Receiving the Community Service Award at the Landmark Gala in Port Washington is a fitting tribute for Our Lady of Fatima Parish Outreach.

Sister Kathy Somerville, O.P., who has served for 43 years as Parish Social Ministry director at Our Lady of Fatima, accepted the honor at the October 5 gala on behalf of her 28 volunteers as well as the many parishioners and community members who offer their support.

“It’s humbling. I’m happy that the work we do is being recognized,” explained Sister Kathy, who is a Sister of St. Dominic of Amityville. “People might be made aware of the work we do.” The recognition, at a public event, is “kind of awesome.”   

Our Lady of Fatima’s outreach program is well known in the Port Washington community, and the numbers served are increasing. Families assisted annually have more than doubled to 180 from 87 pre-Covid, and the great majority are Hispanic.

Each volunteer has an assigned time to help. At social gatherings, such as a summer barbecue, they greet each other by volunteer days: “I’m Monday morning,” or “I’m Tuesday afternoon.”

Volunteers are happy to work together, and to warmly welcome neighbors who come for aid. Sister Supporters include local schools, synagogues and a hospital. Along with food donations, including many from Island Harvest, families receive special assistance at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the community,” Sister Kathy said.     

Volunteers learn more about the families by touching base in a friendly way when they visit. An example of volunteers going “above and beyond” was when they learned about a bright high school senior, who needed mentoring and assistance with a baffling college application process. With a hand from volunteers, the applications were completed and the young woman received two scholarship offers.

Families who seek help are vetted and scheduled to receive food on a weekly, biweekly or monthly basis. The presenting problem, according to Sister Kathy, may be food-related but other problems can be identified when volunteers learn more from informal exchanges. In one case a family with an autistic child was able to find out about eligible services from another family being helped.

Sister Kathy hopes to make a greater difference for three homeless men who come for food. Other problems must be remedied before they can be referred to housing programs. She understands it can take time to build bridges. “When we get to know them better, and they trust us, we can make a little bit of an inroad.”

Adding the six years Sister Kathy spent in outreach ministry at Our Holy Redeemer parish in Freeport, she is nearing half a century of such work. When Catholic Charities envisioned parish outreach programs, Our Holy Redeemer became one of the pioneers.

Parish Social Ministry programs now exist in more than 100 parishes across the Diocese of Rockville Centre, including Our Lady of Fatima, where Father Robert Clerkin is pastor. The Catholic Charities of Long Island Parish Social Ministry staff, under the direction of Paula Malloy, is proud to provide training and resources to enrich parish outreach efforts. 

“It’s very fulfilling to be in an environment like this and to make a difference in people’s lives,” Sister Kathy said.