When several members of St. Anne Parish in Hampstead, N.H., lost their jobs earlier this year, they approached the pastor and deacon looking for answers. The clergyman came up with a solution — start a workshop for the unemployed.
"It's important for our church to be involved in the community, and this is the best way," said William Mullen, the deacon at the church.
St. Anne Parish is one of several Catholic, Protestant and Jewish congregations in Greater Lawrence, Haverhill and Southern New Hampshire that is now hosting meetings to help the unemployed deal with the economic, emotional and spiritual dimensions of not having a job.
"It makes me feel sad that there are so many people out of work who usually have been in a company for a long time," Mullen said. "I also feel hopeful, because in the meetings, those who have been there for a while give encouragement to the newcomers, and that's what is all about."
St. Anne Parish teamed up with the Parish Social Ministry of Catholic Charities and has held a monthly employment workshop since May. The group started with 10 people and has grown to 16, coming from Windham, Derry, Atkinson and Hampstead, N.H.
Mullen said people who lose their job feel a sense of sadness, disconnection from their former coworkers, as well as anger, frustration and blame.
"That's why we have counselors to talk about the emotions people go through," he said. "We want them to maintain a positive outlook as they network and look for jobs. We want to show them what their strengths are so they can move beyond their anger and frustration."
While some religious institutions like St. Anne Parish and Temple Emmanuel in Andover host workshops, others like St. Michael Parish and North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in North Andover post job openings.
At South Church in Andover, people seeking jobs have been meeting monthly for the past eight years.
Facilitator Mike Massey said the group has had its ebbs and flows, depending on the job market and the economy.
When the group first started, the dot-com companies were going bust, and Lucent Technology, one of the area's largest employers, was laying people off. Back then, 30 to 40 people met every two weeks, but as the economy improved, they met once a month, and later, once a quarter.
Massey said the group began meeting monthly again three or four months ago.
"That is a sign of the economy and more people being unemployed," he said.
Mullen said religious organizations have gotten involved "because typically a religious leader sees a need and people need grief counseling because they lost their job."
In addition to the financial insecurities, the unemployed deal with depression, lack of self esteem, shock, anxiety, fear and despair.
"Today, jobs are scarce and tons of people are out of work, and to meet and hear from others who are in similar situations helps them trade ideas on how to survive in this economy and tips on what works," Massey said.
HELP FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 190 Academy Road, North Andover: The Rev. Lee Bluemel collects information on job openings and then forwards the information to those who have lost their jobs.
St. Anne Parish, 26 Emerson Ave., Hampstead, N.H.: Employment support group meets twice a month on Mondays, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Employment professionals will share networking ideas, resume critiques, interview tips, mock interviews and job search strategies.
St. Michael Parish, 196 Main St., North Andover: The parish posts job openings on its Web site, saint-michael.org. People who need help with updating a resume or interview techniques can contact the pastoral center at 978-686-4050.
South Church, 40 Central St., Andover: Employment seekers group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m., featuring speakers, networking and an online database to help in finding a job.
Temple Emmanuel, 7 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover: Professional networking meeting every Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m.
West Congregational Church, Broadway, Haverhill: A free employment seminar for people who are unemployed, underemployed or in a career transition is scheduled for July 21, from 9 a.m. to noon.
