By Ellen Sprigg, Associate Director of the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program

“Humans are living sparks of God’s love, coming from God as daylight comes from the sun” written by St. Hildegard of Bingen in the 12th century. These words so profoundly reflect the compassionate care being provided at Hildegard House in Louisville, Ky, where the SCN Volunteer Program recently spent its time helping with the renovation of a newly acquired house, located across the ally from the current home.

Hildegard House provides compassionate care for individuals at the end of life, who have no home or loved ones to care for them. This includes the homeless, uninsured, and those that don’t have resources to pay for round-the-clock care. H.H., being the only comfort care home in Kentucky, is able to serve three individuals at a time to live out their last days, weeks, or months with dignity and peace of mind. The newly renovated house will double the number of beds and allow them to serve nearly 70 individuals per year.

The SCN volunteer mission team was honored to be asked to help such a beautiful ministry that gives so much love every single day. The volunteers worked tirelessly to hang drywall in the three-bedroom house, including a kitchen and bathroom. Each team member felt so fortunate to be a small part of the renovation process. All of us have experienced the loss of loved ones and it truly warms the heart to know that an agency exists to offer such loving, safe, comfortable and compassionate care to those in need and also to help lessen the fear of dying alone. “Living sparks” can be found in each person that walks through the doors of Hildegard House, all giving and receiving God’s infinite love.

To learn more about volunteering with the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program, serving domestically and abroad, visit Nazareth.org/volunteer. Also, to learn more about the work of Hildegard House visit their website at hildegardhouse.org.