By Becky Igo
ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS — It is such a simple request: To be taken to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to pray.
But for some Sisters of Providence residing in health care, that simple request was a little more complex, as entry to the chapel is attained either via a flight of stairs or an elevator.
Some prayers were answered when Jim Holmes arrived on the scene.
The desire to help others and the peaceful surroundings of St. Mary-of-the-Woods are what drew Holmes to volunteer with the Sisters of Providence.
Holmes had been to St. Mary-of-the-Woods many times for various jobs related to his work. “I’ve worked out there on roofs,” said Holmes, who is associated with Coldwell-Banker Troy Helman Realtors, a Terre Haute real estate company, and is a maintenance employee for Tremco, based in Cleveland.
“I just really enjoy being out there,” Holmes said, referring to the grounds where the Sisters of Providence are located. “I always talked about volunteering out there and doing something. I thought, ‘I’m gonna do it.’”
But time passed and he never seemed to make the connection. That scenario changed when Holmes crossed paths with Sister Rita Lechner. It was Lechner who called Sister Becky Keller, Volunteer Services coordinator at the Sisters of Providence, to tell her of Holmes’ interest in volunteering. “I’m glad she did,” the Terre Haute native said.
Holmes’ participation in the Volunteer Services program matched perfectly with the time he had to devote to volunteering. The first Friday of each month, you’ll find Holmes at health care where he transports about six or seven sisters, who are in wheelchairs, to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for prayer.
Keller spoke highly of Holmes and his volunteer efforts. “He’s not doing this for himself,” she said. “Jim’s volunteering means so much to us and our sisters.”
What each of the volunteers do is very meaningful to those with whom they come into contact, Keller said. In fact, one of the sisters transported by Holmes to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel told Keller just how grateful she was.
“She was waiting in the hallway and said that her being able to visit the Blessed Sacrament Chapel had been her heart’s desire for so long and she couldn’t do it on her own,” Keller recalled.
Keller stressed that all of the volunteers at Sisters of Providence are indeed a blessing. “Each volunteer adds something special to the Sisters of Providence,” she said.
Holmes said he not only enjoys his association with the sisters, but with Keller and Diane Thompson, activities coordinator for health care, as well.
Still, there is just something about being with the sisters that is extra special to Holmes.
“When I take the sisters (to the chapel), I stay with them and sit with them while they pray. I get a lot out of it just by being there,” he says. “We stay there for about an hour. I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to be there with them … .”
Many times, after Holmes has taken the sisters to pray in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, he may end up at another part of the Woods or at the Church of the Immaculate Conception for some quiet contemplation. “I’ll sit in the church and there’s nobody there and it’s quiet. And sometimes I’ll go to The Gift Shop,” he said.
Holmes said when he first met with Keller to discuss what volunteer opportunities were available, he had no idea where he would end up. “I figured I’d probably do maintenance work or yard work,” he reasoned. But as Holmes and Keller talked about the needs of sisters in health care, that became his call to service.
Holmes, with his wife Chris, also does service in connection with their church. Their family includes “four great kids,” he said, naming Mike, 26, of Terre Haute; Laura, 24, of Franklin; and Tim, 22, and Katie, 19, both of Terre Haute.
Holmes knows the sisters in health care are “really grateful” for their moments of prayer in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
He is grateful, too.
“This is a spiritual thing,” Holmes said. “I get much more out of it than I give. I look forward to that first Friday.”
