The Joseph House Newsletter

Soliciting donations from our Newsletter is our primary means of raising funds for the poor. Read it to learn more about the people we help, our volunteers, the Little Sisters, issues of justice that affect the poor, and the spiritual values that motivate our work.

Would you like to be on our mailing list? Send your name and address to the Little Sisters and we'll keep you updated. Please note: our mailing list is kept private and will not be sold, rented, or disclosed to any outside parties.

Recent Newsletters:     April 2010     March 2010     February 2010     January 2010

May 2010

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

In the garden of life, sometimes we want to be a flower but end up being the root.

Flowers get all the attention. They bask in the sunshine and get admired for their beauty. The root could not be lowlier. It goes unnoticed stuck in the ground. Humble and hidden, its work may not be glamorous, but it is life-giving.

Sr. Thea Bowman, who was a dynamic teacher and scholar, had a healthy outlook. She once remarked,

"I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light."

Many times all we can do are little things. And many times, no one seems to pay any attention to the good that we do and the sacrifices we make. But that's O.K. Jesus said that giving a cup of cold water to someone does not go unrewarded (Mark 9:41). Imagine that. . . . the Creator of the Universe takes note of every act of kindness we do, no matter how small. That's all the recognition we need.

What we do goes a long way in shaping our identity. When we can no longer do what we used to do, accepting our limitations can be difficult, even painful. The contours of a new life can be confusing; barriers appear in what were once open doors. Robert, a visitor to the Joseph House Crisis Center, is well aware of this predicament.

Born in Haiti 51 years ago, Robert came to our country, by himself, at the age of 10. He's been on his own ever since. With strength of will he never shied away from any kind of hard work. But his life changed in 2001 when he suffered a stroke. For a long time he could not walk and he lost the ability to speak.

Robert's characteristic determination was an asset to his recovery. He learned to walk again and even ride the bike he depends on for transportation (in fact, he feels more comfortable riding than walking). His speech is improving, although he is slow to express himself. This is very frustrating for him because it makes him feel isolated.

Since he cannot work, Robert lives off a monthly disability check ($675). This has been a big adjustment for him. "I feel like a failure," he confessed. In his eyes, he can't contribute to society anymore.

Robert pays $450 per month in rent. He needs to take several medications, and his monthly co-pay varies from $60 to $80. We helped him pay an overdue utility bill. Despite the heaviness of his heart, Robert's quiet courage remains intact.
 

 
For Juliette, the workload never ends. She is a 41-year-old mother of a young boy who is autistic and epileptic. Her son also has a sensory disorder that prevents him from reacting to pain. Juliette's husband left her while she was still pregnant.

Juliette and her son live in a small trailer. She lost her job and her unemployment benefits expired.

Juliette was distraught when she came to see us with her overdue electric bill. She had fallen behind in the payments of her budget plan, and now the full balance was required ($990). Juliette had managed to raise $350.

We asked Juliette about her son. Her tears stopped and she smiled. She can never rest because of his demanding needs, but love doesn't count the cost. Juliette said she looks for miracles every day. She is driven to do all she can to make her son's life as rich and full as possible. The devotion she revealed touched us deeply.

Juliette's church was willing to make a contribution to her electric bill. With $300 from the Joseph House, the power was not turned off in her home.

A Special Need:
We know a woman, Erika, who needs a reliable used car. Erika is the mother of two young children. They were being abused by their father, resulting in Erika filing for divorce and moving with the children into a long-term shelter.

Erika is doing the best she can, although we are concerned for her safety. She walks to where she needs to go (e.g., GED classes), and one time a car with three men started to follow her. They wanted Erika to get in their car, and when she refused, they got out and started to chase her. Fortunately, she was able to outrun them.

Erika is a lovely person. A car would help her out as she works to reestablish a home for her children. If you have a used car you wish to donate, please call us at 410-742-9590.

Your generosity is an answer to someone's prayer. Through your support, lives are changed for the better!

Don't just do something, stand there. Stand, sit, or just be. . . . our highest value doesn't come from what we do, but who we are: a beloved child of God. There's nothing we can do to deserve this gift.

As an earthly abode of unconditional love, a mother's heart has no rivals. We hope all mothers felt loved and honored on Mother's Day, and we continue to lift you high in prayer. May God's peace be with everyone.

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary

A few weeks ago, syndicated columnist George Weigel quoted Adam Meyerson, president of the Philanthropy Roundtable:

"Last year (2009), Americans gave $300 billion to charity. To put this into perspective, that is almost twice as much as we spent on consumer electronics equipment—equipment including cell phones, iPods, and DVD players. Americans gave three times as much to charity last year as we spent on gambling and ten times as much as we spent on professional sports.... [The United States is] the most charitable country in the world. There is no other country that comes close."

According to Meyerson, a reason for this generosity is that Americans "respect the freedom and the ability of individuals, and associations of individuals, to make a difference. Americans don't wait for government or the local nobleman to solve our problems; we find solutions ourselves."

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, the founder of the Joseph House, would have agreed with this assessment. She disliked bureaucratic red tape, she knew people were generous, and she understood the importance of enabling others to help their neighbor in need.

May 1 marked the 44th anniversary of the dedication of the Joseph House. Our mission continues because you choose to be a part of it. With grateful hearts we say, Thank You.

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April 2010

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection, they were very afraid. Who could this be? They couldn't believe their eyes.

Jesus reassured them by saying, "Look at My hands and My feet" (Luke 24:39).

The marks of His crucifixion are what Jesus offers to His frightened disciples. These wounds are the proof of His identity, and they are also the proof of His mercy and compassion. They are a silent witness to love that the glorified Body of our Lord will retain for all eternity. Do the disciples still doubt? Are they still afraid? "Touch Me and see," is what Jesus says.

Touch Me and see. The early mystics saw a parallel between the wounds of Christ and the Psalms that speak of finding safety in the clefts and crevices of the rock. Through the wounds of Christ we enter deeper into His life. They are the passageway to His Heart, and from them pour forth the treasures of the Passion.

Risen from the dead, our Lord is our tower of strength, His wounds our hiding place. In them we see the depth of His love: the world was created with a word, but its redemption cost much more.

Saint Paul makes a mysterious claim in his letter to the Colossians: "In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His Body, which is the church" (1:24). What could be lacking in the suffering Christ endured for us? There's really just one answer: our participation in it. By belonging to Christ, what we have belongs to Him, including the personal wounds we bear. Our suffering takes on a new meaning. The cross we carry becomes united to the Cross that gives life to the world.

Still, our crosses can grow heavy. The consequences of illness, disease, and disability bring many people to the Joseph House Crisis Center. Helping them cope with their burdens is an important part of our ministry.

There's a devastating link between poverty and impaired health. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that people living in poverty have a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses and more frequent and severe disease complications.

These correlations exist for several reasons. The poor face greater exposure to the risk factors associated with homelessness, substandard housing, and environmental pollutants. In addition, the cost of health care often results in fragmented care for the poor or none at all.
 

 
Our neighbors in distress call us to action:

Laura, 56, was in a great deal of pain when she came to the Joseph House. Problems with her lower teeth sent her initially to a community dental clinic. From there she was referred to an oral surgeon. Laura learned that a consultation and x-rays would cost $175. That was well beyond the reach of her fixed income. We paid the oral surgeon's fee, and Laura's subsequent treatment will be billed over time so she can handle the payments.

Gloria's husband, Fred, is disabled with back, liver, and kidney problems. They have a son who has complications from childhood diabetes. Fred's disability check is the family's only income. Their rent payment takes more than 60% of the amount. Out-of-pocket medical expenditures consume the bulk of the remainder. Very little is left to pay ordinary household bills. A disconnection notice from the electric company brought Gloria to the Joseph House. We paid $200 to keep the power on in her family's home.

Calvin, 62, has been diagnosed with hepatitis C and needs to have a liver biopsy. His condition is severe enough that he qualified for disability, although he is appealing the amount awarded. Calvin will receive treatment at a veteran's hospital in another city. He is concerned about his wife, who is also in poor health.

Before leaving for the hospital, Calvin wanted to be sure his wife had enough firewood for their wood stove (the only source of heat in their home). He couldn't afford to buy any. We spent $125 to purchase a good supply.

Leo, 82, lives by himself in a trailer. A partial heart blockage keeps his energy level low. Leo seemed very discouraged when he came to the Joseph House. He felt isolated and upset that he could no longer do the simple activities he once took for granted. His unpaid electric bill carried a warning of an impending termination of service. We mailed a payment of $80.

Bryan, 35, is residing in a halfway house for men recovering from addictions. He is beginning a new chapter after years of being an addict. Bryan's off to a good start: the structured life of his new environment has enabled him to find a job. A required $175 co-payment, however, threatened to cut short his time with the program. To keep his recovery out of jeopardy, we made the payment.
 

 
Our love for the poor is our love for God. Thank you for supporting our ministry. Your compassionate generosity improves the quality of life for many people.

Healthy living is a group effort. We need people to pick us up when we're down, to lend a hand when we falter, to look after us when we can't manage alone. We pray that the reform of health care in our nation will truly be for the good and benefit of all, especially the most vulnerable among us.

With our warmest wishes for a blessed and joyful Easter Season,

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary

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March 2010

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

A few weeks ago, we heard of a new word in the English language: snowmageddon.

No one had to explain its meaning to us. Like many other people, we've seen more snow this past winter than we've seen in a long time. It's always beautiful at first, especially in the evening in the twilight glow that lasts all night, and then in the morning under a brilliant blue sky. The streets are deserted, stillness reigns, and everything looks fresh and pure under a blanket of white.

Then the shoveling begins.

With our convent, Crisis Center, and Workshop, we had a lot to do: sidewalks, steps, driveways, and parking spaces needed to be cleared. And then we had to do it all again!

But God always helps us through, no matter what the situation is. A snowstorm is an exercise in letting go. We have to surrender our plans and independence. Watching the snow drifts grow higher and higher, we become keenly aware that we can't always do what we want.

Snow days are good for curling up with a book, but they also bring their share of worries. Do we have enough food? What if the power is shut off and we lose heat in the house? As the days drag on, we may start to feel trapped and helpless by circumstances beyond our control.

What we experience is sort of like the everyday struggles of people who live in poverty.

During the blizzards of 2010, the Crisis Center kept its normal operating hours. Even when road conditions were treacherous, people came seeking assistance. On some days, we had up to 10 new families sign up to receive food from our Pantry.

Weather does not discriminate. Many people were affected by the snow. We are grateful that we could help the poor because you, our faithful friends, put aside your own concerns to remember the needy:

Francis, 70, is a recent widow. Almost 80% of his income goes toward the rent. He came to us with an eviction notice ($50 was still due from the previous month). He also had a gas bill for $179 that he couldn't pay. Francis was very distraught and he cried as he talked about his wife. We paid both of his bills, praying that he will soon be accepted into subsidized housing.

Ernesto, 32, is married and has three sons and a baby daughter. They were all living in the grip of fear. Ernesto was home with his children one evening when three armed men broke in and fired their guns. A bullet hit Ernesto and another came within inches of his daughter. The thieves then stole what little they could from this poor family.

Ernesto has recovered from his bullet wound and is determined to keep his family safe. He found a new place for them to live, but still needed to pay a $90 bill from the electric company. A referral from another agency brought him to us. We paid the amount due just two days before the cutoff deadline.
 

 
Shannon, 34, has two daughters. She works as a nursing assistant and is taking classes at a community college (a grant is paying the tuition). After spending a long time on a waiting list, she finally had the opportunity to move into subsidized housing. A deposit was required, however, and Shannon was short $150. We paid it so she would not lose this chance to provide a better living situation for herself and her children.

Kristin, 21, has a son who was born prematurely. He has multiple medical issues. Kristin feels overwhelmed in caring for her child. She lost her job and is now looking for work at a hospital that has on-site day care. We paid $150 toward her electric bill.

Beverly, 60, supports herself as a line worker in a poultry plant. Her health is not good and she struggles with the physical demands of her job. She goes to the Village of Hope medical clinic for treatment. After being hospitalized for a while, she fell behind in her bills. We paid $250 to the electric company so the power would not be turned off in her home.

It is such a relief that we can count on you! Your ongoing support allows the Joseph House Crisis Center to provide food, shelter, and the necessities of life to those in need.

An article in the New York Times quoted a woman who has been out of work for two years: "There are no bad jobs now. Any job is a good job." Hard times continue for many. Public Assistance has been stripped down and new jobs are still scarce. The Joseph House is here to lift up the poorest of the poor. With loving service we help them face the challenges of tomorrow.

Three words give us hope as we leave this cold winter behind: spring will come. One day the snow will be a memory and we'll walk outside and feel the heat of the sun. God is good at breathing new life into what seems lifeless. That's His specialty. He renews the earth and He renews us, too!

On March 19, we celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph, our patron. Joseph the just man, the man of humility, devotion, and selfless labor, is close to our heart. May his prayers bring the blessings of God upon you and your loved ones.

With our deepest appreciation for your compassion,

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
 
 

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February 2010

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them what we call the Lord's Prayer or the Our Father. It is the perfect prayer. But there are many prayers in the pages of the Gospel, spoken by people from all walks of life and in a variety of circumstances. We can learn from them, too.

The best prayers don't waste any words. They are simple and brief and come from the heart:

I believe, help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. (Luke 23:42)

The people who voiced these prayers knew their poverty, whether spiritual or otherwise. They came to the end of the road, they reached their limits, and they were left wanting. There was only one recourse left.

When everything else drops away and self-reliance is gone, the Kingdom of Heaven is ours, as the Beatitude says.

That poverty leads to such a promise is easy to doubt. Becoming poor, losing money, a job, good health, respect, status, power, security. . . . how can Jesus say we are blessed when we feel like we're coming apart? If all we have is God alone then we begin to understand.
 

 
Knowing our poverty means knowing we are not complete by ourselves. It means being vulnerable. The poverty of material deprivation brings people to the Joseph House Crisis Center. We work hard to help them because we don't want to say, "Well, we have a warm house to live in and plenty of food, but you'll just have to do without for whatever reason."

And yet, many times the people we serve are familiar with the inner strength that comes from a hidden, mysterious source.

Tonya, 42, caught the attention of one of our volunteers. Something seemed to stand out with her, and our volunteer listened to her story. A former drug addict, Tonya has been clean and sober for one year. Finding a job is a daily struggle. She goes to an employment agency for day laborers every morning at 4:00 a.m. She never knows if there is work available. If there is, she may or may not be hired.

Living with this type of uncertainty is difficult, but Tonya doesn't let it get her down. She has found a room in a boarding house where the rent is $60 per week. A deposit of $135 is required before moving in. We paid the deposit because of Tonya's confidence: going forward one day at a time, entrusting her life to God's Providence.

Logan, 66, had a lung transplant six months ago. His rent is equal to 75% of his Social Security check. Besides utilities, he also has to make payment toward some medical loans.

Logan fell behind in his rent and was threatened with eviction. His landlord promised to lower the rent once Logan got caught up. We made a contribution to the amount due.

Tom, 46, was laid off from his truck driving job with a waste company. His wife works as a house cleaner and brings home about $800 per month. They have a two-year-old son. Tom and his wife needed help paying their monthly rent of $620. Social Services could only pay some of it. With our help, this family avoided being evicted.

Audrey, 56, is homeless. She stays with a friend when she can and uses a bicycle for transportation. A new job at a fast food restaurant gives Audrey the potential for a different life. We paid $150 to help her move into a boarding house.

Lorena, 27, works in a poultry plant and can usually pay her bills. She lost a week of work because of illness and then her hours at the plant were reduced. Living paycheck to paycheck, this double blow resulted in an eviction notice being tacked to her door. Lorena has three children. She told us she is trying to be a good mother. Social Services denied her assistance. We could only make a partial payment toward the back rent, but it was enough. Lorena was able to borrow the rest.

Cheryl, 59, is undergoing an upheaval in her life. She moved into a housing project to escape years of abuse from her husband. Living with constant mental anguish made it hard for her to keep a job. Now she is starting over. We paid Cheryl's electric bill ($175) to give her a hand on her new journey.
 

 
Three weeks out of jail, Marvin, 46, found a job at a poultry plant. He wanted to move into a halfway house that maintains a sober-living environment. Without a paycheck yet, Marvin could not afford the $125 deposit needed to move in. We paid it so he would not be homeless.

Your charitable support helps people who are less fortunate. We thank you and may God bless you.

"Even if it is not apparent to a superficial glance and many people do not acknowledge it, prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history." These words of the late John Paul II offer some hope as we try to fathom the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Prayer can change a situation because God listens to what we say. And we need to listen to God. In prayer, we share deeply in God's love and are led to show this love to our neighbors. The road ahead is long for the people of Haiti. Through our prayers and sacrifices we go with them.

A suffering world is crying out. May our compassion for others shine like a light in the darkness. Remaining united with you as always,

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary

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January 2010

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

It's not unusual to have a favorite food. Many people also have a favorite song or movie. Our founder, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, had a favorite virtue.

"I'm a justice person," she once told us. "I need justice. . . . If you fight for justice itself you will get all the other virtues."

Throughout her life, the sight of injustice impelled her to take action. She made working for justice essential to the mission of the Joseph House. It was set up to mirror the justice of God, the standard which every human society is measured against.

To continue her work, it's important for us to deepen our understanding of what this justice means. The following definition from Carmelite priest Fr. Aloysius Deeney is very helpful:

The justice that exists in the Bible is not the justice that you and I say, as Americans, when we say justice is going to be done. We mean justice as punishment. We mean justice as revenge. This is not at all evangelical. This is not at all scriptural. . . .

Justice is to look out for the poor. Justice is to make sure people eat. Justice is to make sure people are clothed. Justice is to make sure people have what they need to be human and live humanly. Justice is to forgive.

The prophet Amos said justice will flow like a river. It is the Lord's doing, and there is such joy when we turn our hearts to Him and place our gifts and talents at His disposal.

Your willingness to give has a tremendous positive impact on the poor. For example, we collected more than 20,930 pounds of food at Thanksgiving! A single canned good may not seem like much, but when people come together their offerings add up. Ten and a half tons of food will nourish many low-income families.

Our special thanks go to Bernie Greene and her family for their hard work in organizing their annual food drive. Several churches and organizations also gave generously. May God bless all of you.

An abundance of heartfelt giving occurs during the holiday season, but the poor need help year-round. During the past 12 months, we gave out 15,950 bags of groceries to needy families. Our Soup Kitchen served 21,150 hot meals. We responded to about 1,800 requests for Cash Assistance for emergency needs.
 

 
We are blessed that we can rely on our friends and supporters to remember the poor long after the Christmas decorations have been put away.

Health problems can affect anyone at anytime. Poverty will always increase the suffering. Brian, 47, came to us with a severe toothache. The pain was so bad he could barely move. Brian has been out of work for eight months. He lives with his relatives, but they are very poor themselves. He had no one else to ask for help. We called our pharmacy and made arrangements for Brian to receive some over-the-counter pain medication. We also paid for his examination at a dental clinic ($130 total).

Sharon, 45, had a stroke about a year ago. Her mobility and speech are greatly improved, but her memory is still impaired. She lost her job because of the stroke and remains unemployed. Sharon's husband works, but his income alone cannot pay all of their bills. They owe $1,270 to the electric company. We paid the minimum due ($130) to keep the power from being disconnected.

Lay-offs and low wages also make everyday living a struggle for the poor. Amanda, 32, is the mother of five children. She works at a fast food restaurant for $8.48 an hour. The number of hours she is scheduled to work varies from week to week.

The father of her children is not paying child support, although Amanda is pursuing her case through Social Services. In the meantime, she could not pay all of her rent and she received an eviction notice. We called her landlord, who agreed to accept $130 from us to give Amanda some more time.

Judy, 49, is raising her two grandsons. Her hours at a poultry plant were cut in half. She was short $105 in paying her rent. We supplied the missing funds to stop the eviction proceedings.
 

 
The heart of justice involves getting our relationships right. To "love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself" creates a natural harmony in which people flourish. When something's amiss, we see all the problems of the world, from hunger to war to loneliness. The healing and restoration of the ties that bind us can never come soon enough. But we're getting there.

Thank you for supporting our ministry. We pray for you and wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year.

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary

By the way, Sr. Mary Elizabeth was fond of coconut cake and she enjoyed the peaceful music of the pan flute. Her favorite movie was Saving Grace, which told the fictional story of a young Pope who wanders outside the Vatican and, going unrecognized, befriends the residents of a small village. Like Sister herself, this movie was full of heart and good humor.

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