued in our historical approach of “paternalism.” It reminds us of the teaching, “You can give a man a fish or you can teach him how to fish.”

Ownership leads to commitment and service. A fun event and fundraiser is being held at the time of the writing of this article.

Today, we celebrate the annual Tamale Festival. Tamales, from almost all our Hispanic cultures, have been prepared at home and brought to the Church for sale. Again, it is not just a fundraiser, but a community event that fosters volunteerism and stewardship.

As our parishes have weathered the storms of Covid, we have also grown in our commitment to stewardship and our call to serve the poor, the sick, and the needy. St. James has developed a terrific ministry of gathering and giving out food for the hungry by way of offerings and a food bank. Parishioners, no matter their native tongue, regularly donate food and volunteer their time to running he food bank. We also collect new and used clothing for a clothing bank that we have here at St. James.

Both parishes have volunteers who go regularly to local food chains to gather food that would be thrown out. This food is given out after Masses in both parishes so that our people who have food insecurities might find relief. Both parishes have restarted their sacramental outreach to the homebound and the sick shutins.

Many of our parishioners have commented that it is nice to be back— back to liturgy, back to ministry, back to faith formation, back to social outreach and volunteerism, back to living out the Gospel that sends us on a mission.

Carolina is in the midstof recovery, and we thank God for His healing power and Spirit which empowers us anew.