Newsletter: January 2026
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
The poet T.S. Eliot observed, “To make an end is to make a beginning.”
That’s true every January 1st, when we wake up to the light of a new year after saying farewell to the old. It’s also the pattern for life itself: growing, changing, leaving behind what we knew to embrace the potential of what lies before us. This might fill us with a range of emotions, from excitement to trepidation. We might even feel a sense of loss for what was. That’s only natural. What keeps us going is clinging to hope, trusting that God is with us every step of the way.
Here at the Joseph House, our trust was put to the test last September when Dave Heininger, the director of our Crisis Center, passed away unexpectedly. Thankfully, and not surprisingly, grace prevailed, and we are beginning this year knowing very deeply that our Lord loves our mission and the work we do. Mike Gilchrist, Dave’s handpicked successor, was able to take over in a seamless transition.
We are so grateful that the Joseph House is in good hands. From the service of Mike and all of our volunteers and staff to your prayers and support, we each do our part to assist those in need. Our doors are open to everyone — mothers, fathers, children, the elderly, sick, disabled, homeless, unemployed — and with your help we do everything we can for them.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were busy as usual. We’ll have a rundown of what happened, along with some year-end figures, next month. For now, here are the stories of some recent visitors:
Freddie, 58, is struggling to get by on his disability income. Both his memory and speech are impaired, making him feel isolated and alone. To his great relief, the Joseph House was able to pay his past-due electric bill in full.
Jayden, 39, was used to working hard to support himself. That came to an end when a diabetic infection spread to a bone in his foot, resulting in an amputation. Jayden is unable to work at his former job. He came to our Crisis Center because he had no income and no money. Despite his situation, Jayden has a very pleasant demeanor. The challenge of finding a new way to live is not getting him down. We made a payment toward his rent so he would not lose his housing.
Martha, 74, was feeling overwhelmed. She has a limited income, and her loan consolidation payments are taking half of that away each month. Martha also has health problems that will require surgery, and she is receiving therapy for depression. Her main concern, however, was paying for her medical alert button. She is prone to dizzy spells and falling, and in the past she had an incident where she was on the floor all day before someone found her. Her medical alert button is a true lifeline, but Martha was more than $400 behind in her monthly payments. The Joseph House paid the bill so the service would not be canceled.
Christina, 75, lives alone in an apartment that was overrun with insects. It was a very distressing experience. The bill from the exterminator was more than $1,000. Christina paid the bill from her Social Security, but she was left with little for her rent. The Joseph House paid the sizable balance that was due.
Geoffrey, 59, is a very humble man. He and his wife live in a trailer along a dirt road, surrounded by corn fields. His wife has cancer, and Geoffrey is doing his best to care for her. His meager income barely covers the rent. The Joseph House paid his electric bill to prevent a cut-off.
We have faith in God, and God has such faith in us! He knows what we are capable of doing through the power of love. Thank you for your fidelity to the Joseph House. Let us pray for each other as we begin another year together. May 2026 bring the joy of peace to everyone.
Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
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As we begin a new year, here is a thought from Pope Leo:
“In the greatest challenges—from terrorism in Peru to unexpected missions I was called to—I have always entrusted myself to God. And this is the message I share with everyone: to trust in God and allow Him to lead.”