Newsletter: July 2023
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
Our actions bring to life our beliefs, values, commitments, and convictions. If our actions were the pages of a book, what would the story tell?
Reflecting on the life of Sr. Clare, her book would tell a story of sacrifice in order to care for others, of being generous with her time and gifts, and of persevering in faith even in the face of suffering. It’s a story we won’t forget.
Day by day, moment by moment, what we do adds another line to the book being written with our name on the cover. Unique and personal, it belongs to us and no one else.
At the same time, however, we’re also helping to write the stories of other people. Our love and kindness, for example, can help someone feeling trapped in a sad situation find hope and “turn the page,” so to speak. By the same token, our indifference can lead to a far different ending for that person.
A large part of the work that we and our volunteers do at the Joseph House involves listening to people tell their story. Because of your support—the expression of your beliefs and values—we can help many people start a new chapter on a positive note. Here are some of their stories:
Stacie, 29, has three children. Her previous home was infested with rodents, and it got so bad she moved out with her kids and endured the trials of being homeless. Her temporary shelter options were running out after a month, but she had been able to collect and save $1,000. With our contribution of $300, Stacie had enough to move her family into a new place.
Pearl, 50, is recovering from a stroke. She is receiving a monthly disability check for $840, but her rent is $760. Pearl is determined to get well enough to go back to work. In the meantime, she had no money to pay her gas bill. We paid $300 toward the balance due.
Ashanti, 34, works at a nursing home and has two young children. She strained her back and was unable to work for a few weeks. Living paycheck-to-paycheck, that’s all it took for the water to be turned off in her home. We paid $305 to get the water back on.
Last year, Nancy, 70, moved in with her mother to help care for her. She also assumed custody of a young family member. Unfortunately, her mother’s house had a terrible problem with bed bugs. A previous attempt at fumigation was unsuccessful. The estimate for a heat treatment from a professional exterminator was $1,700, which Nancy could not afford. We called the company and offered a down payment of $400. That was enough to get the treatment done.
Edna, 64, has a broken gas furnace in her home. She had to use electric space heaters this past winter, and that resulted in very high electric bills. After falling behind in paying them, Edna received a disconnect notice. We sent in a payment of $316.
Andrea is 69 and has many health problems. She was sleeping on a mattress that was so old she would sink in and not be able to get out of bed by herself. We bought a new one for her for $292.
After two years of being homeless and having no fixed address, Lori, 33, is on the verge of providing a stable life for her three children. She has found a steady housekeeping job at a nursing home and has managed to save $900. Her children were staying with a family member who wanted them to leave. Lori didn’t have enough money to move into an apartment, so we contributed $350.
Alfredo, 64, is disabled. His tank of heating oil was almost empty. He could afford $200 worth of oil, but that was below the minimum required for delivery. We added $300.
Thank you for the many ways in which you assist us in serving the needy in our community. We share your belief that no one should go hungry or suffer from homelessness or any deprivation that takes away human dignity. Your generosity is a great blessing for the most vulnerable among us. With our gratitude and prayers,
Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
Please send us your special intentions so we can pray for your needs: Contact Form.
The Joseph House depends on people like you. We truly appreciate every donation: Donate.
“Each sister has the capacity to do something special for God. We help them develop those capacities, but we never hide our faults. We know we are all broken people healing other broken people through God’s love. There’s no make-believe in our life. That in itself brings us peace.”
These words of our founder, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, reveal the understanding of ministry she imparted to our community. We are servants to one another, equal in our need for healing. We claim no honor other than that God in His great mercy chose us in our unworthiness to be vessels of His love. It sounds like a paradox, but our inner poverty is our great treasure. When we lose humility we lose everything.
July 7 was the 49th anniversary of the foundation of the Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary. For almost half a century, stewardship of the Joseph House has been entrusted to our community, and we can only marvel at all the good things God has done.
To be a witness to God’s goodness and provident care was what Sr. Mary Elizabeth desired most of all for our community. She wished that our service to people in need, whether those needs are material, social, or spiritual, always be an affirmation that each person has value and is worthy of being loved. To support our work, she gave us a beautiful way of life, one that is simple and joyous, rooted in prayer and sacrament, and graced with the sanctity of “littleness.”
Every day we ask God to send vocations to our community. Will you ask God too?