Editors’ Note: Pilgrims of Healing and Hope is a new series launched to commemorate the centennial of the founding of CNEWA in 1926 as a papal initiative of healing and hope.
From time to time, this series will profile the men and women whose time, treasure, talent — and faith — have brought to life this unique effort of the Holy See. For generations, their generosity in support of the works of the Eastern churches has empowered each community of faith as they strive to follow the lesson of the Good Samaritan to “go and do likewise,” helping to bind the wounds of a broken world.
Marcella Smith is a self-described “suburban mom,” who volunteers with various religious orders and her parish, Sts. John and Paul in Larchmont, New York. Since the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she also has volunteered with Catholic Near East Welfare Association.
“It was mostly through the inspiration of Msgr. Peter,” she says, referring to Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, CNEWA president, who travels to her parish to celebrate Mass each Sunday. Ms. Smith describes him as an “incredible homilist” and remembers his sermon after the invasion.
Her initial project: an art show in someone’s home to raise funds and awareness about the role of art in culture, and what happens when one group of people tries to strip another group of that culture.
In the years since, Ms. Smith has worked to continue raising awareness about the work of CNEWA.
“It really is hard to get real information” about what is going on in many countries, because the 24-hour news cycle repeats the same news over and over, she says.
“What does it really look like for the rank-and-file person in these countries? … What does it mean to be someone living in those countries,” particularly someone who is Catholic?
She says people “are thirsty for information about what is going on,” and she sees that in her parish when Msgr. Peter preaches.
“I see the hunger of people — they want to talk to him after Mass, they want to ask him questions — they want to understand,” she says.
One way she began to educate herself was by watching the online versions of “Connections With Msgr. Peter.”
“He’s such a wonderful messenger. I think he’s extremely credible … he’s a very trusted figure,” she says.
Ms. Smith also recommends that people educate themselves about the lives of Catholics by reading ONE magazine.
“What is really going on the ground, with the people? And [what is] the impact on the faith?” she asks, and “how do we help our brothers and sisters?”
“I think CNEWA’s mission overlaps, for me, Pope Francis’ papacy, his love for the poor and the marginalized,” she says. She also was optimistic about Pope Leo’s first statement about peace.
“I think the organization fits so perfectly with both of those charges: to serve the poor and marginalized and also to be agents of peace.”