Granite Bay women's group combines social and spiritual activities

March 8, 2008

Women’s group at Granite Bay parish combines social, spiritual events

Ladies Social Outreach ministry group gathering

From left, Jeri Rademann, Susan Barrett, Marilyn Jones and Carol Brown prepare for morning tea, one of the many gatherings of the St. Joseph Marello Parish’s Ladies Social Outreach ministry in Granite Bay. Bitsy Kemper/Herald photo

By Bitsy Kemper
Herald correspondent

Jeri Rademann attended the very the first Mass at St. Joseph Marello Parish in Granite Bay three years ago.

She immediately enjoyed the smallness, with people talking and getting to know each other. Four months later, Rademann gathered some newfound friends and brainstormed a womens’ social group. Their collective thoughts were to reach out to other women and the community in a social way — not surrounding fund raising, but true community. Would anyone else be interested?

Fast forward to 2008 — Rademann is now joined by almost 100 women from a parish that totals about 730 parishioners. Members gather upwards of 10 times a month. Dubbed the Ladies Social Outreach, or LSO, their group has become one of the most active ministries at St. Joseph Marello Parish.

Oblates of St. Joseph Father Arnold Ortiz, pastor of St. Joseph Marello, says LSO “is one of the best things that has happened to our new parish. I often hear from ladies themselves that this is the first parish where it is so easy to meet new friends. LSO has made them feel so very welcome.”

The group has a mission statement, objectives and monthly newsletter. “It all starts with Mass on Sunday. From there we bring our religion out into the community,” Rademann said. “I’ve met people in my own neighborhood I didn’t know were Catholic because we all went to different Masses. I have met and made the nicest friends with LSO; we have a common bond.”

All get-togethers are informal, start and close with a prayer, are open to any woman parishioner, and guarantee socialization. LSO offers a wide range of activities, including a sewing group, bridge group, book club, garden club, “girls night out,” “Date and Plate” night, “out-abouts,” coffees, and a yearly community service project.

A member for more than two years, Shirley Hodson appreciates the variety of choices and, quite simply, that LSO gets her out of the house. “It’s a nice group of Christian women, a nice mix of social and spiritual, and it’s good clean fun,” she said.

Sandra Harp, a parishioner for 18 months, joined LSO in October after hearing about it from Father Ortiz. Since then, she’s had the confidence to go forward and ask about other parish ministries. “I’m now visiting the homebound with the Eucharist and am involved with confirmation preparation,” she said.

Rademann is amazed — and pleased — at the success. “At our first coffee I told my husband if we had 10 people I would consider it a success. We had 15. We’re still growing and adding new groups, and it continues to amaze me.”

Expanding to other parishes is a possibility. “I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to encourage other parishes to develop their own LSO,” Father Ortiz said. “It will bring an added strength and purpose to the community.”

A schedule of activities can be found online at http://stjosephmarello-gb.com/ or http://www.localendar.com/public/arnoldosj. The group welcomes newcomers to any coffee or event to find out more.