I volunteered a lot at St Mary's at the lakes.
I did a lot of little things like shovel snow off the roof set up Christmas decorations, I also stood in front of the congregation and read scripture during Sunday mass and helped as an alter server. I raised funds for the Diocesan Service Appeal. Three years in a row.
One day I was approached by a man from Sacred heart in Hudson Michigan who asked if I would be interested in participating in a play type reading at the church and I agreed.
He gave me an envelope with my part in the play. I took it home and studied.
John Schaub who was married to Jean (Pastoral coordinator) had a part in the play as well, so he drove us down. When we arrived, we found the church packed.
Turns up its Pentecostal Saturday. I hadn't given it much consideration,
I had been telling myself it's on a Saturday there will probably only be a hand full of parishioners.
We started mass with a prayer then eight of us who were in the play took our places at different podiums in the church. There were Fathers and Deacons in the front row.
I looked them in their eyes scanning rows and rows of Parishioners as we performed our parts. I was nervous but I'm proud to say I did good. everyone was listening to me. I'm looking at them looking at me I have their complete attention.
Afterward I took my seat and was ready for communion. Then the fathers and Deacons stood up and took the Alter. They took stations for confession.... I didn't even see this coming. (Am I a Poor Catholic? Http://fbgfgc.blogspot.com/2014/03/is-poor-catholic-oxymoron.html ).
At confession I confessed I'm just a roofer that I didn't think I was doing what God wanted me to do.
I use to work in radio, I've organized and conducted food drives that filled rental trucks with food for local food pantries. I confessed to the Father I use to feel so important and now I'm just Hiding on a roof. "I'm not doing what God wants me to do." The Father was quick to look to the podium I had just stood at. Nod his head toward it and ask me "why did you get up there and do that?" I quickly responded, "I was asked to". He told me there you go. "If God wanted you on the radio, you would be on the radio"! He told me I was good at the part I had taken in the play. He had also noticed how everyone was paying absolute attention to me as I spoke. He told me I should be an actor or something. He Also told me to do what God asks me to do. It was only weeks later I got a call from children Protective Service and then within days I had my own new baby. I told Jean Shaub Pastoral coordinator "I'm supposed to be a grandpa not a dad" she replied.
" Your who God Needs you to be" And I reflected back to Pentecostal Saturday when the Father told me to do what God asks me to do. I'm trying!
Bob Jenkens
Thank you, Jean Schaub,
(on the right) washing feet with Father Paul
"Ketchup"
I'm still waiting for something good to catch up to me
For ketchup to be fashionable and mustard to seed
See me skating on destiny just you watch and see
when I catch up to me
Bob Jenkens
"Ketchup"
