Helping Center Storage Building Blessed in Ceremony

The effervescent MaryLynn Lufkin, director of Catholic Charities Helping Center in Sallisaw, speaks to the group at the Building Blessing of the organization’s new storage building. 

In January, word went out that Catholic Charities Helping Center in Sallisaw needed help. The center, which helps those in need with foods, clothing and other necessities, was out of room.

By the end of March, enough money was raised to build a 40-foot by 40-foot storage building, at an estimated cost of $20,000. Building materials and labor were donated or given at a reduced cost, and sufficient donations were received to not only build the storage building, but to add electricity, lighting, a concrete pad and sidewalk.

At a blessing ceremony Thursday for the new storage building, it was announced that a new $6,000 donation will be used to purchase walk-in refrigerators for the building.

An ecstatic MaryLynn Lufkin, center director, thanked all those present. 

She noted that the entire community, the churches and individuals, helped with the project. She noted the project was non-denominational.

“It was amazing how it took off,” Lufkin said. “I have thanked all the churches and individuals who donated.

“We are all the bodies of Christ,” Lufkin said.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa David Konderla conducted the blessing ceremony.

Assisting were Deacon Erick Bell, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa Emergency Services director; the Rev. Deacon Kevin Sartorius, Catholic Charities Tulsa executive director; Deacon David Hamel, Catholic Charities Tulsa program director; and Father Desmond Okpogba, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sallisaw.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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