CONTENTS

Blasa Rivera: Celebrating Our First Associate in Mission

It was in 1973 that the late S. Jane Grosheider set in motion a conversation that would change the face of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She proposed to begin a relationship with individuals in the Christian Community that would “provide support and encouragement to persons who share our values and vision of life.” On Sept. 5, 1973, in Pueblo, Colorado, Blasa Rivera answered that call becoming the fi rst Associate member of the Sisters of Charity, and with it the relationship offi cially began. On Jan. 14, 2020, at the age of 96, Blasa peacefully went home to God. She leaves behind children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many adoring Sisters and Associates that she built relationships with throughout her 46 years as an Associate of the Sisters of Charity. As word of her death traveled, stories and memories of the joyful, committed Associate began to circulate. “Blasa was truly a ‘family’ person,” recalled S. Noreen Ellison. “Her family was prime in her thoughts, prayers and activities. Her SC family in Pueblo was also very special to her.” In 2003 Blasa shared her story: “At a time in my life when I was separated from my husband, raising four children alone in Pueblo, Colorado, I felt like I was fl oating, that I had no anchor in my life. One of my daughters was in the Spanish Club at school, which was moderated by S. Christine Falsetto. The club was having a fundraiser and my daughter volunteered me to make tamales. Sister and I bonded through music. But she also had a strong spiritual life. I no longer felt alone….” The path was not always easy. She said in an interview that some Sisters were not always accepting of Associates. As the program expanded, however, and more Associates committed themselves to the Community, those feelings changed. Blasa treasured her relationships with the Sisters, particularly Sisters Christine and Emily Anne Phelan. “Both women live/d a faith-fi lled life and were/are examples of patience, forgiveness and working with the downtrodden. Both women have changed me,” she said. “Blasa was always so proud of being the fi rst Associate for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati,” remembered former Director of Associates Mary Jo Mersmann. “She valued this relationship with the Charity Family as a priority in her life and participated in meetings and activities for more than 40 years. What a wonderful role model she was for all of us as she embodied the Charity charism and values! We as a

Blasa Rivera (front) was the first lay person to make her commitment as an Associate in Mission with the Sisters of Charity in September 1973.

Charity community were so fortunate to have her wisdom and her kindness shared with us regularly and for such a long period of time.” Mary Jo does remember a particular story of Blasa – one that she can now look back on and laugh. “It was the fi rst evening of the Associate Convocation, and Associates and Sisters were fl ying in from all over the u.S.,” she recalled. “The chapel was fi lled with participants greeting one another and chatting loudly. “It was about 10 minutes before I was to welcome everyone when I got a phone call from the airport saying we lost Blasa! She didn’t arrive on the fl ight we had been given. At this time, Blasa was in her 80s and traveling alone. My heart went into my throat. How can I welcome everyone not knowing where our beloved fi rst Associate is? “After several phone calls to her family and minutes of sheer panic, we found out that Blasa’s fl ight number and time of arrival had changed and we hadn’t been notifi ed. What seemed like hours (but only minutes) later, Blasa arrived safely at CVG unaware of all of the commotion. She arrived in the chapel to a round of applause and tears of joy!” Blasa treasured the spiritual support she found through Association. Her journey brought her humbleness, patience and total dependence on God. In 2013, when the opportunity arose, Blasa made her lifetime Commitment as an Associate. She reaffi rmed her commitment saying, “Am I glad I am a part of the Sisters of Charity? With all my heart.”

A Place to Call Home: Addressing Homelessness

By S. Patricia Wittberg

Have you ever thought of Jesus as being a homeless person? Well, he was – and evidently several times. When Mary and Joseph attempted to find a place to stay in Bethlehem, “there was no room for them” there (Luke 2:8). And when they fled from Herod, there was probably no home awaiting them in Egypt, either. Later, during his adult ministry, Jesus told his followers that, “Foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 7:20).

Every person has a basic human right to adequate shelter. Ideally, in order to have enough money to pay for food, clothing, transportation, medical care, and other necessities, a family should spend no more than 30 percent of its income on housing. Any monthly mortgage or rent payment that costs more than 30 percent of a person’s income is considered unaffordable, and means that person’s family will have to cut back on something else. Currently, two-thirds of Ohio’s poorest families spend over half their income just to keep a roof over their heads. One mishap – a lost job, an illness, a broken car, a landlord who decides to “upgrade” his building – can tip them into homelessness.

According to a 2017 Xavier University study, there is a shortage of more than 40,000 apartments or houses that would be affordable for the lowest income people in Hamilton County. There has been a 73 percent decrease in the amount of affordable housing just in the past 15 years, and rent prices in Cincinnati have increased three times as much as income has. This housing crisis for the poorest of our residents is due partly to a lack in the supply of houses and apartments: rising labor and materials costs make building or renovating affordable houses less economically feasible, while older generations are staying in their homes instead of selling them. And it is partly due to an increase in demand: the youngest generation of adults, burdened by student debt and the rising cost of owning a house, is increasing the demand for rental housing. It is partly due to greed: landlords can make more money by evicting poor renters from their buildings and remodeling them as condos or prestige apartments for wealthier tenants. And it is partly due to the “NIMBY” (Not In My Backyard) problem: cities and neighborhoods prefer to support the construction of large houses for the wealthy than houses for the poor and working class, even as they allow public housing to deteriorate until it is ultimately torn down.

“I can imagine Joseph, with his wife about to have a child, with no shelter, no home, no place to stay. The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head. We can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking. How is it that the Son of God has no home? Why are we homeless, why don’t we have housing? These are questions which all of us might well ask. Why do these, our brothers and sisters, have no place to live? Why are these brothers and sisters of ours homeless? … We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing. ”

- Pope Francis, September 24, 2015

The lack of affordable housing is the single most important cause of homelessness in the United States today. It is especially severe in growing cities where the housing market is especially tight, such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Denver, or Washington, D.C. But even in Cincinnati, more than 7,000 people were homeless last year. One-third of the homeless are families; a quarter are children under the age of 18; half are white; and 40 percent are African-American. And yet Cincinnati has almost 29,000 vacant houses and apartments that could be developed into affordable housing, but instead are likely to be demolished or kept vacant until they can be sold or rented to wealthier residents. To give just one example, the area around the proposed FC Cincinnati Soccer Stadium currently houses 1,491 renters and 352 homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes as that area

The former Drop Inn Center, Shelterhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a mission to provide basic human services for the men and women of the Greater Cincinnati area who are experiencing homelessness, offering a place to stay and helping to find and maintain a permanent place of residence for the future.

is redeveloped. Where will they find shelter in our alreadytight affordable housing market?

There are, of course, other causes of homelessness besides the lack of affordable housing. Southwestern Ohio has been hard hit by the opioid crisis: our area has one of the highest overdose rates in the country. Many of those so addicted may end up on the streets. For women and children, homelessness may be the result of their fleeing an abusive family. Mental illness or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a frequently cited cause of homelessness, especially since residential treatment centers for the chronically mentally ill are scarce. But for many, mental issues such as depression or PTSD may be the result of homelessness, not its cause, since living unsheltered is stressful and depressing in itself. The same is often true of physical illness, which is exacerbated, if not caused, by being homeless. Still, authorities who have studied homelessness agree that lack of affordable housing is a more important causal factor than any of these.

What is being done to address the problem of homelessness? Obviously, the first step would be to prevent the further loss of affordable housing. Governments and other organizations can work for laws that prevent landlords from evicting tenants illegally or under-maintaining their buildings. Many nonprofit and religious organizations work to rehabilitate and construct affordable homes, and to mentor first-time home buyers. Additionally, of course, we need to care for those who are presently homeless or in danger of becoming so. This means providing adequate financing to the shelters which exist in our area, and social services for those who are just one paycheck or one illness away from falling into homelessness. In Hamilton County, there are 12 homeless shelters, and in Northern Kentucky there are six. Many are full or even over their capacity so, while 90 percent of our area’s homeless people resided in a shelter in 2017; the rest stayed on the streets, under bridges, or in abandoned buildings. We need to improve our health care system by providing more treatment for persons with mental illness and/or addictions, but also by making sure that those who need treatment for a physical illness can actually afford to obtain it. High and unpayable medical bills are the single greatest cause of bankruptcy in this country, and often the final straw that causes people to lose their homes.

The Sisters of Charity have long been active in addressing the varied aspects of the homelessness issue: staffing shelters for homeless women and children, volunteering with area food pantries and parish St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences, establishing and/or volunteering with organizations that construct and rehabilitate affordable housing, advocating with local, state, and federal officials for policies that benefit homeless people, and facilitating retreats for those who, like Jesus, have no place to lay their head. In this and future issues of Intercom, we will profile some of the Sisters and Associates who are serving Christ in the person of those suffering from homelessness.

S. Ruth Ann Rody: Divine Providence for the Mental Health of the Homeless

By AJ Keith, Communications intern

When one considers homelessness, one immediately is concerned for the physical well-being of the people experiencing it, but just as important as this physical health is mental health. Sister of Charity Ruth Ann Rody has ministered at the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati for nearly seven years which has made her aware of the many needs to which each human being is entitled.

“Ever since I was a little kid, my parents always taught us that no matter how rich or poor we were, it was our responsibility to help others that didn’t have as much as we did,” S. Ruth Ann says. “I understand that because I never knew we were poor until I was an adult.” Instilled with this concern for others, S. Ruth Ann followed her parents’ advice by becoming a Vincentian Sister of Charity (the Community later merged with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 2004). In 1980, S. Ruth Ann ministered with the St. Joseph Ministry to the Terminally Ill in Brentwood, Ohio, where she noticed the unjust lack of medical care that homeless people experienced. “Some of the people couldn’t afford our care because it wasn’t covered by their insurance,” S. Ruth Ann says. “We took care of people who lived under a bridge or in a tent.

As the office manager of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati, S. Ruth Ann Rody is always looking for ways to donate to her ministry’s cause.

While she is currently the offi ce manager of the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati, or HRC, S. Ruth Ann fi rst heard about the ministry when she was studying nursing. S. Ruth Ann was hired to answer the phones, coordinate appointments and interact with the patients. Though the clinic was originally a full health resource center, the HRC has since changed its mission to focus on the specifi c needs of their clients. According to their mission statement, the Health Resource Center of Cincinnati is, “dedicated to providing integrated care for economically disadvantaged and/or homeless people with mental, emotional, behavioral, or substance use disorders whose needs are not being met by other agencies.” The psychological care of their clients is key to the HRC’s mission, but it also provides material things that they may need. Food and warm clothes are common items given out after people have met with their counselors. The offi ce usually has what patients may need, but the staff notice how God has contributed to the success of the agency. “Divine providence gets me where I’m supposed to be and when I’m supposed to be there,” S. Ruth Ann says. S. Ruth Ann is always looking for ways to donate to her ministry’s cause, which includes taking monthly trips to the grocery store to buy food for the HRC or simply donating her unneeded furniture to one of her clients. When she gave her bed to this client, he was overwhelmed with joy because he had been sleeping on the couch, but he was confused by the sheets because he had never used them. “The next time he came in for an appointment, he said, ‘I’m sleeping like a baby!’” S. Ruth Ann says. Because people never know what others need, S. Ruth Ann encourages all people to donate to the HRC or any charity, whether it be their clothes or their time. The varying degrees of support all contribute to the same goal and every little bit helps. To contribute to helping the homeless community, the HRC accepts referrals as well as scheduled appointments and walk-ins. According to the HRC’s website, their offi ces are located in Over-the-Rhine and neighborhoods surrounding the university of Cincinnati, easily accessible by public transportation. S. Ruth Ann cannot stress how much she loves her job and how it allows her, “[t]o help those who really need psychological care. The homeless community knows who we are and they know to seek us for assistance.”

Nuns Build Hope

By S. Monica Gundler

“l et it be with the strength of your arms and the sweat of your brow,” instructed St. Vincent de Paul in his encouragement of the mission. These words have come to life over the last 10 years at the House of Charity in New Orleans, louisiana. For many years it was rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, then after a tornado, then after fl ooding and then for affordable homes. In 2010 S. Mary Keefe, OP, was visiting what was left of the devastated St. Bernard Parish outside New Orleans. She stopped at the St. Bernard Project (now known as SBP) where a young couple had launched a small but growing rebuilding organization staffed with Americorps volunteers trained to lead other short-term volunteers. S. Mary heard they had a week called “Women Build” and she mentioned that she thought Sisters could do that. Nuns Build was born. With a fl yer and a date, religious across the country came to New Orleans to lend a hand, literally, and a hammer. Over the years, Sisters across the Charity Federation joined this adventure. At the same time, as the House of Charity (HOC) was beginning, S. Monica Gundler became the co-chair, eventually leading the team of locals that hosted Nuns Build each year. Associates and friends have joined the Nuns Build team many times as well. The fi rst several years the Sisters at the HOC slept on air mattresses and practically camped at the home on Apricot Street. They met one another over coffee or a dinner at the Knights of Columbus hall opening night and began with prayer and breakfast at the house before heading off to a worksite in a ravaged city. And work they did, in the heat, the cold or the rain to take up the cause. They put in drywall, fl oors, walls, and insulation. They measured, hammered, hauled and cleaned. They did whatever presented itself, even if the tools were too few and the tasks out of their league at times, they persevered. They bonded over bag lunches, aspirin and second lines. They met their Sisters across the Federation and congregations. They nursed sore muscles and laughed over passing the aspirin and playing fi shbowl, cards and a friendly game. They made memories and met the people who had lost so much who welcomed them with meals and gratitude. For the past 10 years, each November, the week before Thanksgiving, we did it again. For the ones who came four times, they took home a red hammer for their service. As S. Mary Keefe used to say, “Nuns Build Hope.” The witness of the Sisters has been alongside thousands of volunteers who have come to New Orleans, but SBP always says Nuns Build is one of their favorite weeks. The young people who serve at the sites often talk about the hard work and kindness of the Sisters and the Sisters in turn talk about the wonderful young people giving a year of service to help others. It’s a match made in heaven.

Members of the Sisters of Charity and the SC Federation offered a week of service in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of Nuns Build 2019. The House of Charity hosted Federation Sisters and participants while the group helped in the ongoing efforts in New Orleans. (From left) Sisters Joyce Richter, Sally Duffy and Pat Wittberg receive their red hammers for offering four years of service to Nuns Build over the years.

Risking a Caring Response

By S. Regina Kusnir

Take a caring heart. Tune it to the “love for the poor” channel. Challenge it to make a difference. Surround it with like-minded volunteers. Ask them to raise money for the cause. And – what do you have? Sisters and Associates who dare to risk A Caring Response.

Alittle-known ministry that makes a signifi cant impact in the lives of homeless and addicted persons is the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP). The Chicago-based international program is in 31 cities across the u.S. as well as in Canada and Ireland. The ISP National Offi ce sponsors the ministry run totally by volunteers who fundraise locally to cover retreat costs. The national offi ce picks up shortfall and assists with some fundraising and grant writing. The ISP provides overnight weekend retreats for men and women who are or have been homeless and are in recovery from any kind of addiction. Retreatants range in age from their 20s to 60s, have been sober for 60-90 days and most are living in transitional sober houses. The retreat is not connected with any religion but attendees have to rely on a higher power, however that is understood. Activities are based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the 12-Step Program, and the Ignatian belief that we are able to “Find God in All Things.” About one month after the retreat a follow-up refl ection day is held. Many Sisters and Associates participate in the ISP effort. This article focuses on the perspectives of Sisters Joyce Brehm, Annie Klapheke, and Donna Steffen in Cincinnati and S. Teresa Marie laengle in Dayton. All have been trained in the ISP. How Did ISP Retreats Come to Cincinnati and Dayton? S. Donna and three others were invited to work with Fr. Bill Creed, SJ, in 2009 to plan the fi rst Cincinnati women’s retreat which was held at Mount St. Joseph and where annually three of six women’s retreats are held. Follow-up evenings are the second Monday of every month. In Dayton, there are four annual retreats and follow-ups for women. “On weekends we see the team, not as ‘giving’ the retreat, but that we are making the retreat together. I learn about poverty, homelessness, surrender, the desire for wholeness, and the challenge of living and making good choices. I have learned that we all have addictions going on in us, beyond the commonly thought of alcohol or drugs. We are all on the journey to wholeness,” said S. Donna. In Their Own Words “ISP means a great deal to me,” remarked S. Teresa. “I initiated this ministry and have been the coordinator in Dayton (one of the cities highest in drug use) since 2010. We provide retreats at Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. Our teams have four to fi ve facilitators at the retreats. I am privileged to work with women who come to the retreats which provide the spiritual foundation for them to stay on their path of sobriety.” S. Joyce added, “I started with ISP two or three years into its existence. I was blessed to facilitate some of the retreat experiences. But the energy it took to keep up with the schedule became too much so I became the volunteer in charge of recruiting drivers to transport the women to and from the retreats and follow-up meetings. Numerous Sisters and Associates are team members or drivers.” S. Teresa Marie Laengle (back row, second from right) initiated the Ignatian Spirituality Project in the area and has been the coordinator in Dayton since 2010.

The Blessing of Walking with the Retreatants The women have learned much from their experiences. “The retreatants have taught me about poverty of spirit,” S. Annie said. “Most of the women have experienced hitting rock bottom in their lives. It is from this place that they learn to rely completely on God. This total reliance on God is always an inspiration and a challenge to me. The women are inspiring examples of resilience and courage. I feel like I receive so much more than I give.” Says S. Donna, “Mostly, I am aware that these women have suffered and have surrendered all in order to hopefully build a life for themselves. I often pray to surrender to God. I only have a glimpse of what that means – they know it in their being. I have also learned the resiliency of the human spirit.” S. Joyce looks to their strength: “If I had been born into a different family, a different setting, I would not be able to handle what these women have handled. These are some very strong, gifted women who have been handed some very tough life circumstances. They happen to have addictions that have gotten in the way.” “I learned we are all human, sharing the same desires for love, peace and happiness,” S. Teresa explained. “I am amazed at the resiliency of the human person to do drugs or alcohol, go to rehab, relapse, go back to rehab (for some many times), then become clean and live the sober life every minute of every day. I am overwhelmed at what retreatants have lived through and how they are survivors. It is a constant daily battle!” St. Vincent de Paul’s call “to meet the needs that God lets us see.”

was not because I had training or experience. It is like a door of opportunity opening up. This is something I was invited to do. It is something I am able to do.” S. Teresa affi rms that their efforts do make a difference in the lives of the women. “Some call afterwards to seek help or just to talk,” she said. “The community that retreats generate is essential to build fellowship and support for each other. Those who have been sober for many years help those new to sobriety. I feel I am a constant in their lives and they know that I love them no matter what their past has been.”

Dreams, Hopes and Inspirations The Sisters hope that attendees join the retreat team, dream that more women experience positive life-changing support, see continuing accompaniment by volunteers going into shelters or churches on a regular basis to share food and spiritual refl ection, and desire facilitators who, like S. Annie, are younger. The director of a shelter sending women to the retreats said that typically on return the women say, “What you have told us about, we have now experienced.” “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton said: Faith lifts the staggering soul on one side, hope supports it on the other. Experience says it must be, and love says—let it be. I think the women could identify with the image of being a ‘staggering soul’ in their diffi cult journey of recovery,” says S. Annie. “Faith and hope are graces that help them to get through.”

S. Donna says that while we all know that there are homeless people, the experience in leading retreats puts each Sister face-to-face and in conversation with women who are homeless. It helps them to better understand their experiences. “Most of my life I have entered into a ministry because someone needed to be there,” said S. Joyce. “It

Many Sisters and Associates have been involved in the Ignatian Spirituality Project through various roles including S. Annie Klapheke (front row, left), Associate Anne Shaffer (second row, second from right), and S. Nancy Bramlage (third row, center).

Dee Mansi: Associate Honors Tradition of Systemic Change

By AJ Keith, Communications intern

lay Vincentian and Associate of the Sisters of Charity Dee Mansi is making history in stride with her devotion to eliminating homelessness. While her occupations and volunteer work are many in number, homelessness on all levels is the major collaborative project of the Vincentian Family and her main concern. As a member of one of the 150 branches of the global Vincentian Family, Dee shares in the common goal to care for those on the margins of society, which perfectly harmonizes with the Sisters of Charity’s charism of living the Gospel values and building relationships. “Accompaniment” is a central tenet of the charism of the International Vincentian Family and the tenet that fi rst moved Dee to help the neediest in society. Dee states that her tireless work is concerned with offering solutions to systemic problems to accompany people on their life’s journey. As Dee puts it, she offers the more effective “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out.” Dee says, “Home is as much a feeling as a structure, and I wish everyone to have this deep-rooted feeling of love, acceptance and safety as much as a roof over their head.” homeless people on monthly cultural trips. “I kept thinking that I heard every reason for homelessness,” Dee says. “But each time, I would be shocked by how fragile people could be or how precarious life is for the lowly paid. Mental health problems and chaotic mismanaged fi nances could put a highly educated person on the streets.” “The issue of homelessness is completely in keeping with the mission and charism of the Sisters of Charity,” Dee says. “The inclusivity of the mission involves the care of vulnerable people.” In February 2020, the Vincentian NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) at the New York united Nations have taken the lead on creating a defi nition of homelessness to better understand how prominent the issue is and to address it as part of the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. Dee continues to lend a helping hand on local levels to honor the charism and loving global relationships for which the Sisters of Charity are known. “I am grateful for my family, my home, my friends and community, and the wholeness of this holy life,” Dee says. “The Vincentian family of the 21st century will be and must be more collaborative. It will be rich in all its diversity. It will be deeply spiritual. It will help people fi nd new hope that will allow them to start anew. The Vincentian Family will be committed to systemic change and will remain prophetic through her love of creation. ” Sister Blandine Klein, SC, at the 2020 Vincentian Family Leaders meeting

Dee has recently returned from the fi rst-ever Vincentian Family leaders Meeting in Rome, Italy, as a member of the Executive Committee. According to Dee, the meeting took place to, “evaluate progress integrating and developing each National Vincentian Family Council.” Though the meeting covered a myriad of topics, homelessness was high on the agenda, as the FamVin Homeless Alliance, an important initiative of the Vincentian Family, was discussed and their collaboration within their million members to end homelessness. Inspired daily by her wholesome volunteer work, Dee understands the importance of mutuality in her service. She thrives on the co-dependent system of teaching and learning, as she is constantly moved by the lessons that she learns from those she helps. Such is the case when she volunteers at the Saturday Friends Project which accompanies former

Sisters of Charity Associate Dee Mansi (center) attended the Vincentian Family Leaders Meeting in Rome, Italy, in January as a member of the Executive Committee.

Staving Off Homelessness by Preventing Poverty

By AJ Keith, Communications intern

Awoman named “Felicia” and her three children were facing eviction from their apartment in Detroit, Michigan. After being turned away by several agencies, the family approached the St. Vincent de Paul Society. At fi rst, Sister of Charity Noreen Ellison and Associate Therese Frye admitted that their conference’s funds could not cover the overdue rent, but Therese persisted to make a payment plan with Felicia’s landlord while S. Noreen stayed with Felicia and prayed. Homelessness is an issue that affects the global community, but working to prevent it from happening is equally important. S. Noreen and Therese demonstrate how a relationship-based organization like the St. Vincent de Paul Society can offer hope to those threatened by homelessness. Though the issue can be overwhelming, these two are given strength by each other’s efforts while combating this issue at its core. Therese fi rst learned about the St. Vincent de Paul Society as a child after her father’s death and through clothing drives at her grade school. She later reconnected with the organization as an adult through her parish, Shrine of the little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. In 1992, Therese joined the parish’s conference, which she attributes to her spirit of service. “Being a nurse, I have a heart for service and that has helped me want to serve others who experience the different types of poverty,” Therese says.

“Felicia” and her children were recipients of the tireless efforts of Shrine of the Little Flower’s St. Vincent de Paul Society in Royal Oak, Michigan.

S. Noreen was the pastoral ministry representative of Shrine of the little Flower before she retired from active ministry in 2015. However, Therese convinced S. Noreen to continue her service with the organization as a way to honor the charism of the Sisters of Charity. “I agreed to become the associate spiritual advisor for the Detroit area,” S. Noreen says. “And since Therese has become an Associate, her partnership in our services has been a wonderful gift to me.” S. Noreen and Therese have served side-by-side at various organizations, such as the Blessed Rosalie Rendu Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which serves those in poverty in the inner-city area of Detroit like Felicia. However, the duo also have their own unique ministries: Therese is currently a board member of several councils of St. Vincent de Paul Society and of the Matchan Nutrition Center Soup Kitchen in Pontiac, Michigan; S. Noreen, while still contributing to organizations like these, also keeps the spiritual aspect of the service alive in the volunteers. As the associate spiritual advisor, she encourages volunteers to refl ect on their experiences to see where God is calling them in their lives. By doing this, S. Noreen feels that she is adhering to the charism of the Sisters of Charity, but also to the mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. “Both organizations have the same charism of charity,” S. Noreen says. “We honor the charism of the Sisters of Charity the Vincentian way.” Felicia and S. Noreen’s prayers were answered when a check arrived to cover her rent and she was offered information for a new job. An anonymous donor of the Blessed Rosalie Rendu Conference wanted to help a family in need, and Felicia’s family was the one who received this gift. S. Noreen says, “After a tearful time of thankful prayer, and a brief visit with the children who had come from school, we drove Felicia to the Management Offi ce where she presented the check, drew a huge sigh of relief and beamed a broad smile.” Just as the Sisters of Charity charism is enhanced by their Vincentian service, so, too, does S. Noreen feel enriched by her friendship with Therese. Cases like Felicia’s are happening every day, and S. Noreen and Therese are working tirelessly to make sure that those threatened by homelessness can wear the smile that Felicia wore by the end of her interaction with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Bethany House Services: One Step Closer to Home

In November 2019, Bethany House Services in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced that the organization was selected as a recipient of the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund leadership award – receiving a gift of $1.25 million, the largest in its history. The grant’s impact reaches far and wide in the Greater Cincinnati area. As the largest homeless shelter in the area, Bethany House serves homeless families with children. What many may not be aware of is that its beginnings can be traced back to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, their charism of recognizing the needs of their sisters and brothers, and their courage to dare to risk a caring response. In 1983 Sisters of Charity Delia Sizler and Mary Grafe (now deceased), along with the help of Becky Johnson, a social worker and known advocate of the homeless in Cincinnati, decided it was time for change. S. Dee had been ministering as assistant dean of students at the College of Mount St. Joseph and after realizing that there were women who did not have a place to live when the dorm closed for holidays and summers, she felt compelled to act. After much prayer and many discussions and meetings with individuals in the area, the women found a home on Woodburn Avenue in Cincinnati that was being vacated by the Franciscan Friars. With donations of furniture and items for the home, the three moved in and began their work. One of the fi rst important matters of business included a name for the ministry. S. Dee recalls: “I was sitting in the little room we had for our chapel and I was trying to fi gure out what to name the house. I opened my Bible and it said Bethany – in relation to the story of Mary, Martha and lazarus. I came to understand in that prayer period that we were the same distance from Fountain Square as Bethany was from Jerusalem. Our house was a house of hospitality; we were taking people in that needed to be refreshed, to fi nd their way. That’s pretty much what Martha, Mary and lazarus did for Jesus and his people. It was a fi tting name and everyone else agreed.” Continued support and donations came in – as well as families. And just as they were getting settled the Sisters were informed that their house had been sold and they would need to fi nd a new place of residence. Being homeless themselves, God’s providence was at work, and eventually they were able to secure a new home in Mount Auburn. Sisters Dee and Mary continued to live in the home with the families. “living with the families was a beautiful thing for me,” S. Dee recalled. “I grew so much spiritually. The women were

One of the original founders of Bethany House Services, the late S. Mary Grafe (left) prepares a meal at the shelter in 1985.

good people; good people who had fallen on hard times. They would join us to eat a meal, helped us with cooking or cooked themselves, and we’d pray together. We had a weekly potluck and we kept in touch with many who had left the house and moved on because we became their support. A few women even came back as volunteers. It really was a community. We had fun together!” It was at one of those potluck dinners that S. Mary Stanton, RSM, joined the Sisters and families and fell in love with the ministry. Eventually she was named director of Bethany House. A few years after the organization was more established, S. Dee would leave Bethany House for other ministries. S. Mary Grafe followed a couple years later. S. Mary Stanton stayed on for 30 years. As the organization continued to grow, it began acquiring new properties and staff support to help offer the services needed for its families. Today Bethany House serves 50 percent of homeless families and 62 percent of homeless children in the region. The organization provides housing, education and assistance to homeless families while holistic services, emergency shelter, housing, comprehensive case management, post-shelter support and permanent affordable rental housing address a family’s current needs and seek to prevent repeat episodes. In addition Bethany House provides child/parent and life skills programming. From its early beginnings the organization continues to grow and make an impact. As she refl ects, S. Dee says, “It was God’s work – to help the people that weren’t being helped. Those of us blessed

with family upbringings and the life tools needed to be successful, we take those for granted. Being able to help those brought up in poverty, those never given the opportunity to develop their talents and succeed or to have a happy family – that was a real blessing. It was a beautiful chapter in my life. …” As a current board member of Bethany House and member of the development and executive committees, S. lynn Heper puts a human face to the organization with her many stories and accounts. “A lot of our parents have lost their job, and are living in their car. We had a dad last year who came with a 2- and 4-year-old and they had been camping out at Burnet Woods for two months. He didn’t even have a shirt on but he had this jacket. A staff member asked if he needed clothes, and he told her that he had torn up his shirt for the children to use as toilet paper. Every case is different. When you think about the homeless and you see the pictures from downtown, you never see the children because Job and Family Services would take those children away. So they hide. We had another mother with three children who would hide in different places at Children’s Hospital because she didn’t have anywhere to go.” S. lynn explains that in order to fully meet the needs of the community Bethany House is embarking on a $16.5 million capital campaign to create a consolidated family shelter and service center. The new facility will enable the organization to serve more families every year and provide the best quality care and access to a full range of services. The Bezos Day 1 grant will go toward the cost of this new facility. With more than 1,400 homeless families in Greater Cincinnati each year, the regional homeless system is at capacity and struggling to meet the need. Says S. lynn, “I didn’t realize the number of children affected by homelessness. We have got to help people in Cincinnati to realize it is up to us to get these people off the street. If you care about people, you show it. I hear these stories of our families and they break my heart. I really want to help these people get out of where they are. I want them to do good and I want their children to see a better life. It doesn’t have to be like this. We as citizens need to help break the chain.” A modern, consolidated, communal-style facility will enable Bethany House to drastically enhance effi ciency and maximize resources; improve the quality of the emergency shelter facilities; and ensure all families have access to the services and care they need. S. lynn says it’s truly amazing to see how few return after leaving Bethany House and credits that to programming and services provided to its guests, including adult education and mentorship, support groups and counseling. Giving back and getting involved have been life-giving to S. lynn and she is incredibly proud to share those moments with her 13-year-old godson, Dominic. She brought Dominic and his mother with her one morning to serve breakfast at one of Bethany House’s homes. Seeing fi rsthand the children and families and their appreciation for this small effort touched their hearts and prompted them to do more. “It was a good learning experience,” added S. lynn. “I don’t think young people today know what homelessness is. I had no idea before I became a board member of all the integral things involved.” Community members, like S. Lynn Heper’s godson, Dominic (pictured), have the opportunity to volunteer at Bethany House’s two locations by hosting a dinner for its clients.

From its small beginnings to currently being the largest provider of emergency shelter and housing programs for families experiencing homelessness, Bethany House Services is leading families one step closer to home. Care and comfort, community and support, encouragement and inspiration, the organization continues to stay true to the Sisters of Charity spirit it was built on.

Faith in Action: lenten Almsgiving

By Debbie Weber, OPJCC director

The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women at Shelterhouse offers 60 beds to homeless women in the Greater Cincinnati area.

“Almsgiving helps us to experience giving freely, which leads to freedom from the obsession of possessing, from the fear of losing what we have.” - Pope Francis, Homily, March 5, 2014

During the liturgical season of lent, we are asked to focus our efforts on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by renewing our compassion for our sisters and brothers who experience hunger, homelessness, marginalization and exploitation. The Offi ce of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation (OPJCC) has partnered with Cincinnati-based Shelterhouse to provide a unique opportunity for almsgiving. Shelterhouse provides shelter, food, clothing, toiletries and social services for those who experience homelessness. There is a short-term center for men, a short-term center for women and an evening shelter that is available for women and men. Staff work to empower each resident with holistic case management, health services, and employment services - while helping them to secure permanent housing.

A typical bedroom in Shelterhouse’s women’s center.

When asked what items Shelterhouse needs to care for their residents who are experiencing homelessness, staff were quick to answer: they need liquid laundry soap! There are 60 beds in the Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women, 150 beds in the David and Rebecca Barron Center for Men, and 200 beds in the evening shelter for men and women. That’s a lot of bedding to wash. Residents may also use the laundry facilities to wash their own clothes. Residents in the women’s and men’s centers not only work to secure permanent housing for themselves, but they also have daily chores. For example, some residents choose to keep the kitchen or common areas clean; some choose to do the laundry.

The laundry facilities in the women’s center of Shelterhouse.

liquid laundry soap is rarely donated to Shelterhouse, so the Charity Family and friends are generously dropping off their donations of laundry soap to the OPJCC in the Motherhouse during lent. Shelterhouse staff will pick up the donations after Easter. The runner-up to liquid laundry soap on the “needs” list is toothbrushes. Shelterhouse and their residents are always grateful for toothbrushes and the Charity Family and friends have been most helpful with that donation too. The uncommon, and very specifi c, request of liquid laundry soap and toothbrushes is a unique almsgiving opportunity for the Charity Family. It is a concrete way of sharing the experience of God’s unconditional love for our sisters and brothers in need and those who serve them. Homelessness is a tragic social reality locally, nationally and globally. Places like Shelterhouse provide hope and respect for those they serve. The articles related to the issue of homelessness are meant to inspire and encourage others to join the Sisters of Charity and so many others to improve and transform the lives of homeless people while encouraging structural change. Below you will fi nd a small listing of organizations in Cincinnati and beyond that are working toward this common goal.

Bethany House Services Cincinnati, Ohio Transitional housing, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing. https://bethanyhouseservices.org 513-921-1131

City Gospel Mission Cincinnati, Ohio Hot meals, overnight shelter, outreach, transitional housing. https://www.citygospelmission.org 513-241-5525

FAMVIN Homeless Alliance Vincentian Family initiative on homelessness. https://vfhomelessalliance.org/eng

Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Cincinnati, Ohio Working to eradicate homelessness. https://cincihomeless.org 513-421-7803

Health Resource Center of Cincinnati Nurse-managed clinic providing affordable health care. http://www.hrcci.org 513-357-4602

Ignatian Spirituality Project Offering men and women who are homeless and in recovery from addiction the opportunity to change their lives. ignatianspiritualityproject.org 312-226-9184

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati Family shelter, day center, emergency shelter, child enrichment, pet support program, aftercare, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing. http://ihncincinnati.org 513-471-1100

Lighthouse Youth Services Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter and hotline service for youths. https://www.lys.org 513-961-4080

Shelterhouse Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter, food, emergency clothing items, basic toiletries and safety. http://www.shelterhousecincy.org 513-721-0643

SBP: St. Bernard Project Nonprofi t, disaster relief organization. https://sbpusa.org 504-277-6831

St. Joseph Catholic Worker House Cincinnati, Ohio Emergency shelter for singles. http://www.catholicworkercincinnati.org 513-381-4941

St. Vincent de Paul Society Cincinnati, Ohio A network of neighbors, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need. https://www.svdpcincinnati.org

St. Vincent de Paul Society Shrine of the little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan Meet and respond to those in need of food, clothing, housing, and other essentials. www.shrinechurch.com/christianservice/saint-vincent-de-paul-society 248-765-4895