STOUGHTON — As part of Pope Francis’ declaration of an Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, St. Ann Parish is organizing several opportunities for people to reach out and help those in need throughout the year.
The first is to encourage Stoughton residents to donate blessing bags for the homeless.
PINE BLUFF — Jeff Heller, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Three Hearts Council of St. Mary Parish in Pine Bluff, recently presented a check for $340 to Monica Quinones, Madison volunteer with Military Outreach USA, to support the Military Outreach USA program for helping homeless veterans.
This program provides a move-in kit of new household supplies for the kitchen, bathroom, and other essentials for veterans who have qualified for a housing voucher, have a job, and are exiting homelessness.
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| Ask IPS |
QUESTION: “Especially as the cold settles in this winter, I want to reach out to the homeless in my community. At the same time, this is outside of my comfort zone and I’m afraid of being asked to take on burdens that I’m not ready for. What is a good balance to strike?”
RESPONSE: Sarah Lowrey, M.S. Student at the IPS Center for the Psychological Services
How beautiful that you want to serve and make a difference in your community!
To the editor:
How ironic that on the same day I received the Catholic Herald newspaper, I also picked up a copy of the Isthmus newspaper. The latter paper had a great article about how a non-profit organization, Housing Initiatives, is focusing on securing housing for the homeless, including homeless veterans.
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| Monica Rose Quinones |
Last year I heard an amazing Relevant Radio interview given by the president/CEO of Military Outreach USA.
Retired Army Major General James Mukoyama was talking about his inspiration to found an organization to help veterans.
“We bring programs and resources to churches and organizations to create awareness of issues affecting our veterans and then teach how help can be provided at the community level,” said Joe Palmer, executive director. If we all do a little, we can accomplish a lot as a community, he said.
MADISON — While not officially a done deal yet, the redevelopment plans for the Bishop O’Connor Center (BOC) in Madison are inching closer to reality.
This month, many items, including furniture and other items from the BOC, were given away to parishes, schools, and other organizations in the diocesan area.
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For quite some time I have had an interest in the plight of the homeless. I have read about it, prayed over it, and have done small things to help.
But feeling that I could, and should, do more to make a difference, I concluded that living as a homeless man — at least for a very brief period — was the best way to understand what it’s like to have no place to call home.
NEW YORK (CNS) — Perhaps the best moment in the fact-based drama Gimme Shelter (Roadside) comes when its beleaguered, deeply sympathetic protagonist, played by Vanessa Hudgens, wonderingly recites a passage from the Book of Psalms that tells of God’s promises to those who trust in him.
It’s a moving scene precisely because such faith-based optimism seems so far removed from all that Hudgens’ character, teenager Agnes “Apple” Bailey, has previously endured.
To Fr. Ken Doyle:
I would like to respond to your answer in the Catholic Herald of January 19. It concerns the $57 million church request.
In our county we are trying to help the homeless who end up sleeping in their cars or under a bridge in a cardboard box. We are doing this with the help of churches, regardless of their denomination.
MADISON — Lent is a time to consider what we do “for the least of our brothers.” Almsgiving is one of the traditional ways we act on our faith during Lent.
