Amityville Dominican Sister Carol Radosti Helps to Grow a Blossoming Ministry at St. Rose in Massapequa!
In 60 containers at St. Rome of Lima Parish, Massapequa, NY, green plants are bursting forth such as bush beans and basil; peppers and parsley! The garden was started under the leadership of Amityville Dominican Sister Carol Radosti, who is the Co-Coordinator of the Parish Social Ministry.
The succulent staples of fresh food grown on parish grounds supplement the other supplies offered at the St. Rose of Lima Outreach Center.
(It’s fitting that at St. Rose of Lima Church lettuce, kale, yellow squash, and tomatoes are growing! After all, St. Rose was a lay Dominican who grew herbs for the sick whom lined up outside her family home in Peru.)
Recently, Sister Carol gave a tour of the garden. She showed off the jungle of vegetables growing on the south-side of the building. She explained that a parishioner, Frank Lauria, donated these self-watering plant bins called “Farm Daddy.” Frank is the owner of the business also called Farm Daddy in Copiague.
Frank is a volunteer at the outreach: He picks up food from Island Harvest each Monday and often runs to Walmart to purchase and donate specific items the pantry needs. He is a daily Communicant. The idea for a garden came about one day, while chatting with S. Carol -- and it started last summer. Frank feels blessed to be part of such important work.
“For me, this is God’s will,” Frank said. “It’s not about me. I am being directed by the Lord and I am happy to do it.”
Along with giving out fresh produce, the pantry offers non-perishable food goods. There are also freezers full of meat like burgers, chickens, fish sticks and more. Volunteers pack snack bags for children that include yummy treats like fruits snacks, chips and apple sauce. Noting that food stamps don’t cover all needs, the outreach offers paper goods, plastic bags, hygiene items, and even cleaning supplies.
The Parish Social Ministry supports about 70 families per week. Many visitors are seniors on fixed incomes, or people who never recovered from losing their jobs post-COVID. There are also those who are struggling with heavy medical expenses or immigrants living in single rooms with their families working as day laborers. Some visitors are homeless, living in their cars. S. Carol marvels at her dedicated team of volunteers: more than 30 of them! They fulfill different roles such as drivers to greeters, to those who help organize and shelve the food.
“I work side by side with wonderful volunteers who all realize that when they see a person walk in here, they see the face of God,” Sister Carol said. “That is a gift.”
“I want them to see themselves as ministers because we share in that," continued S. Carol. She loves meeting new people who offer to help. “Anyone who has a gift, I say, ‘Yes, I can use you.’”
This past year was Sister Carol’s jubilee, celebrating 60 years as a Sister of St. Dominic of Amityville on Long Island. “I have been blessed so many times in ministry, it’s hard to count the blessings,” she said. “It’s been a joy connecting with God’s people: building faith and community.”
For the last two years, S. Carol has served as the director of St. Rose of Lima Outreach, and before that she served for 12 years at the Holy Family Parish Outreach in Hicksville. She was blessed to be the Associate Chaplain at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville for 22 years.
“She is such an amazing person,” Frank Lauria said. “When I see her, I give her a kiss on the cheek and tell her I love her. What she is doing is what (church) is supposed to be about. She is my mentor.”