Theresa Wilson finds joy and fulfillment in serving her parish community in myriad ways, from book drives to serving the poor
STERLING HEIGHTS — Every year, local charities and organizations across Macomb and Wayne County can rely on a steady stream of donations from St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights, whether it be socks, toys, blankets or books.
Although the entire parish community rallies to collect these items, few realize that a single woman often is the driving force behind each collection, fundraiser, and act of giving.
Since returning to the Church and becoming a parishioner more than 30 years ago, Theresa Wilson has quietly volunteered her time to both the parish and the surrounding community in an effort to give to others who have little.
“I don't like to be in the open — I like to be in the shadows,” Wilson told Detroit Catholic. “It’s just in my heart: I like helping people, and it is so sad to see people who have so little; you just want to help them.”
While Wilson was baptized into the Catholic faith, she said her family stopped attending Mass after she received her first confession.
“I was a post-Vatican II baby, so the catechesis wasn’t really there,” Wilson explained. “I would sometimes go to the church with friends, and finally, when I had my kids, I brought them to church. It all started from there: I felt a calling to be confirmed, at 33 years old, and then I became a third-order Franciscan 20 years ago.”
After Wilson came home to the Church, she began to help with the altar linens and eventually joined the decorating committee.
“Now I am the decorating committee,” Wilson laughed. “I have been doing the Advent giving tree for about 20 years, and by myself for about 10 years.”
Wilson’s outreach doesn’t end there. In addition to the giving tree, she organizes a yearly Lenten towel drive, collecting hundreds of towels and washcloths to donate to Warren’s Turning Point Shelter for women who are victims of abuse and the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST).
Each October, Wilson oversees the parish’s Mission of Mercy, which involves collecting thousands of brand-new books that go to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan in downtown Detroit and its pediatric oncology department.
In November, she collects socks to distribute to the homeless, and she also create quilts for local nursing homes, foster children, and young mothers, who receive layettes from the Council of Catholic Women as part of the group's pro-life outreach.
Wilson also used to oversee the funeral ministry at the parish, but stopped after COVID-19 when her family grew from one grandchild to eight. Now, she uses that time to babysit.
Wilson does all of this while carrying her own cross, suffering from painful fibromyalgia.
“I don’t work, but I have found that volunteering at church is good because I am not dedicated to any specific day or time — I can do things when I am feeling well and when I am not feeling well, I can take a step back,” Wilson explained.
However, Wilson said, much of what she does is possible because St. Rene is such an open, giving community.
“The people here are so generous,” Wilson said. “They are so helpful, and it is just a nice community, where everyone is so friendly, and we are getting more and more parishioners joining our parish, which is wonderful. It is a good, active parish, and we have a lot of older people, and still, they will show up in their walkers and their wheelchairs.”
Wilson encourages others who want to help in their community or parishes to begin by talking to their pastor or parish staff.
“If (you) are being called by the Holy Spirit, do it: Go to your parish office, talk to the staff, talk to the priest, talk to the youth minister, and say, ‘I feel this calling to help; is there anything I can do?’” Wilson said. “Something will come up — someone will need your help. If you feel that calling, then it is God calling you, and there is nothing better than volunteering and seeing people smile.”
Do you know a hero volunteer? Tell us!
This article is part of a series about the hero volunteers who keep our parishes running. If you know a super volunteer who should be featured in Detroit Catholic, please email story tips to [email protected].
