Sister Isaac sees and assists dozens of people in need daily
People at St. Mary Parish call her "the Mother Teresa of Wilmington."
That was a phrase the church used to describe Sister Mary Isaac Koenig's commitment to helping the poor as it nominated her for the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award this year at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
And on a recent Monday at her ministry, Tileston Social Outreach at St. Mary Catholic Church, it's easy to see how the church could compare her with the beatified Mother Teresa.
Sister Isaac, as she is called, makes sure each person she interviews keeps their dignity.
"Our whole desire is to help them feel good about themselves," she said, adding that she feels privileged to listen to the stories of the homeless or the working poor. She knows it takes a lot to ask a stranger for help. That's why - regardless of their need or situation - each person is called a guest.
On a recent Monday, each guest who entered her basement office at St. Mary got her full attention and cheery greeting, "How can I help you, dear?" - despite her own sniffles.
Mondays are Sister Isaac's busiest days, with her program usually reaching its capacity of 35 people by 10 a.m. She listened to their worries, from $500 water bills, a lost wallet and I.D., and a woman who needed money to buy kerosene in advance of a cold snap, and met each problem with an ingenuity that daily baffles the other volunteers in her office. (She knows the hours and phone numbers of many other social ministries in town by heart so she can tell a person immediately whether it's wiser, for instance, to go to the Department of Social Services or to the Salvation Army.)
"She's amazing," said C.J. Hoffman, a volunteer. "Where she gets her energy, I'll never know."
In 1985, Sister Isaac and a band of volunteers started St. Mary's Social Outreach program providing donated food, clothing and some bill assistance for the poor. In 1991, she started a medical clinic for the poor called Tileston Clinic. She helped start Hadden Hall Apartments, HUD-sponsored housing for low-income senior citizens, and began Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, now housed by Grace United Methodist Church. In 1991, she returned to Rhinebeck, N.Y., to serve as American Regional Superior for her order.
Then in 2003 she returned to St. Mary, and in the past two years began a diabetes food program providing fresh foods to 100 diabetics a month. Her social outreach program served more than 5,000 people this year.
Part caseworker
At times, Sister Isaac seems more caseworker than religious representative. (She's a member of the Sisters of St. Ursula.)
"She's not holy moly or pious or praising the Lord. She's very practical like that," said church member Paul Wilkes.
But she does offer spiritual counseling when a guest needs it. A man, just out of prison two weeks, came to her for money to get his birth certificate.
"I've stayed in trouble so much," he said, shaking his head.
"But you're going to get out of it now," the nun said. "Watch who you walk with. ... We blame a lot of stuff on the devil when it's poor choices and our friends. The biggest thing is what you do with it. You're free to choose."
Profound thanks
Her next guest, a Hispanic woman, entered with a Spanish-English dictionary and a slip of paper with her request.
"The dream of my sons is computadora. No have money for Christmas presents," the note said.
To the woman's surprise, Sister Isaac said, "I think we can help you with that," and went to look for a donated computer.
The woman beamed. She flipped through her dictionary feverishly looking for a word to express her joy.
She pointed to "profundo" and said "profundo gracias," meaning profound thanks.
Amanda Greene: 343-2365
amanda.greene@starnewsonline.com
That was a phrase the church used to describe Sister Mary Isaac Koenig's commitment to helping the poor as it nominated her for the Albert Schweitzer Honors Scholars Award this year at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
And on a recent Monday at her ministry, Tileston Social Outreach at St. Mary Catholic Church, it's easy to see how the church could compare her with the beatified Mother Teresa.
Sister Isaac, as she is called, makes sure each person she interviews keeps their dignity.
"Our whole desire is to help them feel good about themselves," she said, adding that she feels privileged to listen to the stories of the homeless or the working poor. She knows it takes a lot to ask a stranger for help. That's why - regardless of their need or situation - each person is called a guest.
On a recent Monday, each guest who entered her basement office at St. Mary got her full attention and cheery greeting, "How can I help you, dear?" - despite her own sniffles.
Mondays are Sister Isaac's busiest days, with her program usually reaching its capacity of 35 people by 10 a.m. She listened to their worries, from $500 water bills, a lost wallet and I.D., and a woman who needed money to buy kerosene in advance of a cold snap, and met each problem with an ingenuity that daily baffles the other volunteers in her office. (She knows the hours and phone numbers of many other social ministries in town by heart so she can tell a person immediately whether it's wiser, for instance, to go to the Department of Social Services or to the Salvation Army.)
"She's amazing," said C.J. Hoffman, a volunteer. "Where she gets her energy, I'll never know."
In 1985, Sister Isaac and a band of volunteers started St. Mary's Social Outreach program providing donated food, clothing and some bill assistance for the poor. In 1991, she started a medical clinic for the poor called Tileston Clinic. She helped start Hadden Hall Apartments, HUD-sponsored housing for low-income senior citizens, and began Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, now housed by Grace United Methodist Church. In 1991, she returned to Rhinebeck, N.Y., to serve as American Regional Superior for her order.
Then in 2003 she returned to St. Mary, and in the past two years began a diabetes food program providing fresh foods to 100 diabetics a month. Her social outreach program served more than 5,000 people this year.
Part caseworker
At times, Sister Isaac seems more caseworker than religious representative. (She's a member of the Sisters of St. Ursula.)
"She's not holy moly or pious or praising the Lord. She's very practical like that," said church member Paul Wilkes.
But she does offer spiritual counseling when a guest needs it. A man, just out of prison two weeks, came to her for money to get his birth certificate.
"I've stayed in trouble so much," he said, shaking his head.
"But you're going to get out of it now," the nun said. "Watch who you walk with. ... We blame a lot of stuff on the devil when it's poor choices and our friends. The biggest thing is what you do with it. You're free to choose."
Profound thanks
Her next guest, a Hispanic woman, entered with a Spanish-English dictionary and a slip of paper with her request.
"The dream of my sons is computadora. No have money for Christmas presents," the note said.
To the woman's surprise, Sister Isaac said, "I think we can help you with that," and went to look for a donated computer.
The woman beamed. She flipped through her dictionary feverishly looking for a word to express her joy.
She pointed to "profundo" and said "profundo gracias," meaning profound thanks.
Amanda Greene: 343-2365
amanda.greene@starnewsonline.com