THE RETIREMENT OF REBECCA OXENREIDER
Dear Friends:
For the past 42 years, Saint Mary’s Parish has been blessed by the ministry of Rebecca Oxenreider, who has served as our Minister of Human Concerns, Social Justice & Community Life. Having generously served God’s people for over four decades, Rebecca will step away from the daily coordination of numerous ministries. She is actively discerning how she can continue to share her God-given gifts with our community in the years ahead. Her retirement is effective on July 1st.
Rebecca has played a crucial role in the life of Saint Mary’s parish. Her deep faith and boundless energy have helped to draw forth the gifts and talents of our parishioners. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Rebecca has helped to shape the ministerial vision of our parish in important ways.
Over the years Rebecca has enabled the members of our parish to serve our neighbors in the name of Jesus. We have partnered with CARITAS to provide support to those who are seeking stable housing. We developed a thriving ESL program. Through our food pantry and the “What’s Mine is Ours” outreach, we share God’s blessings with others. We have been able to build strong relationships with the people of Haiti, and we support school-aged children in Southwest Virginia. Thanks to Rebecca’s vision, we have a lively connection with the residents of Marywood Apartments, and we provide dental care for local residents through our “Hopeful Smiles” partnership with VCU. Our “Nifty Needlers” ministry has created thousands of hand-made items (hats, blankets, mittens) that have been distributed all over Richmond.
The ministries coordinated by Rebecca also focus on legislative advocacy, fair trade products, and cooperative efforts with the Virginia Catholic Conference. In addition, Rebecca has gathered teams of dedicated parishioners who serve coffee after Masses and facilitate receptions for funerals. Whenever our parish hosts a reception, party or ‘food event,’ Rebecca and her teams are right there!
While all of this activity has kept Rebecca busy for the past four decades, she constantly reminds us that we need to pay attention to the person who is right in front of us, and to treat one another with Christian dignity and compassion.
Our parish has been blessed by Rebecca’s leadership, service and love. She has played a key role in creating a welcoming and generous atmosphere within our community, and she does all of this with a spirit of graciousness and good humor! In the weeks ahead, Rebecca will share some of her own insights about her experience of ministry at Saint Mary’s.
Let us join together in prayer, thanking God for the gift of Rebecca’s presence in our midst!
Fr. Michael Renninger
