Military Family Photo Board and Prayer Request Ministry Supports Parish Service Members
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ith the recent evacuation and upheaval in Afghanistan, Robert Lapiska asks us to look at the world around us and earnestly keep our service members in our prayers. “They are in harm’s way far more than you even know,” Robert says. “We do not have conventional military threats anymore. Anything could happen, and they need our support.” Currently, Robert and his wife, Martha, maintain a ministry for the military families in our faith community that helps parishioners lift them up in our hearts and prayers. “We took it over from Sharon Castleberry who knew that Martha and I were ex-military,” Robert says. “We both served in the Air Force, and our last assignment was the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Now I’m the admission liaison officer for the Air Force in North Texas and work with junior and senior high school students.” As you walk into the main entrance to St. Vincent de Paul, on the left of the narthex hangs a picture board covered with images of our men and women in the military. The board is a visual reminder to us all of their service as we cross the threshold of our church. There is also a regular announcement in the parish bulletin reminding us of those who have grown up in our faith community and who are currently serving our country. “You can reach out to me or to the parish office with a photo to put on the board,” Robert says. “Usually people give a photo and the person’s name and rank. Sometimes people put the photos up directly on the board too.” Robert and Martha are involved in the faith community in many different ways. Robert serves on the Finance
Committee and is in the men’s club, and Martha is a member of the women’s guild. “I’m a 100-percent disabled veteran, and the military is part of our family,” Robert says. “My father served and so did his five brothers. Our son went to Afghanistan, Turkey, Germany, and Area 51 in the Air Force. This is part of our family.” “Take a moment and look at the board,” Robert says. “Think about if you have pictures to take down, like people who are no longer serving, or pictures to add.” When you have a moment, pray for the members of our faith community in the military. Maybe you lift them up in your prayers each week before Mass or in your intentions before praying the Rosary. They need our prayers.
For more info about the military family photo board and prayer request ministry, contact Robert Lapiska at 817-478-1312 or rlapiska@sbcglobal.net. 7
