Newsletter: March 2023
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
Last month we presented some thoughts on the Good Samaritan courtesy of Pope Benedict. We’d like to do a little more with help from Pope Francis this time, who wrote an excellent commentary on the parable in his encyclical, On Fraternity and Social Friendship. Francis takes a look at each of the characters in the story and invites us to do some soul searching. He is unwavering in his candor. For example:
One detail about the passers-by does stand out: they were religious, devoted to the worship of God: a priest and a Levite. This detail should not be overlooked. It shows that belief in God and the worship of God are not enough to ensure that we are actually living in a way pleasing to God. (74)
And again:
“Robbers” usually find secret allies in those who “pass by and look the other way.” There is a certain interplay between those who manipulate and cheat society, and those who, while claiming to be detached and impartial critics, live off that system and its benefits. (75)
These are just two of the passages that jumped off the page for us. One thing is certain: we are called to conversion every day of our lives.
It’s common to associate the Good Samaritan with Christ, but we can read the parable in another way and see Him as the injured man, waiting for someone to tend to His wounds. Maybe you know what that’s like, to be helpless and completely dependent on the kindness of others. Illness, infirmity, or unfortunate circumstances can bring anyone down at any time. A special wisdom comes from that experience, a wisdom that can be learned in no other way. Life is put into perspective. And you also understand, deep in your heart, how meaningful even the smallest acts of love can be.
Sometimes people feel the loss of their dignity when they suffer. They feel stripped because they’re not used to being vulnerable. But our love and care for them can be a mirror in which they see their worth. And Christ is our pledge that dignity can never be lost. He will always be found even when people are at their lowest.
With our volunteers, we stand ready to assist people at the Joseph House Crisis Center, whatever their needs may be. Here are a few recent visitors:
Katherine is 53 and runs a house-cleaning business with her daughter. After Katherine’s husband developed serious health problems, she had to stay home and care for him. They fell behind in all of their bills due to the loss of income. A minimum of $800 was needed to keep the electricity on in the trailer they call home. Katherine only had $500. The Joseph House supplied the remaining $300.
Maggie, 45, is the mother of four. A car accident injured her foot and she needed surgery. Maggie was unable to work and started to receive temporary state benefits of $620 monthly. Unable to pay the lot rent in the trailer park where they live, she and her family were in danger of being evicted. We paid $200 toward the amount due. Maggie was recently cleared by her doctor to return to work.
Violet, 89, was renting a room in a house until the landlord sold the property, forcing her to move. The new rent is $650 monthly and her Social Security is $880. Violet paid the security deposit on the new apartment but did not have nearly enough for the first month’s rent. The Joseph House paid $400 so she could move in before becoming homeless.
Sandra, 63, works as a housekeeper at a hotel. A bill of $800 for dentures meant she could not pay to get her propane tank filled for the winter. We sent a check for $250 to the gas company.
Gabrielle, 46, has three children. Even though she works full-time, she cannot pay all of her bills, and the water was turned off in her home. We paid $250 to help get it back on.
Winifred, 50, is raising her two grandchildren. She lost her job after her car broke down and she didn’t have the money to get it repaired. Winifred has been trying to earn some cash wherever she can, by babysitting and doing hair. Despite working hard all the time, she is struggling. She owed $,1800 in back rent but was able to pay $1,000. The Joseph House contributed $300 to satisfy the landlord and forestall an eviction.
Carlos, 70, and his wife were renting a house that caught on fire. With nowhere to go, they started living in a motel. Carlos started working at a pizza place to earn extra money, but after paying the weekly motel bill they never had enough to move into an apartment. We paid the bill for one week ($350) so Carlos could use the money he saved to get an apartment.
Tyler, 28, supports his wife and four children by driving a bread truck. He services the beach towns and his hours go down during the winter. Tyler fell behind in the rent, and to prevent an eviction we sent $350 to his landlord.
Pope Francis ends his discussion of the Good Samaritan with a call to action:
Each day offers us a new opportunity, a new possibility. We should not expect everything from those who govern us, for that would be childish. We have the space we need for co-responsibility in creating and putting into place new processes and changes. Let us take an active part in renewing and supporting our troubled societies. . . . Difficulties that seem overwhelming are opportunities for growth, not excuses for a glum resignation that can lead only to acquiescence. Yet let us not do this alone, as individuals. The Samaritan discovered an innkeeper who would care for the man; we too are called to unite as a family that is stronger than the sum of small individual members. (77,78)
Here, dear friends, is our justification for the Joseph House. Our founder Sr. Mary Elizabeth had a heart burning with love for the poor, but she knew she could only do so much by herself. She was unstoppable in drawing people together for the good of others. And now all these years later, you, reading this today, have been brought in by the net she first cast. Thank you for your continued support of our work. You have our deepest gratitude and our promise to pray for you.
Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
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