Holy Family Parish receives 2017 Matthew 25 Award

GREENVILLE — Five Maine parishes have been named recipients of the 2017 Matthew 25 Awards, including the Holy Family Parish in Greenville and Rockwood.

The awards, presented annually by the Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry program, benefit parishes that are directly serving vulnerable people in need, regardless of their faith affiliation and adhering to the principles of the Bible verse Matthew: 25 (“I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink …”). Grants totaling $15,000 are given to the parishes to assist them in expanding their capacity to serve more people or to help develop a new social ministry.

The Holy Family Parish — comprised of the Holy Family Church in Greenville and St. Joseph Church in Rockwood — will receive $3,000 to assist in purchasing and installing a generator for the new church being constructed in Greenville. The generator will help the parish to offer a warming center for community members in need during power outages.

“The applications were detailed, and the programs and ministries described were inspiring,” said Michael Smith, the director of mission for Catholic Charities Maine. “We believe that this financial support can help extend our reach in assisting Maine’s most vulnerable populations.”

In the coming months stained glass awards and the checks will be presented during Masses at the five parishes to commemorate the 2017 recipients.
This is the seventh year that the Matthew 25 Awards have been given, but the third in which more than one parish has been honored. A previous area recipient is Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dexter, honored in 2011, 2015 and 2016.