Newsletter: September 2024

Dear Friends of Joseph House:

Two key components of the mission of the Joseph House are to help the poor in whatever way we can and to promote and stabilize family life. These two become one and the same quite visibly when we help people with their housing needs. As Pope Francis said, “Family and home go together. It is very difficult to bring up a family without living in a house.”

When we speak of a “house,” what we really mean is a “home,” a place of belonging and safety, where one is cared for and nourished in body, mind, and spirit, finding the support needed to face each day with confidence. Home in this sense is the natural habitat for the human person.

We like what Fr. Charles Cummings said about the human need for stable living arrangements. He was a Trappist monk who wrote an excellent book on monastic life, which, believe it or not, can be a source of valuable insights in the art of living. From Monastic Practices, p. 177:

Reaching one’s full human and spiritual potential seems to be facilitated by some degree of stability in a peaceful place where one can be at ease, sort things out, and develop a feeling of being a fully existing, unique individual.

At our Crisis Center, we meet people who live in their cars, bounce from place to place “couch surfing,” or move back and forth between motels and the street. They may find shelter from the elements, but the human person needs more than that. Chaos and instability wreak havoc, especially on children. Home life is the basis of family life and hence the root of society. People simply can’t live when they’re afraid of losing everything.

It’s such a relief that our efforts to help families acquire the firm footing they need are supported with your generosity. Every little bit makes a difference. All that you give is deeply appreciated!

Mallory, for example, really needed your assistance. She is 42 and was punched in the face by her boyfriend, resulting in broken bones. He also threatened her son. Although her boyfriend was arrested and is now in prison, Mallory has not gotten over the trauma. Her painful injuries took time to heal and she lost her job at a convenience store. An eviction notice from her landlord added to her suffering, but your support allowed the Joseph House to pay the full amount of rent that was due ($437). Mallory is starting a new job at a fast-food restaurant. It is a sign of hope. Her story is also a reminder that we never know what the people we meet in our daily activities are going through. Be sure to share with them a smile.

Lucille, 59, works in education and lives mostly paycheck-to-paycheck. She counts on working during the summer, but this year she has been helping to care for her daughter, who has terminal cancer. Lucille could not pay the full amount of her rent and so received an eviction notice. We sent $300 to her landlord to help pay the balance that was due.

For far too long, Serena, 26, and her two children have been without a fixed address. A friend recently gave them a place to stay, but once they wore out their welcome they were going to be left on the street. Fortunately, Serena was approved for subsidized housing. Maybe, finally, she could create a real home for her children. But standing in her way was a $450 security deposit. The Joseph House paid the full amount to give the members of this family the fresh start they needed.

Percy, 72, lives alone and does outdoor maintenance and yard work in order to get by. He broke his ankle and was not able to work for a few weeks. He watched his bank balance go down quickly until it reached zero. Percy anxiously came to our Crisis Center seeking help for his rent. He was going to be evicted from his home of more than 20 years. We called his landlord and paid $450 to stop the eviction. Percy’s ankle has been slow in healing. He is eyeing the next few months with trepidation.

Nadia, 63, was sharing an apartment with her brother. He has severe epilepsy and had reached the point where he needed more assistance with his daily tasks. He had to move out, leaving Nadia alone. Since she is on a fixed income, the Joseph House helped her with $500 toward her rent. Nadia is searching for another place to live that she can afford.

Of course, we help people with anything they need that is essential, not just housing payments. Kevin, 69, had to place his wife in a nursing home. Even on his limited income there were out-of-pocket costs he had to pay. Kevin tried to catch up on his other bills, but he couldn’t quite do it: the utility company was going to turn off the electricity in his home. The Joseph House paid $654 to stop that from happening.

Lana, 50, lives with her brother who has a cognitive disability. Lana has her own health challenges and recently had surgery for cancer. She cleans houses for a living, but that has become very difficult for her. She only made $400 last month. Lana came to our Crisis Center the day before the power was going to be turned off in her home. Our check for $400 was issued immediately.

Community News

Please pray for Sr. Jennifer Fletcher, who fell on the sidewalk outside our convent in Salisbury and fractured her hip. She is undergoing physical therapy and is doing well, thanks in no small measure to her habit of regular exercise.

Dave Heininger, the Director of the Joseph House Crisis Center, is recovering from heart surgery. Over the years Dave has done so much for so many people. Your prayers for him are appreciated, too.

Also, Mark Puzycki, a long-time resident volunteer and nephew of Sr. Mary Joseph, has relocated to Arizona to enjoy its sunshine and warmth. For many years Mark worked in our Hospitality Room for the Homeless where he was a faithful friend and servant of our guests. We will miss him and ask God to bless him on his new adventure.

Shortly before Mark left, we welcomed Adam Lewandowski to our resident community. Adam brings with him a wealth of experience and talents that will surely benefit the Joseph House ministry.

Through the changes in life God always takes care of us! May we trust in the strength that comes from above. United with you in prayer,

Your Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary

As a community dedicated to the life of prayer, we will gladly lift up your special intentions to the Lord: Contact Form

Make a donation today and help the hungry, homeless, and families in distress: Donate

Joining Mary in Song

One of our traditions is to sing Mary’s Canticle during Evening Prayer. The Canticle, also known as the Magnificat, is Mary’s song of praise found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1 verses 46-55.

We like to do special things to honor Mary because she is recognized in our Rule as the model of our consecrated life:

Through her life, Mary made visible in a perfect way the glad tidings of the Gospel and participated in the redemptive mission of her Son. In her complete dedication to the Lord in faith and love, she is the model of our daily surrender to the ever new call of God.

The arrangement that we sing was composed by John Michael Talbot. It is gentle and beautiful. Here is a recording of the song found on YouTube: