St. Ambrose parishioners reach out to Park Heights community

An army of St. Ambrose parishioners set out on a mission to evangelize and help the surrounding Park Heights community during “Operation Faith Lift” April 9.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Paul Zaborowski, pastor of St. Ambrose, led a team of parishioners through parish neighborhoods on the vigil of Palm Sunday, inviting residents to Easter Sunday liturgies by leaving hundreds of invitation cards and palm crosses in mailboxes and on doors and windshields. 

In front of the church, the parish also hosted a food pantry and a free flea market of gently used clothing, jewelry and houseware items. The outreach was supported in part by parishioners of Sacred Heart, Glyndon, who donated some of the available clothing.

“We’re a vital part of Park Heights,” said Father Zaborowski on the steps of St. Ambrose. “We want to do as much as we can to support the community. Everything is so outrageous (expensive) – especially clothing. This is a blessing for so many in the community. It brings everyone together during this sacred time of the year.”

Father Zaborowski passionately spoke about how he does not like the reputation of Park Heights. He knows firsthand there are a lot of hardworking people who go to work everyday, raise their children and are good citizens. 

“It’s a vital neighborhood,” he said. 

Alexandra Callahan, pastoral associate at Sacred Heart, Glyndon, said the Sacred Heart-St. Ambrose outreach partnership began about a year ago during the pandemic. She mentioned that boxes were overflowing with children’s clothes as well as baby supplies such as diapers and other necessities, which volunteers delivered to St. Ambrose. 

“It’s been overwhelming and amazing,” Callahan said.

St. Ambrose has always been “in the business of taking care of the people in the community,” said Barbra Swann, chairwoman of the St. Anthony Clothing Closet and a St. Ambrose parishioner. 

“We’re a beacon to them,” she said. “We do what we do because it’s important and we do what Christ said to do.” 

Swann said one can see God’s love in the people and the volunteers attending the free flea market. 

“It’s a comfortable thing when you are welcomed and not shunned,” she said. 

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Swann lost a 36-year-old son to violence 15 years ago, forever changing her. She said one of the goals of Operation Faith Lift is to uplift people and bring them one step closer to God.

Members of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the parish’s missionary disciples and the recently formed St. Ambrose Street Ministry joined forces to put on the day’s activities.

“The Park Heights community has seen a lot of trouble and we’re in the center of the community,” said Pert Toins-Banks, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Catholic Daughters. “We’re reaching out to try to provide as much as we can to whomever we can.”

Father Zaborowski hopes the parish’s simple evangelization outreach can be a “spark” for someone. 

“If we can give people the message that Jesus is truly alive and there is hope in him,” he said, “that’s the greatest thing we can do today.”

Email Kevin Parks at kparks@CatholicReview.org

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