LIVES THAT ARE BORN AGAIN

My ministry takes place in a shelter home for immigrant women who have serious difficulties (financial, job-related, social, as victims of exploitation). 

A few months ago, we welcomed three young women to our shelter home – two from East Europe an one from Africa). We were also asked to shelter for a while a transexual person, whom I will name Sally. We wondered with our team whether we would be able to handle a situation such as this. In the end, though with some hesitation and concern, we accepted. 

Sally had a very wounded past. She had experienced much pain and suffering in her life, had very low self esteem and did not trust anyone. 

As the days went by, we realized that Sally’s presence created a balance within the group of the women at the Home. Sally listened to them and comforted them. She had become a big support and encouraged them to face their own wounds. They helped each other in handling daily chores and in trying to build back up a new life for themselves. 

Sally left the Home saying that she had found a place there where she never felt judged for her life but she felt loved and welcomed for what she was. The serene and family-like environment had allowed her to begin looking at her own past and seeking a new and better life for herself in the future.   

Sr. Monica sfp


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I am a Franciscan Sister of the Poor...

I am a Franciscan Sister of the Poor. I am an obstetrician and work in the brousse (the brush) in Senegal. I come in contact with many women, young expectant mothers, who are very weak because of strenuous activities and the heat, and who would like to learn how to live properly during pregnancy and delivery.

One day, a father arrived at our health center with three-week-old twins. They were extremely small (one weighed 3.9 lbs. and the other 3.5 lbs.), sick and malnourished. Their mother, a 16 year old woman, had died of a hemorrhage when she delivered the second twin. She did not have any pre-natal care and had no idea that she was expecting twins. She delivered at home without any medical assistance. Now she was dead and her husband was coming to us with the babies, accompanied by the grandmother and asking for help.

What could we do? We looked for a place where the twins could stay for one year, where they could be nourished and grow with all the necessary medical care. We found such a place in the city of Dakar. The father said he could not afford it. Thanks to the generosity of so many friends who support us, we found the money. The babies will make it, but unfortunately their father needed to go back to his village, which is very far away.

Who will be close to the babies? Our SFP Associates will visit them and be with them throughout the year. Life goes on and hope is very much alive as well.


Sr. Rose sfp


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A Healing Presence

I have always known that the presence of even one SFP makes a difference in the lives of the people around her…and this belief is confirmed once again by the impact our Sisters Rita Donnelly and Frances Delaney have on the lives of the other residents of their assisted living facility in Brighton Gardens, New Jersey.

Both of then remain quite active and live very full lives: attending daily liturgies, singing in the choir, assisting with parish activities, helping with fund-raising efforts, critiquing homilies at the Archdiocesan Seminary, and acting as a voice for the voiceless at Brighton Gardens. In this latter area, their contributions are priceless for other residents.

Just in the past few weeks, they have:
1) asked the priest who celebrates monthly mass there to hear confessions before each Mass; 2) asked the Administrator to have a dietitian visit with residents on a more frequent and timely basis to ascertain their dietary needs; and 3) participated with others in saying the Rosary several times a week.

The Director of Recreation at Brighton Gardens shared the following with me about Sr. Rita: Regardless of their religious affiliation, Sr. Rita advocates for all the residents. She considers them to be part of her ‘living family’ and cares deeply for each one. As you can well imagine, the facility is always transporting one of the residents to the hospital for a variety of reasons. Quite naturally, the other residents are concerned and want to know what has happened to the person. However, because of HIPAA regulations, no one will tell them anything…

So they worry and fret until the person either dies or returns to Brighton Gardens and fills them in on what happened. In the event that someone has died, some of the residents tried to get to the funeral home, but most could not make it…and yet they, too, grieved and wanted to say goodbye.

So, Sr. Rita suggested that there be a memorial service at Brighton Gardens itself for each resident who dies. The service consists of Scripture Readings and a prayer service during which residents can remember and memorialize the death of their friend. The families of the departed are invited – and each family member is given a rose. It means a great deal to the residents – and to the families.

I thanked the Director for the story – and also for listening to Sr. Rita’s suggestion. It is closure and healing for every one…

In Blessed Frances, your Sister, Anita McArdle


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Mother Frances Is Always at Work!

A young woman rings the bell at our house. She feels lost and abandoned. The depression she suffers from prevents her even from taking exams at the University.


After some time, she tells me that had it not been for our open door and welcoming spirit, she would not have had any reason to live. Since then, she began a journey of healing and feeling welcomed, listening and trusting in us. She ended up getting her Degree cum laude. Mother Frances is always at work!

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A Healing Experience at Tamar's Place

Yesterday, one of our volunteers who is in recovery, inspired me all over again. She has very little, but she is both generous and content with what she has…She told me about a minor catastrophe she experienced: she broke a plate. That may not seem like much, but when you have only 3 plates and you break one, it’s a lot! As we were talking, I told her, “Charline, I am so proud to know you. You have only two plates, and yet you are happy with what you have…”

How much each of us can learn, how much healing gratitude each of us could feel, if only we could be happy with what we have! This is what I mean when I say that these women give so much…in this case, their appreciation, their gratitude for what they have. There is no envy, no sense of entitlement, no jealousy. There is only gratitude. Meister Eckhart said: "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice…” In Charline, I have seen this ‘prayer’ in action, and felt a welling up of gratitude in my own heart: one of her many gifts.

Last night, I visited Sr. Karen Hartman’s storage area for her yearly ‘garage sale’… and found 4 matching plates, cups, saucers and bowls along with some utensils and boxed them up for her. I know she will be thrilled! I wish I could be there when she opens it…
Sr. Mary Lawrence Vanderburg, SFP


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