Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / Archdiocesan AIDS ministry helped by parish giving trees
Archdiocesan AIDS ministry helped by parish giving trees
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 23, 2007
AIDS Mass
When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Celebrant: By Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Flores
Reading: Names of those who have died of AIDS. |
Detroit — Last year, the Archdiocese of Detroit was able to help 824 people with or affected by HIV/AIDS before the holiday season — and this year it hopes to help even more.
The archdiocese's AIDS Ministry Forum has spots on many parishes' Giving Trees for parishioners to take a tag and purchase the item for the indicated organization. Dish sets, small kitchen appliances, radios, and hygiene items, for example, are often needed by those with HIV or AIDS, or their family members.
The archdiocese's Department of Parish Life and Services was expecting about 35 parishes to participate in this year's program, and several had already set up a pickup time by mid-November, said Michael Harning, the department's Health and Life Services coordinator. Cutoff for pickup and delivery is Dec. 19, after which the items will be distributed to those in need.
The department gets suggestions for gift ideas from organizations who work with people with HIV/AIDS, and that information is passed on to churches. Gift cards are often very helpful to those with AIDS, Harning explained, because they can be used to purchase supplemental, drug store items, or even gas to get to doctor's appointments.
The AIDS Ministry Forum is often one of many organizations on a parish's Giving Tree. "For us to be remembered is a good thing," Harning said.
Volunteers are also needed to sort through the items, which are then set up kind of like a shop for those in need to select what items will be of the most use to them. Gift cards may also be given out after the holidays, since the need exists year-round.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, less than four years ago, an estimated more than 1 million people were living with HIV/AIDS. Nearly a quarter of those were undiagnosed and unaware of their infection.
New reported cases in 2005, the last year CDC data is available, indicates that African-Americans make up most new cases (18,121), followed by Caucasians (11,559) and then Hispanics (6,782).
The Archdiocese of Detroit's AIDS Ministry Forum embraces and promotes the direct service of Catholics who are involved in ministry with persons with AIDS, their families and friends, according to the archdiocese's (this) web site. Its mission is to provide education, caring support, and resources to encourage and assist the Catholic community in developing their ministry to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Judy Henley, Christian Service Coordinator at St. Anne Parish, Ortonville, said the parish has been including tags for the AIDS Ministry Forum on its Giving Tree for at least six years. Although the donations can be small, she said, the parish knows they make a difference to someone living with HIV/AIDS.
"People have been very generous," she said. "People wanted to be able to reach out and help in some way."
JoAnn Morandini, member of the service commission at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, and Giving Tree coordinator, explained that the AIDS Ministry Forum is one of four charities that receives gifts, the other three being senior homes. Gift cards brought to the parish go to the AIDS forum. St. Clare's tree goes up the first week of Advent.
"The people at St. Clare's are very generous," she said. "It's quite overwhelming to see all the gifts on the altar."
Contact the AIDS Ministry Forum at 305 Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor, Detroit, 48226-2614; (313) 237-5978; or email: aidsministry@aod.org.
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