CLEVELAND — While the numbers for St. Mary Hospitality House tell an impressive story — thousands of people have been served healthy meals once a week for more than 30 years by more than 200 volunteers — the faith of the woman behind the charity is rather more impressive.
Dorothy Papke, who founded the soup kitchen in 1989, recounted story after story about “miracles” that she experienced in her work in 30 years — incidents when God’s providence came through with supplies of food, clothing or other resources with perfect timing in times of dire need. They were all answers to prayer, she said.
“The power of God is unbelievable,” said the parishioner of St. Mary Parish in Cleveland, whose husband, Ken, had worked alongside her at the soup kitchen for years.
Papke began the soup kitchen as a response to a call she felt she received from God, and it was one that pestered her, she recalled.
“I couldn’t sleep at night until I said yes,” she said.
However, her “yes” to God would be tempered and tested for five years. Her children told her it would never happen and her pastor would put off the idea. Finally, her pastor gave her the green light to use the parish facilities and start the charity. She was 54.
“We chose Tuesdays, so it wouldn’t interfere with the fasting schedule,” she said.
The dream she had the night her pastor approved the soup kitchen — of Jesus running toward her and hugging her in the Garden of Gethsemane and the feeling of warmth that enveloped her — confirmed for her that she was doing God’s will.
Despite her confidence in God’s will, she wondered how the work would come together. For instance, she did not drive and would not be able to run errands for basic supplies.
“But God provided all these people to do these things, one-by-one,” she said.
Papke said she never thought the soup kitchen would last 30 years. She also never worried for herself during these decades of volunteer work.
“God provided for me,” she said.
Earlier this month, Dec. 17, Papke retired as the charity’s coordinator.
“My children wanted me to retire, and I thought it was a good idea, too,” she said. “It was a lot of work.”
Over the years, people have gone to her for advice about what they discern to be calls to service, too.
“My advice to them is always, ‘Trust in God and do it.’ This is what I told Pat Lesnick,” she said. Lesnick then began an apostolate at St. Joseph Parish in Brecksville in 1998 that provides food for the homeless in downtown Cleveland.
“It’s amazing what God does,” Papke said.
She intends to finish the financials for December and then hand everything over to Deacon Robert Cripps, who will succeed her as the coordinator. She and other volunteers showed Deacon Cripps how the soup kitchen operates for the first few weeks of December.
“It’s kind of hard. I have mixed feelings. But I’m ready to hand over the torch,” she said about leaving the work she nurtured for decades. “I prayed for someone to take over and God answered my prayer.”
No surprise there, given Papke’s track record. Yet, Papke said there is nothing unique in her story. God’s goodness and providence are available to whoever follows his call.
“It can happen to them, too,” she added, “if they really listen to God.”
Caption:
Dorothy Papke and her late husband, Ken, are pictured after having received the Forerunner Award in 2007. (Horizons file photo)
As published in Horizons, Dec. 29, 2019. Sign up for the digital newsletter.