Newsletter: November 2026
Dear Friends of Joseph House:
Once again the holiday season is upon us, a time of year that is grace-filled and often busy.
At our convent and Crisis Center, donations of canned goods, turkeys, toys, coats and other items arrive almost daily. They need to be sorted, transported, shelved and bagged. We’re also on the go with a never-ending list of errands to do. Somehow the shorter days seem to make the clock run faster. Before we know it, another day is done.
We can’t let the stress get the best of us. Dorothy Day, our faithful guide in loving the poor, explains why:
“If you want to help others, you cannot convey to others what you do not possess . . . I would be guilty of lack of gratitude if I did not show in my whole behavior the peace and happiness and joy which is in the foretaste of the well-being of heaven.” (The Duty of Delight, p. 265)
The material goods that we share with those in need are very important, but the human connection that accompanies every act of giving can never be disregarded. It is essential. Although the lines are long at the Crisis Center, what we give becomes a real blessing when we let time stand still with each person we encounter. A smile and a few kind words pass by in a moment. The hope and encouragement they impart, however, stay far longer.
Here’s how we cope with the busyness. There are no secrets, just tried-and-true methods. We spend time in quiet and prayer every day, we work together as a community with our volunteers, and, after much practice, we gracefully let go of what we cannot do. This is God’s work, not ours. He picks up the slack – effortlessly – and we are ever so grateful for that! What needs to get done will get done.
In the midst of our “holiday rush,” the regular crisis work of the Joseph House goes on as usual. People need housing, utilities, medicine and everything else required to raise human dignity and alleviate suffering. With your support, the Joseph House is here to be a beacon of hope.
Olivia, 61, went through a heart-wrenching situation. Her grandson, just a toddler, was in a car accident, and the little boy suffered a severe neck injury. He is alive only by the grace of God. After six weeks in the hospital, he was able to go home, but he required constant monitoring and care. To help the boy’s mother, her daughter, Olivia had to miss work. She could only make a partial payment toward the lot rent in the mobile home park where she lives. The Joseph House paid the remainder.
Before she left our Crisis Center, Olivia mentioned that several years ago her employer wanted to make a charitable donation. Olivia suggested the Joseph House. Now, all this time later, the Joseph House was able to help out Olivia. God works in mysterious ways.
Kathy, 38, has multiple health problems that are getting worse. Since she can only stand for a few minutes, she had to quit her job as a cashier at a convenience store. Other employment options are limited in the rural area where she lives with her son. After being denied state assistance, Kathy used up her savings. She was at the end of her rope when she came to the Joseph House. We paid the lot rent for her mobile home. Another organization is paying her electric bill, and Kathy will apply again for temporary state benefits.
Bruce, 42, is disabled. He is another resident of a rural mobile home park. He is always behind in his bills because his disability check does not cover everything. An unexpected car repair set him back several hundred dollars in his lot rent. This made Bruce very worried. We paid every dollar he owed.
Laquita, 34, lost her job when she took time off for maternity leave. She is very money-conscious and had enough saved to last a few months. A sense of panic started to grow when the search for a new job took longer than expected. Laquita did find work, but not before falling behind in the rent. With her first paycheck still a few weeks away, she asked for help at the Joseph House. We gave her a solid boost to get caught up.
Although Marjorie, 59, is still upset that her son suddenly moved out of her house, her inability to pay the rent is occupying her mind. We eased her burden with a healthy payment. She is looking for a second job to get by.
A Season for Sharing
Your donations give hope and joy to struggling families. We depend on your generosity. Thank you and may God bless you!
Thanksgiving Food
Frozen turkeys are needed by November 15. Our truck will be in the St. Francis de Sales Church parking lot that morning to accept turkeys and other food donations (535 Riverside Drive, Salisbury).
We also need goodies for our special Thanksgiving and Christmas bags: small bottles of cooking oil, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, Italian seasoning, parsley, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla extract, sugar, brown sugar, hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, candy canes, aluminum foil, and non-stick baking spray.
Other non-perishable food items can be given at any time. For recommended items, go to: Donate Food.
Christmas Gifts
Toys and gifts (new and unwrapped) for children up to the age of 14 are needed by December 13.
We suggest toys that will engage a child’s imagination, encourage physical activity, and do not require batteries. Some ideas: sports equipment, LEGO sets, board games, books, art supplies, crafting kits. Or ask your favorite child! And no toy guns, please. We also need hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for children of all ages.
All donations can be delivered to our convent at 411 Poplar Hill Avenue in Salisbury. If you have any questions, please call us at 410-742-9590 or send a message: Contact Form.
Magi Concert
This annual concert to benefit the Joseph House and the Christian Shelter will be November 14 at 3 p.m. at Emmanuel Church, 217 Beaglin Park Drive in Salisbury. Tickets are $20; go to magifund.com to see where to buy them.
Every day we give thanks for you and your support of the Joseph House. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. May your celebration be blessed and filled with love!
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.
The holidays, especially Thanksgiving, mean a lot of time is spent in the kitchen, and that means a lot of dishes to wash. To give us a new perspective on this and other everyday chores, here is an excerpt from an article we enjoyed reading:
The mundane duties that we are obliged to do on a daily basis can cause us more stress than anything else.
St. Teresa of Avila thought otherwise and saw these various obligations as gifts, opportunities to find God’s presence in a new way. She instructed her sisters to take full advantage of these opportunities and to bring God into them so that everything about their lives would be sanctified. Here is what she had to say in The Book of the Foundations:
“Oh then, my daughters, let there be no neglect: but when obedience calls you to exterior employments (as, for example, into kitchen, amidst the pots and dishes), remember that our Lord goes along with you, to help you both in your interior and exterior duties.”
In fact, St. Teresa believed that it is these mundane tasks that help us more along the path of sanctity than receiving a heavenly vision from God. It requires much effort to do those things that we are obliged to do with a joyful countenance, but we are greatly rewarded for our faithful obedience. . . .
The next time you see that stack of dishes next to the sink, think about God and remember that He is with you. If you are able to overcome your inclinations and dive right into the task at hand, you will scale the heights of perfection much faster than a religious monk who prays all day, but hates being assigned to the kitchen.
-Philip Kosloski
aleteia.org
