The first thing to know about Pat Senia is that her life is centered on the Mass. The 75-year-old retiree drives to Mass every weekday morning at 6:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria before beginning her nine-hour volunteer shift at Mother of Light Center. That’s where she helps some of the poorest residents of Alexandria. “I go to Mass every day and receive the Eucharist,” she said. “That’s what keeps me strong,”
After a 25-year teaching career at Blessed Sacrament School, Senia knew she would have to be active in retirement. In the summer of 2021, she noticed an ad in the church bulletin for volunteers at Mother of Light Center and she found her calling – she works Monday through Friday, organizing daily food pickups. “When I first started working here, I was so amazed because the people are so desperate, and they thank you like 20 times,” she said. “They’re so appreciative of us giving them a bag of food.”
Senia is the “heart” of the Mother of Light Center and consistently goes above and beyond what is expected of most volunteers, according to fellow volunteer Shirley McClafferty. “The work is not easy, not glamorous and is never finished,” said McClafferty. “It requires heavy lifting and constant movement. Providing food for an average of 100 families a day results in aching muscles and weary bones. Volunteers come and go. Pat stays.”
The work includes stocking shelves of food delivered by National Capital Food Bank, emptying boxes and crates, and filling an endless stream of delivery bags with fresh produce, dairy products, bread, and canned goods.
Senia gives credit to the Blessed Mother for all the good work. “The volunteers are strong in their prayers to the Blessed Virgin,” she said. “We are called Mother of Light. We have a tabernacle, we pray the Angelus at noon, and pray the rosary with a priest every first Monday of the month.”
Few know that Senia struggles with diabetes. She began having vision problems toward the end of her teaching career and knew she could no longer help children on a computer. Spending time in retirement looking at a screen was not an option. She had to be active, just as she was in the classroom. “Everybody here is the same. We all work off each other,” she said. “I feel like I’m doing God’s calling. He’s the one who said we need to help the people so we feel like we’re doing what Jesus wants us to do.”
“She lives the Beatitudes — feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, comforting the weary, encouraging the hopeless,” said McClafferty. “Her energy never wanes. Her smile never fades”
Senia’s witness of service to others doesn’t strike her as anything special. She is simply living out her faith in Alexandria, the place where she has lived since age 6, married and raised her children. She confesses that much of what drives her is simple compassion, seeing people every day who are struggling to feed and clothe their families. Now Ukrainian and Russian refugees are coming to the center for help. “As you see these people come up — they need food and clothing, and it’s so sad,” she said. “We can help, whatever we can do.”
No matter who comes to the Mother of Light Center in need, Senia waits with open arms. “Mother Teresa said we should do all things with great love,” said McClafferty. “Pat Senia has taken that message to heart.”
