Section:
support
Your support is giving families
new hope and new life!
Warm greetings this season as we prepare for the birth of Christ! During this joyous time our hearts are softened as we recall the way our Savior came to us – an innocent babe born into very real poverty, sheltered only by a manger, yet bathed in an unprecedented outpouring of love.
The struggles faced by Mary and Joseph as they sought shelter remind us that no family should feel shame in seeking help for their young ones. Just as the kindness of strangers was crucial for the Holy Family, today there are many families whose futures depend on our compassion.
In 1987 Sr. Marie Patrice Feeney, OSF and Sr. Margaret Jones, OSF were determined to create a safe haven where families in crisis could live temporarily, while getting back on their feet. With few resources and a lot of hard work they established St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter in Phoenixville, PA. Currently led by Executive Director Sr. Chris Kranichfeld, OSF, St. Mary’s Shelter offers much more than a bed for a night. It provides a home-like setting for up to eight weeks for five families at a time, including three meals a day; cozy, cheerful bedrooms; and communal areas which include plenty of children’s books. The shelter also helps families get back on track by offering case management and assistance in finding employment and permanent housing.
Your support has helped St. Mary’s provide over 50,000 nights of shelter to over 430 families, including over 700 children! About 40% of the families who have stayed at St. Mary’s have gone on to permanent housing, which is a far greater rate than typical shelters.
This success is attributable to the strong network of support services offered, and the unique environment of Franciscan compassion for all who stay at the shelter. “While they’re here we try to give them some kind of inspiration and build up their self-image so that they do have enough courage to go out and start again,” explains Sr. Chris.
There are many miracle stories from St. Mary’s. One mother was able to get certification as a nurses’ aide, allowing her to move into her own apartment with her children and eventually buy her own home. “I really appreciate what the shelter has done for us,” she said. “It was not just a shelter for me – it was a home, it was a family.” Karen, another former resident and single parent who became homeless when she was laid off from a major corporation, was able to regroup at the shelter. She eventually purchased her own home and now serves on the shelter’s Board of Directors.
Of course even families who are not homeless have their share of struggles, sometimes severe. The outpatient St. Joseph Family Center (SJFC) in Spokane, WA addresses a critical need because it is the only counseling center in eastern Washington that offers a sliding pay scale. About half of SJFC’s clients are uninsured, paying only what they are able. “It’s a really important place for them,” notes Sister Elaine Thaden, OSF, President and Director of SJFC. “These are the people falling through the cracks in the mental health system, since they have no insurance and don’t qualify for other assistance.”
SJFC treats families, couples, and individuals who suffer from a wide variety of mental health issues, from anxiety and depression to grief, anger management and other problems. “The main thing is to try to help families mend their relationships, and to keep children safe,” Sister Elaine explains. “Children have a right to grow up with parents who care for them and for one another.”
The families our Sisters encounter at St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter, St. Joseph Counseling Center and other ministries all have their own stories of hardship. But they also have unique stories of hope, particularly for the children whose futures are filled with wonderful possibilities. Please join us this Christmas in caring for families who need our outpouring of generosity and love today.
With your help we will be able to accomplish new goals for our ministries serving families. St. Joseph Family Center is hoping to expand their counseling center into an independent building, and St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter hopes to purchase the building they are located in which will make them financially secure.
Thank you for bringing the joy of Christmas to families in need!
Donate to St. Joseph Family Center and St. Mary's Franciscan Shelter by clicking here.
