Full Circle

Open hearts, a renewal of the spirit, and the people who have the wonderful privilege of walking along on this journey

Over the years, Women in Circle has empowered countless women. It is a safe house in Louisville, Kentucky, for those in recovery, many of whom are trying to overcome addictions or escape troubled or violent situations. Founded by a local faith-based therapist, Dr. Lete Ansera, it is a place where women have the support they need to get back on their feet.

The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth recently became involved with the ministry, and they are making muchneeded repairs and improvements to the home. Luke Boiarski, SCN, spearheads the renovations, “This just fits so perfectly into our mission statement, working with women who are on the edge and helping them to start a new life, a new beginning of their journey.”

The power of the home is transformative, volunteers and those staying at the home say. “You all make me feel so loved,” shares Ashley, a previous resident.

She tearfully describes her journey. “I really thought I was going to die, and here I felt hope and it gave me my life back. My son, he really thought I was going to die too, on drugs. I wanted to stop so bad, and I just didn’t know how, and then Jackie, she taught me how.”

Jackie Aceto, SCN, volunteers as a social worker at the ministry. She is passionate about the impact this ministry is having on women in Louisville.

“They just really need to be built up, because they have it within them. These are smart, strong, beautiful women, they just needed to be reminded of that,” says Sister Jackie.

“This place gave me my soul back, I lost my soul,” shares Ashley. “This place gave me my heart back, and I’m so grateful … I’m happy today and I haven’t been happy in about 10 years … this program really means something to me, that’s why I’m here. So thank you.”

Sister Luke was drawn to bring volunteers to the Women in Circle home through Suzanne Reasback, a former member of the SCN Congregation. Over the course of several months of work this past summer, volunteers of the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program came to better know many of the residents. This fall, volunteers returned to make additional repairs to the basement.

“I think this work is important for volunteers on many levels,” says Ellen Sprigg, who works alongside Sister Luke coordinating volunteers. “I guess I just hear over and over again how good it feels for them to be able to help people. Anytime you help others, you think less about yourself. It’s kind of what volunteering is all about. You grow from every experience.”

Bridgette, another resident of the program, shares about the impact Sister Jackie and the Women in Circle ministry have had on her life, and the love she also has for the volunteers she came to know. “They gave me my life back, they made me feel strong, independent, not scared to go down the street, that someone is going to hurt me anymore,” says Bridgette. “That’s how I was when I got here. I was that scared.”

The home, sponsored by Women in Circle, welcomes women from all walks of life. The ministry seeks to build community and encourages the residents to empower and support one another. During a six-month program, women have the opportunity to transition from the life circumstances that have led to homelessness. This may be any number of things including addiction, violent home life, or incarceration. Services assist these women to work towards and maintain healthy lifestyles and mental stability. Graduates are able to reconnect with their families, find meaningful

The SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program worked throughout the spring and summer of 2021 to renovate and refresh the main living space of Women In Circle. In November of 2021, they began renovating the basement.

employment, and become productive citizens in their communities.

“They gave me therapy sessions which helped me with my PTSD,” says Bridgette. “They brought me to the point (where) I wasn’t scared anymore to go out and succeed in life.”

The house, located in the St. Joseph neighborhood of Louisville, can offer a home for up to ten women. Each resident is asked to pay a weekly stipend and to maintain up to 15 weekly hours of various therapies and counseling sessions.

“This place is home,” says the founder, Dr. Ansera. “This place is peaceful and quiet. The volunteers, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, they gave that to us all over again. They renewed it, they made it ‘home.’” “It renews my spirit just coming in and seeing the other Sisters helping, and the other volunteers helping,” shares Sister Jackie. “You know when you walk in and there’s a fresh coat of paint, it’s just, it’s new life … It matters because when a house is freshened up, it just really makes you feel just that much more special … like someone really cares for me, and I don’t even know who they are.”

In addition to creating a temporary and stable home for women, the services offered at this ministry include group and individual therapy, case management, peer support, a 12-step program, mindfulness meditation groups, chemical dependence education, and life skills training.

Dr. Ansera describes her approach as holistic. With extensive experience in marriage and family therapy, she has worked with children of all ages, families, individuals, and couples covering a wide variety of difficult situations including drug and alcohol addiction.

Sister Luke says it is humbling to watch the women get back on their feet. “It’s really more than just fixing up the house. I always tell volunteers, it’s just not about building a home or repairing a home, it’s about building relationships, working collaboratively, it deepens our own spirituality and also gives us a sense of gratitude for what we have as Sisters, as Associates, as friends.”

“They saved my life, they gave me a safe place to go when I had nowhere to go,” shares Ashley. “The first night I was here was the first time I felt safe in years. I thank God I came here … a huge blessing.”

“Our motto is the love of Christ impels us, and this is what the volunteers are doing, and what the other Sisters are doing,” says Sister Jackie. “I get the privilege of walking with them, of walking this journey, and it’s a wonderful privilege.”