THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, September 4, 2020 Page 11 Reflections from the Director Bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary A s Bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary, 19802020, I’ve been thinking about how my own story intertwines with that of BOL. I took a job at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution fresh out of college, determined to make a career in opera while working as a research technician. A few years later, as I was about to move to the Boston area to be closer to the musical action, I attended a presentation at my church by a woman who was about to become the Minister of Missions at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Malden. Part of her work would be to oversee a new ministry the church had begun to the hungry and homeless. I knew UNITED 2035 | from page 10 year, Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he considered the completion of the town Master Plan as one of his top two priorities because of its potential influence on so many other town projects. “So many decisions hinge on the results, including the repurposing of the soon-to-be-vacant schools, a potential west side fire station instantly that I wanted to be part of that church and I soon was on the Missions Committee. Meanwhile, I realized that my work in the lab was not using my gifts and passions. I started praying about what work God might be leading me to do. I was drawn to the idea of working oversees in a refugee camp, but it became clear to me that I was too young and inexperienced to have much to offer people in that desperate situation. I needed to stay put and learn a few things. I started volunteering and doing some sub work at the Pine Street Inn in Boston. Then, in 1988 Tri-City Community Action Program created the posias well as the potential need to once again rezone portions of Route 1 and other areas to reduce the amount of new residential development applications and attract/encourage commercial and office building developments that put less of a strain on public safety and our schools,” he said. Key Master Plan participants tion of Homeless Advocate to work at the St. Paul’s evening meal, the ministry that eventually became Bread of Life. It seemed too good to be true. It was the exact fit for a saying of Jesus that tugged at my conscience: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Matthew 25:35. I applied for the job and was interviewed by Tri-CAP staff and by Tom Feagley, the ministry director. Amazingly, they hired me! To this day, I see that call to be the greatest miraculous intervention of God in my life. I became a fellow pilgrim with Tom and many, many other loving people with hearts The Saugus United 2035 Advisory Committee includes the following town officials: • Scott Crabtree, Town Manager • Chris Reilly, Director of Planning and Economic Development • Alexander Mello, Senior Planner • Jeanette Meredith, PlanUNITED 2035 | SEE PAGE 13 broken by what breaks God’s heart: poverty, hunger, homelessness, injustice, violence, neglect, loneliness. As we work to build our Under One Roof multi-purpose facility to serve more neighbors well into the future, I’m forever grateful to do this work feeding, advocating, coming alongside, and loving people just like me who are going through hard and lonely places in their lives. And I’m forever grateful for fellow pilgrims like you on the journey. May God bless Bread of Life with another 40 years and beyond! And may God bless each of you. Gabriella Snyder Stelmack Executive Director Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com
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