A New Identity

We each have multiple ways that we identify who we are in life. But for the children in our community who are abandoned, neglected, or abused, perhaps their only way of identifying themselves is…

                                                  Helpless.      Desperate.     Hopeless.

At only 8 years old, Brandon was taken into protective custody after protecting his mother during a domestic dispute. Both of Brandon’s parents had a long history of substance abuse and his father had abandoned him at birth.

Over the next six years, Brandon went through multiple placements in treatment facilities, foster homes, a youth shelter, and the juvenile detention center – all while his mother was serving a lengthy prison sentence. Brandon was allowed to have contact with his mother during this time, and he remained hopeful that they would be reunited upon her release. When that day finally came, his mother fell back into a life of drugs and domestic violence, unable to reconnect with her son.

Then, St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities’ CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer was appointed to Brandon’s case. The two quickly established a rapport and for the first time in Brandon’s life, a sense of trust was developed. Due to the tenacity of his CASA volunteer, Brandon successfully remained a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) through the court system; resulting in a voluntary termination of parental rights and enabling the pursuit of adoption.

Brandon’s CASA spends countless hours with him – and has observed Brandon make great strides towards normalcy, including being an active and valued member of a youth football team and attending church each Sunday, where he saves a seat for the CASA who attends with him. Ever vigilant in her dedication to Brandon’s success, when asked if she will remain in his life, her reply to Brandon is swift and from the heart, “I hope to dance at your wedding someday.”

Without the love and support of this CASA volunteer, Brandon would not be who he is today…

Successful.      Confident.       Hopeful.

Together we can reach out to those in desperate need… offering them a new identity.

From Fear to Confidence

As a 4th grader at an Indianapolis parochial school, "Paul" should have been enjoying just being a kid. Sadly, his life was ruled by an anxiety disorder and he coped by avoiding any situation that made him feel anxious. Afraid of almost everything, Paul was missing out on activities he used to enjoy and rarely tried anything new.

One of Paul's classmates also struggled with anxiety and had made significant progress with the help of a social worker from the Catholic Charities School Social Work Program in Indianapolis during the previous school year. The classmate's mother suggested to Paul's parents that this program might also be able to help their son, and they were eager to give it a try.   

The social worker came alongside Paul throughout the whole first semester - helping him understand anxiety and how his mind and body respond to stressors. They made a "worry workbook" together, listing all of Paul's worries from the smallest to the biggest. Then they developed positive ways for Paul to respond to those worries and started adding those coping skills to his "tool box." Paul was learning how to manage his stress so that he felt calm and in control.

The social worker also spent time with Paul's parents, helping them develop communication skills to effectively help their son. By God's grace and the help of Catholic Charities School Social Work Program, Paul has successfully tackled several of the worries on his list and now responds with healthy coping skills. Paul has developed an increased level of confidence in his abilities and is doing better academically, as well as socially.

For more information about this program, please call 317-236-1523.

Seeing the Whole Picture

The summer has flown by – it’s already August! And we all know what that means – school. Students all across the country are going back to school. Some are eagerly anticipating it, while others are dreading it.

So often we look at our youth and want to take care of the external – ensuring they have an education, food, safety, and greater opportunities when they are in school. Rarely do we see the whole picture of what is going on in their lives. For John Etling, Agency Director at Catholic Charities in Terre Haute, an encounter with a young man named *Ben at Ryves Youth Center forever changed his perspective…

I’ll never forget the day I met Ben. I was giving a tour to a visitor when Ben asked me to shoot some baskets with him. Thinking he was hungry, I sent Ben away to the Kid’s Café with the promise of shooting baskets once he got some food and I finished up my tour.

As promised, Ben and I met in the gym a few hours later to shoot baskets. While we were shooting, one of the other children came into the gym and asked Ben if I was his dad. Ben replied with ease, “yes.” That response touched a place deep in my heart.

You see, Ben’s parents had recently divorced because of addiction issues, Ben’s older brother was in juvenile detention, and Ben was living on the streets, staying with anyone who might take him in for the night.  And here I thought all this kid needed was a nutritious meal. 

I thought, “If Ben needs me to be his dad at this moment then I’m going to be his dad.” Then it dawned on me – that’s exactly what Jesus wants us to be to these kids: dads, moms, brothers, sisters… family.

These kids need our love. Sure we feed them, but we also love them. I believe that’s exactly what Mother Theresa had in mind when she said, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”

Thank you to all who serve as a dad, mom, brother, sister, or friend to the youth in need. We at Catholic Charities are thankful for the love, leadership, and investment that our staff, volunteers, and donors make in the lives of countless youth. 

Won’t you do the same?

*Name changed for privacy

Living in Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Christ came to set us free – to give us freedom from the captivity of sin. 

Often, we find ourselves living in a prison that we created. This prison is created when we allow our sinful thoughts, words, and behavior to distance us from God. We allow the lies of the enemy to distort who God is and the grace, love, and forgiveness he desires to give us. Believing that we are beyond hope, beyond rescue, and beyond healing, we settle to live as prisoners.

However, our prison has a key. Our captivity is just steps away from freedom. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins so we could live in freedom. But, what does freedom in Christ truly mean? 

It means that God stands by us until we are free. He knows that freedom is a journey, and He chooses to take that journey with us. He often uses challenges to woo us to Himself, but He never forsakes us. God is not scared or turned off or intimidated by the depth or length of our need. Although He never excuses our sin and rebellion, He patiently walks us towards the freedom He has planned for us. Best of all, He knows our hearts and what motivates our actions, and is therefore the only one who can bring us healing and freedom. Yes, healing. God doesn’t “fix” us; He heals us. God’s heart is overflowing with compassion for us in our time of need, but will ultimately wait for us to want to leave the prison we have created for ourselves. 

Our freedom can be found in Christ alone. We can know that “in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God’s purpose is motivated by an unconditional, unfailing, selfless love. Christ offers us freedom so that we might have life abundantly. Living with a purpose, a plan, and a hope for each day. Living not simply for this world, but for an eternity with him.

Christ came so that you would be set free. Are you living free today?

People Are So Giving Here

Andrei was just 12 years old when the Soviet Union fell and his beloved country of Moldova gained independence and a fresh start. In the midst of initial excitement, Moldovans experienced the collective confusion of how to rebuild and start anew. Many regained possession of family-owned land that had been taken by the Soviets, only to find acre upon acre overgrown and weed-infested, with no resources to make it usable or profitable. With a lack of infrastructure, jobs were scarce and available jobs paid such low wages that most families lived below the poverty line. Andrei recalls how he watched many adults, devoid of purpose, literally drink their lives away.

Surrounded by this depression, Andrei found himself vulnerable to this same pattern as he grew into adulthood. He regrets that he fell victim to this lifestyle for a period of time, but his life changed when he had a spiritual experience that redirected the course of his life. As a result of this experience, he found new purpose in church involvement and actively caring for the disadvantaged around him. He found that some were receptive to these acts of care, while others were quite hostile. Andrei was not a member of the Orthodox Church, and was therefore considered a heretic by many who adhered to national traditions. He calmly relates that he was even beaten and stoned for his beliefs - a horror that he later found was to positively change the fate of his entire family.

Andrei, his wife, and his three children lived their lives as best they could in this environment. However, Andrei's heart was breaking as he envisioned his children's future. In particular, he was concerned for his firstborn son, who suffers from mental retardation and epilepsy. In Moldova, such children were denied education and often abandoned by parents who could neither tolerate nor afford them. He heard that there were special programs available for such children in the United States and dreamed that one day he might be able to provide special care for his son. As fate would have it, he found that his entire family was approved to resettle in the United States due to the targeted oppression Andrei had suffered.

Andrei's case was processed with the help of Catholic Charities in Indianapolis. His sister, who had married a man from America and moved to Indianapolis, filed a family petition with the assistance of resettlement staff. When Andrei and his family arrived in Indianapolis, they brought with them only a few suitcases and the hope for a new life.

Services provided by Catholic Charities resettlement staff began by greeting them at the airport upon arrival and taking them to their new apartment. Over the next few months, Andrei and his family were connected to all necessary resources to start their lives again, including assistance with food, financial support, medical appointments, welfare, English classes, disability resources, employment training and even finding jobs. Additionally, all of Andrei's children were enrolled in school, including his son who had previously been unable to attend. Andrei became teary-eyed while recounting it all - he said, "People are so giving here."

Andrei is currently working as an administrative specialist for a local company, and is delighted to provide for his family. He expressed his deep gratitude for the services provided by Catholic Charities, and when asked how he feels about his new life here, he paused for a moment, smiled, and simply offered, "It's great."

The Land of the Free And the Home of the Brave…

We wish you could meet Jack.

Jack enlisted in the military after high school and was sent overseas to serve in the Middle East. Upon his return, Jack settled in Terre Haute to complete his nursing degree. He initially came to Ryves Youth Center (a program center for Catholic Charities in Terre Haute) as a volunteer through the Indiana State University’s Martin Luther King Day, and that one day of service soon turned into an on-going relationship. It was clear that Jack had spent time in the military – he was quiet but seemed to enjoy our young preschoolers, and they him. Jack came to see the preschool kids several times each week and even interned at Ryves during his senior year.

Not long after his graduation, Jack returned to active duty and was stationed at a hospital in San Antonio, Texas. But, the children at Ryves remain firmly planted in Jack’s heart. We have been blessed to receive letters from Jack, and we’d like to share a brief excerpt from one of those letters:

“Since I don’t have any children of my own, I guess I ended up sort of adopting the children [at Ryves] into my own heart…Often, even though I was trying to help them and teach them something, I felt as if it was they who were teaching me.”

Today, we celebrate not only our nation’s birth and freedom, but men like Jack. Jack is an excellent role model for the children at Ryves – living by his Christian values and displaying the character that our children need to grow up into a positive adult.

Men like Jack are the reason we celebrate this county as the land of the free and the home of the brave. We thank you, Jack, for not only your service to our country but also for living a life that truly displays love for others in a meaningful way.

May you have a Happy 4^th of July!

Hope For Julia

At Catholic Charities, we help men, women, and children who come from a variety of different backgrounds and struggles, all in need of help and hope – all living in fear. Julia was no different when she came to Catholic Charities.

Julia's earliest memories involved witnessing her mother's daily drug use. During her childhood, Julia was removed from her mother’s custody on multiple occasions, only to hear endless promises that her mother would get clean – but it never lasted long. The cycle repeated itself until, at age 17, Julia decided she was tired of dealing with her mother's drug use and the havoc that it was wreaking on her life. 

Julia moved in with her aunt, who recently had become a new mother. With no guarantees of how long she would be able to stay, Julia was grateful for the escape even if it would be short-lived.

Shortly after turning 18, Julia found herself pregnant by a man who no longer wanted anything to do with her or their unborn child. As she reached the final term of her pregnancy, Julia’s aunt became pregnant with her second child and told Julia there was no longer room for her. Homeless, afraid, and nearing the end of her pregnancy, Julia came to St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities for help.

Despite the many struggles she had faced, Julia was able to maintain excellent grades and graduate as an honor student from her high school. But because her mother had never paid book fees, Julia faced the embarrassment and disappointment of not being allowed to graduate with her class. Despite getting a job, she had no clothing, bedding, or supplies to take care of her new baby. Julia felt hopeless and afraid. 

But Catholic Charities would soon provide help and create hope for Julia that changed the future for her and her newborn child. Thanks to a recent grant from the Zonta Foundation, Julia received financial assistance to pay her book fees in time; and through generous donations within the community, Julia was also given the necessary supplies she needed to care for her baby.
In May, Julia graduated with honors and now has what she needs to care for herself and her baby. She has also begun personal counseling to deal with the issues of her past. Julia is excited about what the future has to hold for herself and her baby thanks to the hope that was created by Catholic Charities.