A Hand to Hold
Sister Marie Therese Carries Christ in Her Pocket and in Her Heart
In her ministry at the Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, N.J., Sister Marie Therese Sherwood wears many hats, each plucked from the same rack of compassion.
As pastoral minister for social concerns, Sister spends time with parish families during the most difficult times of their lives — coordinating support groups, connecting with the poor and homeless, holding hands at the bedsides of the sick and dying, and facilitating the sacred rituals that bring closure to grieving families.
“The journey with the sick, the dying and their families bonds us together in a deepening relationship,” Sister says. “I make silent, loving glances to Jesus within my heart each time I walk into a hospital, make a home visit, sit with someone who is grieving, or assess the needs of individuals in outreach to the poor.”
She also cantors during Masses, sings in the choir, and has a hand in promoting diversity, distributing more than 1,000 Giving Tree gifts each Christmas, and feeding families in challenging circumstances. Above all else, she considers it her greatest privilege to bring Eucharist to the sick and homebound.
“I carry Christ in a pyx in my pocket for a good part of the day and am intimately aware and in awe of the closeness of His presence,” Sister Marie Therese reflects. “These personal, grace-filled moments have deepened my relationship with God.”
