Young family saved by parish family, with help from DeoWeb

This is personal story is a small testament to how online communications can help us minister to one another and build our parish families. My wife Rowena and I were blessed with the birth of twins on November 13, 2006. Our lives entered a new phase, one quite busy but also full of life! Fortunately I was able to take some parental leave.

On January 26, about two weeks before the end of my parental leave, I posted a request for help on my parish web site. I had nothing to lose. Trying to find someone through the parish office hadn't worked out, and putting in a personal request in the bulletin isn't an option.

The post was titled "Family with twin babies and toddler looking for hands on help".

A few days later, we received a phone call from a woman named Renee who was offering to help out. Renee is a retired school principal who attends the 5 pm Saturday mass.

Renee has been coming every Thursday since, putting her laundry and dishwashing skills to good use, in addition to caring for the babes. We often share lunch and share what's going on in each other's lives.

Soon after that, we received an email from Annette Dugas, a new parishioner to the parish along with her husband and two teenage kids, desiring to help out in some way. I wondered how she might find the time, given a busy family life and full-time work, but her response was quite enthusiastic:

So glad to hear from you! I am thrilled that you are interested in whatever time I may be able to offer. Although it may not be much, at least if I can offer an hour here and there, it may help out a little bit.

With the help of DeoWeb, I was able to find two people to help my busy wife with our two newborn twins and toddler. I did not know these people, and they did not know me. In a parish of 1100 parishioners, with 3 masses, the odds of us finding each other at church are slim at best. For Rowena, Malia, Graham, David and myself, they are now a special part of our parish family.

P.S. I have some proud daddy photos of the twins. Enjoy!