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St. Francis Parish - Social Ministry

-- HIGHLIGHT  for July 10, 2011:    This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted with rent for a retuning citizen who last year finished 7 years of service in the Michigan Corrections/Prison System.  He did not want to ask for help, but, his mentor, a member of St. Francis, convinced him to ask St. Francis Parish for help because the reason for not having quite enough to pay the rent was that he had gone through a difficult job transition this month.   He has some extra time, he is pleasant to work with, and, he does general painting, home maintenance, and yard work.  If you would like to meet him call Scott at the Parish Office (821-2121).

--  This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul helped a family with burial expenses, as well as, another family pay their rent.  (See the “MY SITUATION” thank you/story below here #5 from 2010-04-18.)

-- HIGHLIGHT  for April 25, 2010: This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted a low-income-senior with a car repair so that she could continue her work.

-- HIGHLIGHT  for May 2, 2010: This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted a low-income-senior with a car repair so that she could continue her work.

------------  Career Workshop ------------
After attending the Careers Through Faith workshop, I was able to acquire a part-time position in a Senior Citizens Housing near my house.  I could still drive there with my old car even in bad weather.  I work with really nice people and enjoy the residents.  I was fortunate to have met a contact through the workshop, thanks to you.   Thank you for taking care of our parishioners the way you do.
 

-- HIGHLIGHT(s) for May 9, 2010: This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted a low-income parish member with a prescription medication, and, another low-income senior parish member, whose part-time work hours were reduced, with rent.
 

-- HIGHLIGHT(s)  for May 16, 2010:  This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted a low-income senior citizen with much needed weatherization home repairs.

-- HIGHLIGHT(s)  for May 23, 2010:  This past week, thanks to your support, our parish St. Vincent de Paul assisted a low-income parish member with a DTE Energy bill, as well as, another member with a car repair.
 

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St. Francis assisted 40 households with housing/shelter or eviction stoppage in the time period of January 2009-January 2010.

St. Francis came to the aid of 5 households with needed utility bill and water support in the time period of January 2009 thru January 2010
 
 

HELP DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES
ST. FRANCIS COMMUNITY LIVES THE GOSPEL BY HELPING THE HOMELESS
THANK YOU St. Francis for:
“I lived in your Men’s Shelter in March of this year and appreciated the hospitality."
“I am going through bankruptcy and if it wasn’t for the car St. Francis gave me I would not be able to keep the jobs I do have.”
“I can shop at the RUMMAGE SALE and know that I can purchase quality goods for my family that I can afford.”

In  Ann Arbor there are over 600 persons who do not have a home. There are about 189 beds in organized shelters in and around Ann Arbor. St. Francis is part of RAAH ( Religious Action for Affordable Housing) and the INTERFAITH HOMELESS COALITION of Congregations addressing HOMELESSNESS.

To learn of more ways our St. Francis Community can help :
Find out about Groundcover, The New Street NEWSPAPER, from Susan Beckett at: 
RAAH at www.raah.org, #734-332-9023
INTERFAITH HOMELESS COALITION Paul Duke # 663,9376 
Or Ron Gregg # 734-769-3127 

Does his statement define poverty in a new way for us?  Who are the isolated in our country? our state? our city? our neighborhoods? our parish?  How might I reach out to them in love?

And we ask ourselves: Have I become isolated?  Since I’ve lost my job? fallen into debt? moved to this area? become ill?  Since I’ve felt like a failure?  How might I let myself be touched by the love of my neighbor? of my fellow parishioners? of my family and friends?

In my prayer today, I ask the Lord to open my heart to respond to the face of Jesus in those who are isolated and to be open to his love when I am that person.

My name is Ann and I’m a long time parish member. My husband’s union pension check with our social security helped us keep our heads above water. Last year my husband passed away. His pension was payable only as long as he was alive. Now I have to get by with only social security. As a mother and homemaker, I’ve never worked outside the home so my social security check isn’t very big. I have ongoing health and vision issues making it almost impossible for me to get out of the house. This time of year most of my income goes to utilities.

I’m writing to ask for your help. Help for all those like myself trying to get along in these difficult times.

     I would like to share with you how the church has helped our family in our time of need.  My husband and I both worked in the IT field at good jobs until my husband was laid off this summer. He has been trying to find work since then.
 

        I just received news today that our children are going to get gifts through the giving tree program at St. Francis, and, that the St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis will help pay our housing this month. When I opened the letter I just started to cry. I was not expecting something like this.  The amount of relief I felt was overwhelming.

           A year ago when each of my children were picking a tag off the giving tree at St. Francis….  I would have never imagined that in that short time we were in a spot to then be on the tree instead of giving the gifts.  We are so grateful for all of the blessings that the church has brought to us.  I can not say how much it means to me not to have to worry that they will not have an Christmas gifts because we can not afford it this year.  Thank you again for all that you have given us.

Friends in Christ,
A Fellow St. Francis Family

I'm James*.  I'm a parish member, dad to two teenagers, and, until recently, I had a pretty good job in construction. But the company I
worked for lost a lot of projects when the economy tanked, and I got laid off, without much notice.

So I wanted to write to ask for your help. Not help for me, but for all the folks who are out of a job or otherwise struggling in this recession. Let me explain. ... …

* NOTE to READER:  I am certain that you are familiar with stories like this one.  The name here was changed to protect confidentiality.   Our Parish Social Ministry Office is looking for ways to connect our parish members who might assist in situations like this.   Please look over this parish bulletin FORUM and consider participating in the activities published here.   Your participation really helps all of us to assist people like “James” in the situation described above here.

You assisted with monthly expenses for a severely disabled woman whose Social Security benefits were unexpectedly terminated. This bridged a gap while Legal Services worked to solve her problem.

You helped with a car repair for a single mom in Safe House so she could get to work and take her child to day care.

You provided utility help for a single working mom who got behind because she had to pay a large day care bill, which the absent father had quit paying. Thanks to your help she was able to get caught up.

Parish St.Vincent de Paul Society

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