Holy Name Parish 2020 Micah Award Recipients
“There are no great things, only small things with great Love.” (Saint Mother Teresa)
Edie Ferrero and Alice Ford
“I enjoy servicing others. I believe I have a servant’s heart.” “I enjoy the patients, I don’t know what I ever do for them but I know what they do for me.” Edie Ferrero and Alice Ford, in their quiet, unassuming ways bring a “Servant’s” heart to everything they do in the service of others. Edie and Alice volunteer in the Eucharistic hospital ministry at Baystate. Edie for 19 years and Alice, at age 90, for 25 years! Last year the ministry gave Holy Communion to 19,734 patients! Their work is often overlooked without fanfare. They would tell you there’s nothing special about their service. After retiring they were blessed with more time on their hands. They put those hands into the service of others.
Edie grew up in an Italian family. When Edie’s parents, Esther and Julian got older, Edie took care of them. The family attended Holy Name Parish. Alice grew up in Holy Name attending Holy Name School. Two of Alice’s aunts: Agnes Conception, Mary Gerald were both Sisters of Saint Joseph and were teachers when Alice attended Holy Name school.
Volunteering for Loaves and Fishes, volunteering to schedule programs, volunteering as a receptionist, assisting at funerals and lectoring, each woman insists that God led them and they simply followed. Saint Mother Teresa once said: “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” Both women are the epitome of Mother Teresa’s quote because what each does comes from their heart.
You would find both women at the hospital each and every Sunday morning helping to prepare for Mass and daily reflection services. Edie and Alice, the “Dynamic-duo” at Holy Name Parish, have lived the Gospel message; to find great love in the smallest acts of kindness.