20 Years and Christmas Cheers

      With Christmas just a few days away, my thoughts have lingered on the women and children living at Catherine's House. How do they celebrate Christmas? Do the children wonder if Santa will find them at a strange place? Do the mother's wonder how they will provide a magical experience for their expectant kids?

      As the national news has been filled with tragic stories of the loss of children, I couldn't help but wonder about the children, and their parents, living so close to so many of us. But after talking with Sister Carmelita, my worries were put at ease, as Catherine's House ensures a wonderful Christmas for all; this year especially is filled with celebrations and blessings.

      I have mentioned in previous posts (this one and a picture from this one) that Catherine's House hosted their 20th Anniversary and Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 13th. I was unfortunately unable to attend the festivities, but from what I was told, it was wonderful. Memebers of the community, patrons, and special guests arrived to the beautifully decorated house. Previous resident's spoke of the blessings they received at Catherine's House and the accomplishments they have achieved since leaving. Sister Carmelita spoke to the guests about their mission and services. The President and CEO of Catherine's House helped light up the spectacular tree outside.



Patsy Fuller with the decorated tree
inside the house

      Here are some pictures of the event provided by the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce which serves more than 340 business members in the area!



President and CEO Stan Patterson with
Sister Carmelita after lighting the tree















Sister Carmelita telling tour groups about the house

      On December 18th, the John Wieland Homes hosted their annual Christmas Dinner. The women and children of Catherine's House attended and were visited by Santa, who brought many gifts for both the mothers and their kids.

      Christmas morning is truly the best though, as the house will be buzzing with the residents opening their many, many gifts provided by the children from Saint Gabriel Catholic School. These children, with their parents, make sure that Catherine's House residents have the best Christmas of their lives. They also provide many household items for the new year. What a wonderful gift!

      Knowing that the resident's will be provided for helped put me at ease, but my thoughts and prayers will continue to be with them. Though I will not be formally blogging about my adventures and time spent in the house, I will continue to serve Catherine's House as needed.  During the Season of Giving, I hope I was able to give a little bit to them, for they certaintly gave me more than I could have imagined - perspective, gratitude, and a desire to assist. I also hope that my recording of some of their stories and experiences has helped shed a light on the needs of many women and children in the community, and ignited a spark to serve in others.

      I have an undying gratitude for Catherine's House- for the services they provide to others and for their welcoming arms letting me into their lives. I am so glad that they will be receiving a magical and blessed Christmas. It just goes to show what a little bit of mercy in life can do for someone.

      Be sure to visit http://catherineshouseinc.org/ to learn more about Catherine's House and how you can help out these wonderful people!

                                                                     God Bless,
                                                                              Megan




http://catherineshouseinc.org/

Working Hard

"I have learned so much!!!!! I have learned how mercy can change lives. I have learned not to take my blessings for granted. I have learned that everyone needs unconditional love."

      Since the summer of 2011, Jacki McCarthy has been employed at Catherine's House as the Developmental Director. I got to work with Jacki when a few of us volunteers stuffed the envelopes and mentioned her then (read that blog post here), but here is a better understanding of what this incredible woman does for Catherine's House!

      In 2009, Jacki worked for a company founded by a woman who once worked at House of Mercy and knew all about the ministries of Catherine's House. Having a tie to the place, their company was hired to create a fundraising plan. Jacki was put on site to begin the plan until Catherine's House was ready to hire a permanent employee to fulfill the job. Having witnessed the lives of many women change during her course of work, Jacki fell in love with the ministry and mission. She was eager and blessed to have the opportunity to help them set up a way for continued financial support.

      The impression that Catherine's House made was so great that Jacki became a full-time employee, taking the job which she helped create.

      Among the many, many tasks Jacki does for the House, she write grants, help coordinate events, write thank you letters, work with a web designer to redesign the website, work on a promotional video, steward donors, create the newsletter, and anything else the job requires.

"I have watched a baby while her mom was making dinner, taken residents to the doctor or to work when there was no other volunteer or staff member to take them. Basically, I focus on fundraising related activities, but we all pitch in when we are needed. We are a small staff but a very dedicated staff, and we all work together to carry out the mission of Catherine’s House."



Jacki on the right at the 20th Celebration and Tree Lighting
Ceremony. December 13th, 2012. Thanks to the Montcross
Area Chamber of Commerce for the photo!

      Though she's always running around with a bundle on her plate, Jacki adores her job. She loves it most when a resident moves out of the house and into a place of their own. When the residents get a job interview. When a resident finds employment and bursts into her office with the good news. When they can celebrate any accomplishment- both big and small. She also loves interviewing prospective and former residents.

"I feel so honored when a resident shares her story with me. The majority of our residents have faced hardships in their lives and I know it must take so much courage to share their story with someone they don’t know very well. They trust me to write their story and it means the world to me. I also love to celebrate where they are now. I love it when a child comes by my office for a hug. That is the absolute best! Often, they start off really shy and it takes courage and trust to give that first hug."

      But with any job, there comes a few hardships. Hearing the resident's stories is wonderful, but it is also very difficult to hear. Most of the residents face or have faced some horrific situations including abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual).  And though Catherine's House isn't a place for women under an immediate threat to domestic violence, the residents almost always have severe trauma or abuse or in their backgrounds from a partner or a family member or both.

"I read that 92% of homeless mothers have experienced sexual abuse. My jaw dropped and our Program Director at the time said she believed that was accurate. That is the worst part – knowing that abuse actually happens and at such a high rate. And seeing how the children are affected by it. Often their mothers do not know the best way to parent because they did not have parents who knew the best way to parent. We offer classes for that which helps, but only if the resident is open to it. It is hard to change behaviors that are so engrained."

      Times can be tough for both the residents and employees of Catherine's House, and yet there remains so much potential, so much hope, so much love. Jacki loves her job, absolutely loves it. On that first day that I met her, surrounded by postal bins, she was incredibly warm and welcoming and worked with a smile on her face. She has seen and heard tremendous stories of hardships and cringe-worthy pasts of the residents, but she has also seen the work that God does through their situations. She has seen growth. And that is what Catherine's House offers- the opporunity to grow in the love of self, others, and God.

"One of our former residents put it best when she said she learned that “If you take one step, God will take ten.”"

                                                             God Bless,
                                                                       Me

Called to Kids

      Last Spring, Stephen and Abbey felt a strong call to serve in the community. They had no reservations as to what, but decided that they should look into needs in the area. After doing some online researh, Catherine's House popped up on the list (To learn more about Catherine's House click here).  After looking into Catherine's House a little more, they both felt their heart strings being tugged at.

"This one touched us both and it really stood out as THE thing we should be doing."

      The couple has been married for about four and a half years now and have spent every Thursday night since March at Catherine's House volunteering as babysitters.  This is the most recent service I was able to attend last week.

     When I got there, I met Stephen and Abbey and headed into the playroom in the House. The mom's were having their budgeting class so babysitting would go from about seven to eight at night. We weren't sure how many kids would come because, as I learned, the number varies every week. Some weeks it is one or two, other weeks it can be up to nine or ten. This past time when I went there were seven kids, ranging from seven months old to thirteen years.

      To be honest, I didn't quite plan to actually babysit with them. I figured I would get in, ask a few questions, and stay out of the way. But as soon as I saw these kids I put my bag down and sat crossed-legged on the carpet and began playing with a noisy lightup truck to entertain one of the babies. I couldn't resist being a part of the fun.

      For the next hour or so, I watched and was thoroughly impressed by Stephen and Abbey. They were able to balance the diverse age range and made time for each kid. They encouraged the kids who had homework to do theirs so that everyone could play together. They held crying babies and played keep away with the boys. Their team work and ease with the kids made me see how they truly were called to Catherine's House.

"It's not always easy," they agreed. "The winter months are much harder because it's dark and we can't go outside with them. When it is warmer, it is so much easier because we can take them outside on the playground for hours and bring popsicles and they can run around and get some energy out. But now, they get really antsy much sooner because this (the playroom) is the only place we can really go, and they see it everyday."

      Regardless of the small space and same toys as always, Stephen and Abbey made good use of the resources, and I like to think I did a good job helping them. I assisted a four year old girl in onesie Dora the Explorer pajamas build a lego tower that would be much taller than her older brothers. I was taught to play Corners, which I was very bad at and kept losing. I held a few sad babies who wanted to be with everyone and everything all at the same time. I listened to an eigth grader sing a Chris Brown song and sing it better than a lot of little girls I know. And the best - I gave life to a stuffed animal dog who's best friend was a caterpillar and together they went to the mall and bought purple shoes. It was great.

      After babysitting was over, I helped Stephen and Abbey clean up the toys and straighten up the room. We were all pretty exhausted but I had an inner joy at playing with these kids, and they felt it too.

"Sometimes we get off work, go home and change, and eat a barely there dinner to come here and there be only one or two kids who have a lot of homework. But even on those nights, we enjoy being here. Sometimes having a bigger group like tonight is great because the kids can play with eachother more. Other times though, it is nice having just one or two, because we can really connect with them and learn about them."

      When leaving for the night, Stephen and Abbey said I was welcome to come back any Thursday I like and help them out. And I think I might just do that.

                                                                           God Bless,
                                                                                    Megan

O Christmas Tree!

On December 13th, Catherine's House will be hosting its 20th Anniversary celebration and annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. 

     Each year, Catherine's House displays a beautiful Christmas Tree in their lobby, decorated with ornaments and twinkly lights. The fourteen women and eleven children living in the House pass by the tree everyday as they exit and enter the House.


Patsy Fuller at a former holiday celebration

      Catherine's House encourages you to purchase a light on the tree to remember that special person (or persons) in your life. Over the years, many people have been honored and rememered in this unique way. It is a beautiful gift to give someone (they are notified of the lights being donated in their name) and also serves as a gift to Catherine's House, as all proceeds go to the up-keep of the ministry and services of the House.

      At the lighting ceremony and celebration, a book will be on display with the names of the persons represented by the lights. The tree will be lit outside of Catherine's House and tours of the facility will be offered to anyone wishing to look inside the decorated house. And you don't have to worry about getting hungry because String Bean Restraunt and Deli will be providing food and beverages.

      Festivities are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

      Everyone one is welcome to come out and celebrate this opportunity to meet the volunteers, women and children that I've been introducing to you. Though some of the names have been anonyomous, the heart is the same.

      For more information on how to participate in this beautiful Christmas tradition, contact Patsy Fuller, Office Manager, at (704)-825-9599 or patsyfuller@catherineshouseinc.org.