In this post we will share real stories of some of our awesome volunteers.
“Volunteering, making a difference, that’s what gives me life” says Michele Silveri, “Meesh” to her friends.
Michele began her volunteer career at Holy Family when she moved from New York to South Pasadena 20 years ago. Her daughter Danielle went through Holy Family School and she started as a board-member for Religious Education. For many years she set-up the playground for carpool – every day! In 2002 she joined the Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) and has been its president for the last three years.
If you’ve spent any time helping with St. Joseph’s Table – then you definitely know Michele! She is largely responsible for the delicious smells coming from the Parish kitchen that weekend – as she is the Chief Cook and oversees “the kitchen” for the event. And she runs a tight ship! Even she admits that in the kitchen she is the “boss”, but of ICF she says, “we love each other. There is no fighting, no arguing. I like people, everyone. We have a good time. My name is spelled with only one L – you see there is no ‘hell’ in me” she says with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Her ‘tough’ manner masks a heart of gold. She is a real Paesana!” Theresa Shaw says of her friend and fellow ICF member.
Michele says that her involvement with ICF “has given me a stronger faith, especially faith in other people. We do all of this to give money to the Giving Bank and St. Vincent de Paul; it’s to help our fellow humans; to make a difference. We don’t live in this world by ourselves, we get life from volunteering.”
Michele has deep respect for those around her and the special role we each have to play in this world, “everyone serves a purpose here, their purpose. If we were all doctors, what would we eat?”
Michele takes her interest in people very seriously. “I take a stand for human beings to get along.” To that end she has taken many classes in the “Art and Science of Being Human” including a year-long course to provide “relationship coaching” to couples and those interested in improving their relationships, especially with members of the opposite sex.
“Men are a gift to women,” she assures me, “we are not perfect, but we’re perfectly made for each other. If we let go and let God,- get present to what is, and ask for God’s help, then amazing things happen – true transformation.”
Michele, “Meesh” is truly a gift to Holy Family and to this community.
When you have a gang-related tattoo on your face or hands or any visible part of your party – it is more than a statement of identity – it can be a death sentence. That is why Fr. Greg Boyle (“G” to his homies) has invited Holy Family Church to partner with Homeboy for their “Ya ‘Stuvo” tattoo removal program by encouraging physician parishioners to volunteer in the Homeboy laser removal program. The decision to remove a gang identifying tattoo can be a significant step in the decision to move into a more positive way of life. Fr. Greg puts it this way:
Clients come to us in an effort to make a positive change in their lives. Patients’ pursue this because they want to be role models for their children; they see these visible marks of gang affiliation as serious barriers to legitimate employment; and/or because gang tattoos make individual a walking target and puts them and their families, at real risk for severe physical harm from former “homies.” Tattoo removal also results in a significant decrease in police contact; the mere presence of gang tattoos can result in an individual being considered a suspect in a crime, in which he/she has no involvement. Tattoo removal sets an example and helps break the cycle of gang involvement and its attendant ills.
Holy Family has been asked by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., to assist in recruiting physicians willing to give a 2 to 5 hours per month to Homeboy Industries’ tattoo removal program. A valid medical license is required, and training under the supervision of the program’s medical director will be provided. The purpose of the program is to assist young men and women desiring to make significant changes in their lives by having their gang-related tattoos removed in order to be positive role models for their children, improve their chances of legitimate employment, and decrease the possibility that they or their families will be victims of violence by rival gangs.
“’…You know darkness is changing into light when you are able to look into another person’s eyes and see yourself.’ I see myself in the eyes of the people coming to me to have their tattoos removed. I have made many mistakes in my life and there have been wonderful people there to pick me up. These people at Homeboy are God’s children and I also see Jesus when I look in their eyes.” Dr. Paul Mc Andrews,