Thorold’s newest Reverend is getting settled into the community, and wants to bring a message of hope and gratitude as church services and ceremonies are slowly resuming.
Rev. Sara Katocz arrived in Thorold in September to begin her work at St Andrew’s Presbyterian, and despite mask mandates still being in place, she says she can feel the smiles all around.
“The people here are lovely, very sweet and kind. They prepared my residence with furniture, new paint, a fridge full of food and a flower basket at the door,” Katocz said.
“It was a wonderful welcome.”
Since getting settled in, Rev. Katocz has been busy connecting with the church community, learning names, faces and stories - not rarely over a plate of home-cooked food, including her mother’s vegetable stew.
“That one, in particular, seems to be a hit with people,” Katocz noted.
Katocz, born in Romania and raised in Hungary under communist oppression, came to Canada 13 years ago, where she began serving at a church in Nova Scotia before her calling led her to Thorold.
Apart from her sermons which are happening both in-person, as well as online, she has been connecting with several agencies doing social work in the area, including One Thorold and ToolBox Niagara.
Beginning a new service after almost two years of the pandemic has revealed that many people have been suffering a lot, Katocz said.
“But I would rather speak of hope and possibilities in my sermons. Of course, it is important to acknowledge the times we are living in, but we are looking for hope and possibilities,” she said.
“There is always something to be thankful for. To nurture that spirit of gratitude, for both small and big things. Life has become so fragile during this pandemic, so life, and breath, are a basis of Thanksgiving.”
Next on the agenda is preparing for mid-week meditations for Advent, as well as the recurring twice-weekly prayer groups and bible studies.
“We hope to reach out into the community in both spiritual and physical ways in the way that we can. We wish to be God’s hand and voice here.”
You can stay in touch with St Andrew’s Presbyterian through Facebook.
