Section:
support
Dare to dream of a better world this Christmas!
You can make dreams come true especially in this season of Christmas when cynicism lessens and peace seems a real possibility. It’s a time when reaching out to others takes the place of isolation and the transforming love of that first Christmas night touches our hearts. Thinking back to that moment helps us to realize how Mary and Joseph must have felt while preparing for the birth of their child. Alone in a stable and apart from their families, they must have been fearful as they dreamed of shaping a better place for their child.
Every person we encounter in our ministries today also dreams of a better life. They are the hardworking single moms doing their best to protect and provide for their children. They are the men and women without jobs who pray that a new opportunity will arise. We have educated and cared for so many children whose families were often torn apart by poverty, addiction, and violence and we dreamed. We dreamed of a new life for them; we continue to dream and pray for today’s children and for the men and women you know who are in need.
On the East Coast . . .
Following in the way of Francis of Assisi, we dream of a world where people from all backgrounds and experiences come together in community. This dream brought St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, into being. Sisters Margaret Jones and Marie Patrice Feeney, two young sisters, dared to envision a warm, safe home where families faced with insurmountable obstacles could find refuge. Partnering with housing and case management programs, St. Mary’s offers a critical first step in bringing families back from the edge. Many former residents of St. Mary’s have gone on to earn their GEDs, college diplomas, and other work credentials. Their children now thrive as what seemed an “impossible dream” became a possibility. St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter receives the support of an ecumenical coalition of donors and volunteers joined together in their desire to heal and preserve families in crisis. At the shelter, families not only rebuild their lives, but they also learn the necessary values and skills for maintaining their new lives—a difficult task in today’s world.
On the West Coast . . .
The Transitions ministry in Spokane is one of those ministries that is special to us. These women truly struggle because they are unable to provide the basics for themselves and their children. Christmas is a time when they wish they could do more to bring hope and joy into their family’s lives. The 1,500 women who come to our Transitions ministry in Spokane each year also dream of a better life for themselves and their young children. What makes Transitions unique is its holistic, multifaceted approach. Short-term housing combines with childcare, parenting classes, counseling, a “Women’s Hearth” drop-in center, job and computer skills training, and even a new bakery/café where women can gain practical work experience. In all of the activities of Transitions, the goal is to instill confidence and provide support while helping women with the practical tools needed to achieve their dreams. (Story of “Angela”)
Living in community is very important for another group—our retired sisters. With your assistance, sisters in many different levels of health live as one in Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania and our retired sisters at St. Ann Convent in Tacoma, Washington. As sisters, they support one another in times of need; celebrate their life together; and pray for their families, friends, and benefactors. Your dreams—the dreams of those in need—become their dreams as they keep you in thought and prayer. Although our sisters are aging, you help us provide excellent care for them while permitting our sisters to live in community in the autumn season of their lives. These women began the mission of helping others in all seasons; we now continue these works with your assistance.
Without your kindness and support, our ministries could not continue in the same way. We thank God every day for your generosity and friendship. As together we celebrate the feast of Christmas, know you are helping to make dreams come true. Let us know your special intentions because you will be in our prayers during this holy season.
Gratefully,
Sister Esther Anderson, OSF
Congregational Minister
