Newsletter: May 2026
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
May has arrived, the fullness of springtime, and appropriately enough during this season of new life we celebrate Mother’s Day.
This has always been an important day in our convent because we support motherhood in our work at the Joseph House. We also remember with love our own mothers and the mother of our community, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling. And of course, we honor in a special way our mother in faith, Mary, the mother of Jesus.
We learn so much from our mothers, and this is no less true regarding our Blessed Mother. We learn from her how much God loves us and how much we can do for others. In saying “yes” to the angel Gabriel, thereby consenting to being the mother of Christ (Lk 1:38), she opened the door to God’s love for everyone.
She also gave an example of humble and loving service when she went to help her relative Elizabeth, pregnant in her advanced years (Lk 1:39-56). Then at the wedding at Cana, she showed the power and necessity of interceding for others when she said to her Son, “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3).
Luke gives us a clue about Mary’s inner life when he mentions—twice actually—that Mary treasured her experiences and reflected on them in her heart (Lk 2:19; 2:51). She didn’t skim along the surface, she looked deeper and saw meaning in the events of everyday life. She knew that life is not random and that, going back to Genesis, God made everything with intelligence, purpose and care. What’s interesting is that the original Greek word used in these two verses, sumbállousa, means “piecing together.” Mary was humble enough to know that she didn’t always see the big picture, that she needed to “piece together” what had happened. Even if it took a while to understand, she placed her trust in God.
As we see in Mary, one doesn’t have to live in a monastery to be a contemplative person. In fact, it’s the human way to live. Interior peace and stillness is the fertile earth from which fruitful activity emerges.
Emulating Mary helps us approach life more gently. With her guidance, we do our best to make sure every interaction at the Joseph House has a certain touch that is uplifting and healing. After all, Sr. Mary Elizabeth said it’s not just what we do, but how we do it that’s important. Our work needs the right spirit, and Mary helps us to keep it.
We are very grateful for your generous support of our ministry. Every gift makes a difference to someone. Angela, for instance, desperately needed help. Her strength as a mother is being tested to the limit. She is 56 and grieving the loss of her son. Her other child, a daughter, has a brain tumor and requires treatment in a hospital out of town. Angela is home schooling her.
Life has been hard for this family for a while. They were homeless for months until a local church helped Angela pay the move-in costs for an apartment. Angela herself has health problems, and her only income is less than $900 a month in Social Security. It’s impossible for her to pay all of her bills. She came to our Crisis Center a few days before the electricity was going to be shut off in her apartment. We promptly paid the full amount that was due.
Judith, 66, wonders how much more she can take. She’s had back surgery and both hips replaced. Most recently, she fell and fractured her knee. Tremendous strength of will is needed just to get through the day.
Judith needs to find a new place to live. Not only is her bedroom on the second floor of her rental home, but her landlord notified her the rent will be increasing by 44%! Her most immediate need, however, was paying her electric bill. Her search for help was coming up short, but then she came to the Joseph House. We were able to pay a substantial amount toward what was due.
Stefanie, 63, has taken over the house that once belonged to her mother and is trying to make it a home. Her brother was living there without any electricity or running water. Now that Stefanie is in charge, she is determined to make it habitable. She has a low-paying seasonal cleaning job and really has no other options for housing. She managed to get the electricity back on, but the house still needs a lot of work. The Joseph House paid for a new water heater.
Margaret is 77. Despite having difficulty moving around, she works part-time at a daycare facility to supplement her Social Security. The bitterly cold weather from this past winter emptied the propane tank of her home’s furnace. The Joseph House paid to get it refilled.
Alisha, 43, is struggling with mental health issues. Some time ago, she was feeling anxious and had a panic attack. She lost control of herself and set a fire that resulted in property damage. After being arrested, Alisha served time on probation. The judge told her he will expunge her arrest record if she stays out of trouble. In the meantime, although Alisha is trying to provide for her three children, her record is preventing her from getting a decent job. The Joseph House made a payment toward her past-due electric bill.
Henry, 38, is working hard to provide for his family, which includes his wife, his mother and father, three brothers and a sister. His father is eager to help and is trying to get a cleaning business off the ground. One of his brothers found a job and so did his wife, but her hours are sporadic. His two other brothers have health limitations, and his mother has also been ill. Henry paid her hospital bills with credit cards. We were able to assist with the electric bill. This family is being challenged, but we see a hopeful future for them because they are pulling together.
At the foot of the Cross, Mary gave another invaluable lesson: not to abandon people in their time of need, even if we feel helpless to do anything (Jn 19:25). Being there for others is so important and means so much.
For more than 60 years, the Joseph House has been available to help the poor, no matter what their needs are. We are here because of people like you, people of goodwill and compassion who choose to share their blessings with those less fortunate. Our gratitude is deep and never-ending. We pray for you, and we offer special prayers for all mothers everywhere. May the loving kindness of God embrace you!
Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
Prayer Requests: Send us your special intentions and the Little Sisters will pray for you: Contact Form.
Donations: Your contribution will help people in need: Donate.
During a retreat in 1898, St. Charles de Foucauld reflected on what Jesus might say to him about the Feast of the Visitation, which commemorates when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-56). Both women were expecting, Mary with Jesus and Elizabeth with John the Baptist. Charles heard Jesus say to him:
“Everyone, work toward the sanctification of the world, work at it as my mother does; silently, without words, go establish your prayerful retreats in the midst of those who ignore Me. . . . And carry the Gospel with you, not by preaching it with your mouths, but by preaching it through your example, not by proclaiming it, but by living it. Sanctify the world, take me into the world . . . as Mary took me to John.”
The Feast of the Visitation is on May 31. Charles found special meaning in this Gospel story, and the image above is from a drawing he made. We too can bring the silent presence of Jesus to each person we meet.
The first Joseph House was dedicated in Baltimore on May 1, 1966, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker!
For 60 years, St. Joseph has been our provider and protector, safeguarding through his intercession our ministry to the poor. A beautiful symbol of his patronage was recently installed at our Crisis Center. We will have photos and more information coming soon.