Parish in Steuben, Livingston logs successful outreach effort

Through extensive outreach efforts, Holy Family Catholic Community made 2025 a true Jubilee Year of Hope.

The yearlong theme of hope — as decreed by the late Pope Francis — was exemplified by many volunteers from Holy Family, which is located in northern Steuben and southern Livingston counties. Beginning last March, parish volunteers dedicated themselves to visiting individuals, couples and families who had not been seen at church in quite some time — some since the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, others going even further back in time.

An article in the Nov. 2, 2025, parish bulletin noted that volunteers contacted nearly 200 such parishioners — approximately half of them age 80 or older — and visited many of them. The visits were the focal point of “SENT Saturdays,” which would begin with Mass and prayer at St. Joseph Church in Wayland or St. Mary Church in Dansville. Evangelists then visited area residents, leaving each home with a gift bag of Catholic items and a letter in which Father John Gathenya invited them to return.

The bulletin article noted that many people have returned to church as a result of such Saturday visits during the Jubilee Year of Hope. In addition, a number of those who were visited — particularly homebound individuals — asked to have bulletins mailed to them; be held in prayer and/or anointed and receive Communion and pastoral visits from Father Gathenya or Deacon Paul Clement; and to complete the sacraments of initiation.