Sorting through all the
different projects John and Rosemary Heaney have been involved with takes some
concentration - not only for those who don't know the couple very well, but for the Heaneys themselves. The St. Andrew's parishioners are more interested in continuing
the work of the church than reflecting on what they have already done.
On May 5, the Heaneys were honored with St. Andrew's Dorothy Day
Award at the Annual Dorothy Day Dinner for their dedication to the church and the
community. The recognition caught them off guard. They appreciate that their
work has had an impact on many people, but they don't believe they have done any more than
other people they know, and they certainly don't think they deserve an award.
Last week, the couple promised there would be no long acceptance
speeches.
"What we did and when is pretty hard to say exactly,"
Rosemary explained. "Many things kind of overlap. I just see it as part
of Matthew's Gospel, living out my own faith base."
As best as she can remember, Rosemary figures she and John first
started putting their faith to work with the CCD program at St. Andrew's and with Father
Charles Brady's Catholic Neighbor program. The Heaneys then volunteered at the House
of Providence and Unity Acres.
"With Unity Acres, we were very involved in the
beginning," said Rosemary. John cooked meals and delivered meals cooked by
other volunteers. The experience was a powerful one, and the recent death of Father
Raymond McVey, who directed the facility for homeless, alcoholic men, hit them hard.
While the Heaneys don't have any children of their own, their
house was rarely empty early in their marriage. Over the years, 16 pregnant young
women have lived there.
"We had one of those big old houses on the south side of the
city. It had four bedrooms and it was always full," said Rosemary. One of
the women stayed with the Heaneys to complete her education and was married from their
home. Of all the women, they keep in touch with only three.
"I thought it would be better to keep some distance,"
Rosemary explained. "That way, they could move on with their lives."
Looking back, the Heaneys laugh at memories of their busy
household. While they were taking the women in, each worked full time and their
parish involvement was at high point. But somehow, everything worked itself out.
"Growing up, we always had somebody living with us, so it
was just natural for me," said Rosemary, a native of Saranac Lake. When people
need help, you help them. That's what I was taught growing up."
"Why do you do it" I don't know, you just do," said John.
The Heaneys volunteered at Unity Kitchen until about five years
ago. John currently volunteers with Freeby Bread, an offshoot of the Glory Bee
Bakery. Freeby bread is baked with donated flower and 125 loaves are distributed
each week to different organizations in the area.
Rosemary has also been active with jail ministry, visiting the
Walsh prison hospital at the Mohawk Correctional Facility near Rome and helping to start
an HIV support group there. She is also part of the pastoral care team at the SUNY Health
Science Center in Syracuse.
She has had some health problems in recent years, but still volunteers at SUNY as much as
she can. Because she travels with an oxygen tank, Rosemary said, the patients know
she can relate to their concerns.
"It was very interesting at first. Patients and their
families connected with that," she said. |
|
The Heaneys' dedication to
helping others has permeated every aspect of their lives. John worked as a postal
carrier in the neighborhood around St. Andrew's Church for 37 years and developed many
close friendships. He was particularly helpful to the elderly people on his route.
Now retired, he still looks in on a few of them from time to
time.
The Heaneys' refrigerator is covered with snapshots of children
who are just as much a part of their family as if they had been their own. Rosemary
proudly points out the children of friends, fellow parishioners from St. Andrew's and
others with whom their commitments to Christian action have become a centerpiece for their
relationships.
"Almost our immediate group of friends, most of those
relationships are church or spirituality centered," said John.
The Heaneys said their parish has been a constant source of
inspiration.
"The thing that amazes me is that there is no holding
back," said John.
Rosemary added that Father Joe Kane, pastor of St. Andrew's,
provides the congregation with just the right amount of guidance.
"To me, he leads by allowing people to use their natural
talents," she said. "They are God-given talents to be used."
Rosemary added that at St. Andrew's, everyone contributes to the parish community.
The dedication to volunteerism and social justice is a collective mindset that
cannot be easily explained.
"There are so many good people in the parish and it's good
to see the younger people getting involved," she said.
While the Heaneys don't feel they deserve to be singled out,
friends and fellow St. Andrew's parishioners disagree.
"I think John and Rosemary serve s excellent role models by
quietly showing us how to live out the value of a true Christian life," said John
Prucha, a St. Andrew's parishioner who has known the couple for 30 years.
Mary Kunder, who has known the Heaneys just about as long, said
they are the kind of people friends and fellow parishioners know they can count on.
"They are two of the most giving people I can think
of," she said. "If you call 'help,' both will come running. Whenever
there is an impending problem or concern, you will find Rosemary and John. It's
wonderful to know people like that."
But the Heaneys are more likely to acknowledge those who served
as their role models that to view themselves as role models for young people today.
"Getting to know Father Brady, Ray McVey, Kate Stanton (who
worked with Father McVey and continues at Unity Acres) and Sister Joan Groth - they've
probable had the biggest influence on me," Rosemary said.-----
Reprinted from The Catholic Sun May 11, 1995.
By Gary Pallassino, SUN Regional Editor |