Contact: Robert Grinnell
(919) 271-2815
mealsformigrants@stmichaelcary.org
"Come you who are blessed by my Father
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me..." Mt 25:40-41
For more than 20 years, parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel have been providing meals to migrant workers in the Fuquay-Varina area. The meals are brought to the Parish Center at St. Michael's and then driven to St. Bernadette's Church in Fuquay. St. Bernadette's migrant workers attend mass and later stop at the church's cafeteria to enjoy the meals the volunteers provide.
To help support this ministry, please volunteer for one of the following activities:
- Prepare a meal
- Drive food, set up and serve the meals at St. Bernadette
- Become a driving or set-up leader
When:
Third Sunday in June, July and August:
Sunday, June 19th
Sunday, July 17th
Sunday, August 21st
Time:
Times vary for the different volunteer positions. You may volunteer for one or all of the following
| Meal Drop Off |
By 3pm
Meals can be dropped off at the refrigerator truck outside the parish center starting at 5 p.m. the day before and no later than 2 p.m. on your designated Sunday.
|
| Driving Meals |
3:30pm (Half hour later than last year!)
Please be outside the parish center by 3:30 p.m. to help transfer the meals from the refrigerator truck to the cars. Drivers will leave for St. Bernadette's as soon as the loading is done, a little after 3:30 p.m.
|
| Set-up/Serve/Clean up |
5:00pm / 6:00pm / 7:00pm
Meet at St. Bernadette to prepare food stations (meals, salads, desserts and drinks; heat the food; and gather utensils, cups and ice. Serve food to migrant workers, then clean up.
|
Where
St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Fuquay-Varina
Directions
St. Bernadette's is located at 1005 Wilbon Rd.
From St. Michael the Archangel:
- Take High House Rd to NC-55
- Make a left onto NC-55
- Follow NC-55 past Apex and Holly Springs
- Make a right onto Wilbon Rd.
- St. Bernadette's is located at 1005 Wilbon Rd.
View Larger Map
Frequently Asked Questions
- What type of food should I bring?
There's usually a specific menu. Within that menu, however, you are welcome to be creative. For example, if you chose to bring pork, you are welcome to bring it in a variety of ways, such as sliced, BBQ, etc. The same applies to the salad, desserts and drinks. Favorite drinks are Coke, Sprite and Citrus flavored drinks.
- What specific ingredients would they enjoy in their meals?
If you are cooking a main course and you are debating between meats, a theme meat is selected for each meal. Any type of green salad is perfect, especially if it includes lettuce, tomatoes or cucumbers. Vegetables such as corn, string beans, black beans are all appreciated. A suggested menu is provided at the bottom for each weekend.
- How much food should I bring?
It would be great if you could provide a portion to feed at least 14 people. Canned vegetables such as corn and beans work well and are easy to transport/prepare.
- Could I just bring the ingredients?
We recommend that you bring the food cooked and ready to eat.
- What types of desserts are popular?
Any type of dessert is welcome. But, cookies, cupcakes, coconut maccarrons, meringues and similar sweets seem to work best because they are easier to serve.
Menu for 2011
| Sunday, June 19th |
Fried/Baked Chicken, Rice, Canned Vegetables, Dessert, Drinks, Tortillas and Salsa |
|
Sunday, July 17th
|
Taco Meat, Taco Shells, Taco Toppings, Canned Refried Beans, Rice, Dessert, Drinks |
| Sunday, August 21st |
Pork, Rice, Canned Vegetables, Dessert, Drinks, Tortillas and Salsa |
Involvement of St. Michael's Parishioners In the Migrant Meal Ministry
| 1980s |
Rev. Charles Mulholland, then pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Cary, takes the initiative to serve a population of migrant workers in the Fuquay-Varina area. He borrows the Episcopal Church off HWY 401 in Fuquay and recruits volunteers from his parish to help him minister to the migrants' needs.
Fr. Mulholland begins by officiating mass for the migrant community. After the mass, he and his volunteers serve punch and cookies and listen to worker concerns. The volunteers help with a variety of problems including domestic, legal and medical issues. |
| 1987 |
St. Bernadette Catholic Church opens its doors in Fuquay-Varina and becomes the official home of the Migrant Ministry. |
| 1990 |
Sister Elizabeth McNeal, serving as pastoral administrator for the Dioceses, believes the needs of migrant workers in that area are so wide-spread that help from various churches may be necessary to undertake them. She places a call for help to the North Carolina Catholic |
| 1991 |
Various churches respond to the calling including St. Andrews in Apex, St. Francis of Assisi in North Raleigh, the Cathedral in downtown Raleigh, St. Luke's and St. Raphael also in Raleigh. |
| 1991-1997 |
At St. Michael the Archangel, Teresa Aldahondo takes the leadership role. She begins recruiting volunteers to help cook, drive and serve the meals at St. Bernadette's. The migrant meal movement grows and becomes one of St. Michael's official ministries. |
| 1997-2011... |
Various parishioners answer the call to lead the ministry, including Mirella Parbus Jolene Smith, Johanne Laboy and Robert Grinnell. Every year more than 50 volunteers from St. Michael the Archangel alone help feed several hundred people, each participating Sunday. The Migrant Meals Ministry falls under the umbrella of Catholic Social Ministries, a diocesan organization dedicated to addressing the social concerns of the church. |
Contacts
For additional questions, please contact the following individuals:
