The spirit of service
Precious Blood members foster outreach in community
In Melbourne Beach, Florida, the brightly colored surf shops and beachside restaurants cater to vacationers looking to get away. But alongside the sun-drenched beaches live members of the community who need much more than tropical weather to overcome their hardships. Parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, led by Father Ben Berinti, C.PP.S., embody a spirit of charity and selfless service, finding plentiful opportunities to help others and fulfill the Catholic doctrine of charitable work.
Faith and leadership
Fr. Ben, assisted by four other Missionaries of the Precious Blood priests, has expanded upon the culture of outreach that was established at the parish when he arrived over seven years ago. “There are many ways to judge the health and well-being of any parish community,” says Fr. Ben. “So often, judgement is based upon numbers of baptisms, children in religious education, and weekly confessions, as well as numbers participating in devotional activities. However, I have prioritized measuring the health and well-being of a parish by how committed the community is to service and outreach into the local community and beyond. While I wholeheartedly welcome more participants in the sacramental life of the parish, I am most excited when I see individual parishioners and the entire parish community offer their gifts on behalf of the poor, marginalized, sick, and suffering.”
Among these individuals are Donna Brown, Susan Strahle, Mary Kay O’Toole, and Donna Austin, who have found varied opportunities to join existing service initiatives and to create their own where they see need.
South Brevard Sharing Center and Daily Bread
The South Brevard Sharing Center (SBSC) serves over 10,000 community members annually, offering food, clothing, household items, and furnishings, along with financial assistance for rent and utilities. They also provide skills-building and coaching programs that allow people to develop plans to achieve self-sufficiency.
Daily Bread began as a soup kitchen 35 years ago and still serves a meal daily to those in need. Additionally, they provide access to health care and hygiene needs, employment services, and housing for the area’s homeless population.
Once a month, Immaculate Conception celebrates “Pantry Weekend,” collecting food and monetary donations. Donna Austin says, “We swap back and forth between two centers. One focuses on providing food directly to the homeless, while SBSC operates a food pantry and helps individuals secure employment.”
Beyond food assistance, SBSC organizes seasonal drives, including the Magic of Christmas toy drive, which ensures that children from low-income families experience the joy of the holidays. Fr. Ben says, “We are a small community in number (907 registered households) compared with most of the parishes in the still-growing Diocese of Orlando. But we have become well-recognized by many service organizations and ministries in Brevard County for the generosity and committed outreach of our parish. For example, this past Christmas, we gathered toys for needy children, and our parish’s gifts accounted for nearly 85% of the total number of toys (with over 20 church communities participating in the drive) they received, helping numerous families!”
Genesis House: Supporting pregnant women
Mary Kay O’Toole has dedicated over 16 years to Genesis House, a sanctuary for homeless pregnant women and women with children. Founded by Mary Allen, who was inspired to help when she discovered three pregnant women living under a bridge, Genesis House operates three houses, all painted in a warm shade of pink, offering a safe and supportive environment where women can regain independence through education and personal growth.
“If a pregnant woman enters Genesis House, she can stay until she has her child, provided she continues her schooling and follows the program’s requirements,” Mary Kay explains. The organization also provides long-term housing for student mothers and their children.
Genesis House sustains itself through various fundraising efforts, including an upscale clothing boutique and events like golf tournaments and galas. “All proceeds go toward the care of our residents and maintaining the homes,” Mary Kay says.
Hospital visits and hospice
Susan Strahle has been actively involved with hospice care at the William Childs Hospice House, a facility that provides compassionate end-of-life care. A retired fifth grade teacher, Susan also volunteers with the Bright Star program, which supports grieving children, helping them process their emotions through activities like storytelling, art, and play therapy. In this comforting space, children can express themselves freely, with trained volunteers offering guidance and encouragement. “They open up and share with peers and adults that they trust,” Susan says.
Hospital visits and visits to the homebound are another key aspect of community service. Mary Kay, a former medical professional, volunteers weekly at Holmes Regional Hospital, where she provides spiritual support to patients. “Every parish has assigned days for hospital visits. We talk to patients, offer prayer cards, and provide companionship,” she says.
Rummage sales: More than just a fundraiser
Church rummage sales not only raise funds but also foster community engagement, while generating thousands of dollars for parish projects. Donna Austin coordinates Immaculate Conception’s yearly sale as well as the volunteers, many of whom aren’t from the parish but are drawn to the lively event for camaraderie. Donna Brown says, “The thing I really like about the rummage sale is that it’s the most community oriented. People get to know others through the rummage sale, they get to meet people and work with them. When you know a couple people, you feel braver. Some of the volunteers that come to the food pantry started out there.”
Pumps on Cue: A personal mission to help diabetics
For Donna Austin, charity took on a deeply personal meaning after her son passed away in his twenties from diabetic ketoacidosis. “We founded Pumps on Cue in Danny’s honor, with the mission to provide tools, resources, and education to those managing diabetes, aiming to prevent other families from experiencing tragic loss,” she says. The nonprofit provides life-saving diabetes supplies to those in need.
“Insulin costs thousands of dollars, and many people simply can’t afford it,” she says. “We started Pumps on Cue to ensure that no one goes without essential diabetic care.”
The organization has gained national and international attention, receiving donations and support from various communities. “It’s extremely rewarding for me because I see my son’s face in everybody I’m helping,” Donna says. They work with both individuals and organizations to distribute supplies and also raise awareness through education and helping loved ones of diabetics recognize warning signs of complications.
Inspiring the next generation
The women involved in these initiatives emphasize the importance of instilling a spirit of charity in younger generations. “There has to be a seed planted,” Mary Kay says, suggesting that religious education programs highlight opportunities for service so that children will grow up knowing that helping others is a fundamental part of faith.
Susan remembers young triplets whom she met through her work at Bright Star when they lost their grandmother. “All three of them came back as volunteers all the way through high school,” she says. Donna Austin recalls finding the trunk of her son’s car stuffed with egg cartons after his death. She knew right away why they were there — remembering the times he’d worked with his mother at the food pantry, he had collected the cartons for her to use to distribute eggs.
Creating a community of service
“Precious Blood spirituality, if it is anything at all, is about the body,” says Fr. Ben. “Before Christ’s Body and Blood became a ‘devotion or object of worship,’ it was/is real flesh and blood! My favorite Gospel is from the Evangelist Luke because he always portrays the mission of Jesus (and his followers) primarily to be about reaching out physically to the poor, abandoned, outcast, neglected, sick, and suffering. I encourage my parishioners to share in our Precious Blood spirituality by being a people of action, who ‘hear the cry of the Blood’ as it echoes in the bodies of our neighbors in need.”
Fr. Ben integrates these messages of giving into his homilies. Austin says, “You realize that we are doing Jesus’s work. And I think that comes from Father’s mission as a Precious Blood priest. He’s always trying to make things new.”
“He really inspires you to be a better person,” says Brown.
By embodying Precious Blood spirituality and through the dedication of individuals like Brown, Strahle, O’Toole, and Austin, Immaculate Conception serves as a beacon of hope and generosity, sharing Christ’s love where it is needed most.