A Hug, a Meal, and a Moment of Connection
For Eileen Dempsey and Wayne Werling, serving dinner in the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Dining Room is as much about nurturing souls as it is about nourishing bodies.
For two years, the couple has volunteered on Tuesday and Friday evenings. In that time, guests have learned one thing they can always count on: “They know I’m a hugger,” Eileen says.
While Wayne is usually behind the scenes taking care of trays and dishes, Eileen is in the dining room, cleaning off tables “and talking to everybody,” Wayne chimes in.
“I do talk to everybody — I’ve got to admit that,” Eileen says. “I know more about their friends and families than most people do. That’s part of our ministry.
“You might be the only person they talk to all day. You don’t get to know them intimately, but you have to be present in the moment, and that’s the most important thing. If in that moment, somebody needs a hug, you give them a hug. If they just need to talk, you just talk to them.”
Eileen spent her career in special education, where she was able to combine her lifelong desire to serve with her spirit of compassion. Wayne was a factory worker, and he recalls a long strike that kept him out of work for six months.
“If there had been a place like St. Francis, I might have had my meals there,” he says.
Married for 24 years, Wayne and Eileen are devoted to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren as their blended family grows. They learned about SFSM in the parish bulletin at Christ the King, and they agree that serving together has been a blessing to their marriage.
The couple has found a sense of belonging among the community of SFSM volunteers. They strive to give that same feeling of welcome and acceptance to the neighbors they serve.
“I was very lucky in my life,” Eileen says. “I think those of us who were lucky have a responsibility to give back to those who did not necessarily have those privileges. The people who come in appreciate that we’re there and that we chat with them. It’s a wonderful ministry.”