Rev. Cathy Joy Arends

4/28/2019

REV. CATHY JOY ARENDS, RN
June 14, 1947 -  April 28, 2019
 
Cathy Joy Arends held a B.A. in Nursing Education, an M.A. in Religious Education, an M.A. in Counseling, and had four credit units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Cathy attended Southern Baptist Seminary, The MacFarland Institute, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She completed her year-long residency CPE program in the New Orleans area. She ministered at The Bridge House, The Adolescent Drop-In Center and East Jefferson General Hospital. Both Cathy and her counseling ministry, Paracletia, Inc., were members of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Association of Professional Chaplains, Baton Rouge, LA.
 
Rev. Arends was an accomplished speaker and was asked to speak at numerous engagements throughout Louisiana. Cathy Arends and Evie Martel, her friend and co-worker, served the poor and disenfranchised of Pierre Part, LA for many years.  They offered Bible School to unchurched children and lived in a tiny travel trailer during their time there.
 
Cathy was ordained as a full deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2018.  She served on staff as counselor and was in charge of off campus counseling ministries at Carpenter's Chapel UMC under Reverend Chris Blanchard.  Carpenter’s Chapel was Cathy’s first foray into ministry as a Deacon.
 
Cathy was instrumental in helping Rev. Dr. Trey Harris plant NewSong on Old Perkins Road, a United Methodist Faith Community in Prairieville, LA.  She was affectionately known as the "Donut Lady" at NewSong, because every Sunday, she positioned herself strategically near the donut holes so she could meet and greet everyone who came to worship. Cathy was the founder of the counseling ministry at NewSong.  Her influence included involving NewSong in the life of Paracletia, Inc, accepting all counseling referrals, and bringing many lost, hurting people to worship during her time on staff. She also served as a counselor to Journey Home, a residential recovery facility, and worked as a chaplain in the women's prisons in Ascension Parish. Through that ministry, Cathy helped place foster babies into loving homes where many were eventually adopted.
 
At her memorial service, friends and clients referred to Cathy as the most loving, Christ-like person they had ever met.