Faith, Hope & Jam: A Conversation With Barry Shay
By Amy Gale Maloney
April 29, 2025
When faith and community come together, transformation follows. In this special Chat with Chad conversation, Executive Director Chad Lanners sat down with Barry Shay — ministry leader at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, longtime CROSS Services supporter, and newest member of the CROSS board — to talk about faith, partnership, and the kind of hope that changes lives.
A Legacy of Service and Connection
Barry has been a Maple Grove resident since 1986 and a parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker for nearly four decades. His connection to CROSS spans years — first as a volunteer dad, later as a ministry leader, and now as a board member.
“CROSS has just always been part of the background of what we’ve done,” Barry said. “I volunteered with my boys when they were in Scouts, and now I get to work alongside our parish doing community outreach in a way that really makes a difference.”
That long-standing commitment led him to officially join the CROSS Services’ board in 2025.
“Since my role has been outreach and justice in the community, that’s where my interaction — and real love — for CROSS blossomed,” he shared.
A Partnership That Grows with Purpose
The relationship between CROSS Services and St. Joseph the Worker has been decades in the making — and it’s never been stronger.
“It’s a relationship that’s growing and thriving,” Barry said. “During the pandemic, we leaned on the expertise of CROSS Services. It wasn’t just about goods and services — it was about having a partner who could help us figure out how to navigate a crisis and serve our people with real help.”
Barry spoke to the alignment of values, mission, and impact.
“The greatest resource we have isn’t money — it’s our parishioners,” he said. “And they love CROSS.”
More Than a Food Shelf — It’s a Movement of Building Hope
Barry listed at least 10 programs his parish engages in every year to support CROSS Services:
- Weekly food donations
- Birthday bags
- Coat and clothing drives
- School supply collections
- Giving Tree gifts
- Handmade fleece blankets
- Quilt donations
- Fundraisers like bake sales and book/puzzle sales
- Father Mike’s now-famous jam and jelly ministry
“That bin in our lobby? It fills up twice a week with food,” Barry said. “And our people know: when they give to CROSS, their donation is going to someone who will be treated with dignity. That matters.”
The partnership isn’t just logistical — it’s deeply personal.
“The folks who volunteer at CROSS — they don’t miss their week,” Barry said. “They’re living the mission of being a disciple of Christ.”
A Witness of Hope
When asked what message he’d like to share with others — especially donors and volunteers — Barry didn’t hesitate.
“People don’t always realize how much their ‘yes’ matters,” he said. “You’re not just a donor. You’re not just a volunteer. You are a witness of hope.”
“You show someone in crisis that they matter. You walk with them, you accompany them. And that hope? It multiplies. That’s how the Kingdom of God is built.”
He emphasized that what makes CROSS Services different is not just what it provides, but how it cares.
“People who come to CROSS aren’t just getting a box of food. Their story is heard. There’s a plan. There’s accompaniment. There’s dignity,” Barry explained. “That’s the Gospel. That’s loving your neighbor as yourself.”
An Invitation to Join the Mission
CROSS Services thrives because of partnerships like this one — rooted in community, compassion, and shared purpose. And Barry’s message for anyone considering getting involved is clear:
“Whatever your individual talents are, whatever you can give — that’s appreciated. That’s multiplied,” he said. “At CROSS, you matter here.”
