In Time of Need

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. 
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27

What a beautiful and intimate relationship the Lord desires to have with us every day. The Lord longs to help us in our time of need, bringing help and peace, no matter the circumstance. And, the truly beautiful part is He gives it freely when we humbly ask. Catholic Charities reflects this desire with everyone they come in contact with – to people like 73-year-old Hal.

Hal was in danger of having his electricity disconnected and came to Catholic Charities Crisis Office for assistance. He had opened a checking account just a few months prior and the bank had talked Hal into having both a checkbook and an ATM card. Unfortunately, Hal did not fully understand that there might be outstanding checks that had not cleared when he checked his balance at the ATM – and this confusion caused Hal’s check to the utility company to bounce and put him in danger of losing power at his home.

Although Hal had $50 of the funds necessary to keep the power from being disconnected, he did not have quite enough to also cover the bounced check fee. Wanting to find a long-term solution to his financial difficulty, the Crisis Office paid the fee to keep Hal’s power on; and then worked with the utility company and bank to have Hal’s rent and utilities automatically deducted, set up a $25 per month savings account deduction, and made sure Hal still had enough money for food and incidentals from his monthly fixed income.

Never let fear, confusion, or shame keep you from asking God for help. Catholic Charities is here to be a help to those in need and provide hope for not only your immediate needs, but your future needs as well.

No Matter the Circumstance

Catholic Charities seeks to provide help no matter the circumstance. But, we provide more than help. We create hope – bringing peace of mind and empowering people to transform their lives – people like Latashia.

Just before the holidays last year, Latashia and her two young boys were evicted from their apartment. The father of her two young boys destroyed the home where they had been living, leaving Latashia and her children with nowhere to go as the cold weather quickly approached. Feeling alone and hopeless, Latashia called Holy Family Shelter.

Determined not to let circumstances define her, Latashia quickly and gratefully embraced the services provided by Holy Family Shelter. She met with the Educational Services Coordinator, a family counselor, and concentrated on a budget that would help her pay off her debts and provide a stable financial environment for her boys. She also developed an individualized goal plan to address her homelessness and find stable housing for her small family.

Latashia accomplished all this while not just going to work, but performing so well that she even earned a promotion. Through dedication to her finances, success at her job, and working with her case manager, Latashia was able to find affordable housing through Holy Family Transitional Housing. As early spring came, Latashia and her family were no longer homeless.

But Latashia’s journey with Catholic Charities did not end when her family moved into the transitional housing program. She continually works to build a strong family, develop her parenting skills, and assist her boys as they grow. Additionally, Latashia’s work attendance and performance earned a second promotion, which included a pay raise and work hours that were more conducive to her boys’ schedules. The promotion also provided her the opportunity to attend a work training program, increasing her skills and drive towards a whole new life.

Latashia was able to successfully juggle many challenges in her life – employment, homelessness, transportation and care for her boys, money management, debt consolidation, and more – while at Holy Family Shelter and Transitional Housing. No matter her circumstance, Latashia is determined and filled with the hope and confidence that she can provide her two boys the stable life and future they deserve.

If you or someone you know would benefit from the services offered at Holy Family Shelter or Transitional Housing, call (317) 635-7830. 

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

The familiar Christmas tune, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, ends each verse with a beautiful promise, “Peace on Earth, good will to men.” With words written by Henry W. Longfellow in the midst of the American Civil War – how could Longfellow write a song proclaiming peace? How can we proclaim peace in tumultuous and uncertain times?

Proverbs 14:30 tells us, “A heart at peace gives life to the body.” Peace is a state of the heart, not just a passing feeling or thought. Peace comes as a constant gift from God. For the peace of God to rule in our hearts, He must replace the reign of self – with all its fears, ambitions, passions, and false hopes – and that takes time and trust.

Peace requires us to trust God even when circumstances seem to dictate otherwise. Real peace is not dependent upon circumstances; and trust is often revealed only in difficult times. The peace that comes from God must be tested. If it isn’t, we’ll never know whether it’s genuine.

Whatever you are going through, trust that God is above your circumstances. Bring all your fears, doubts, ambitions, and hopes to Him. You can trust that His way leads to peace and righteousness.

In 2013, resolve to let your life be ruled by peace – no matter life’s circumstances.