Partnership with Catholic Charities to reopen the Madonna House for asylum-seeking women + children
UPCOMING EVENT: April 22, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. - A Call to Accompaniment: Navigating Chicago's Migrant Crisis, Talk + Q&A with Sally Blount, President and CEO of Catholic Charities - Learn more here!
December 15, 2023
Dear Friends of Saint Clement,
Over two years ago, we came together with Catholic Charities to support the relocation of two families from Afghanistan to Chicago. Witnessing the impact of this collaboration, our dream has been to expand our partnership and provide permanent housing for more families, especially given the migrant crisis in Chicago. In light of this, we are excited to announce that we are partnering with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago to reopen the Madonna House for the upcoming winter and spring seasons.
Our mission is to ensure that families find safety and warmth during the harsh winter months in Chicago. The Madonna House will house 9-10 asylum-seeking families (women + children) who have been victims of domestic violence or abuse. This transitional shelter will aid in the resettlement and recovery of these migrant women and children emerging from such violence. We are inviting Saint Clement members to partner with us in creating a supportive community for these families.
In our partnership, Catholic Charities will handle the logistical and legal aspects of housing, while we, as a community, will rally together to fundraise a portion of the costs and establish personal connections with the families. This will involve preparing the house for a warm welcome at the start. Our ongoing partnership will involve weekly dinner assistance as well as supporting their self-sufficiency progress through accompaniment activities (i.e., ESL tutoring, job prep, childcare activities, etc).
Journeying to a foreign place and adjusting to a different culture are very difficult things to do. Survivors of domestic abuse and violence are particularly vulnerable and require holistic and dignified care in a safe environment to recover and rebuild their lives. As Catholic disciples of Christ, we are ever called to “make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity,” (para 31, Lumen Gentium).
In early 2024, we will announce how you can further partner with us -- through our Lenten Almsgiving, fundraising, and more specific volunteer opportunities. At present there are more immediate needs. We are looking for donations and in-person volunteers to help prepare the space for welcoming families. You can learn more and sign-up to help via the forms below:
DONATING ITEMS:
If you are interested in donating gently used clothing or furniture items, please see this form. If you are interested in purchasing new items via our registry, please click here. These items are greatly needed to help us prepare the house for the families' arrival.
VOLUNTEERING:
Please see further below in our January 5th update.
PROJECT MANAGERS NEEDED:
Lastly, we are looking for 2-3 project managers to help with the development of our workstream. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this specifically, please email Martina (at mricca@clement.org) or Christina (at coropeza@clement.org).
I thank you in advance for your support of this partnership. The Holy Spirit continues to bless our community with generous hearts of service to others in need.
In peace,
Fr. Peter Wojcik
Pastor of Saint Clement Parish
JANUARY 5 UPDATE ON PARTNERSHIP:
Thank you, Saint Clement family, for your generous support of the Madonna House partnership so far! As we near the welcome of families to the Madonna House, we are excited to circulate this meal train that will help provide week night dinners to the women and children staying at the House. Saint Clement has committed to providing 2 dinners a week (Monday & Tuesday) to Madonna House. We are looking for volunteers to sign-up to make meals at your home and drop off at the parish on Monday before noon to be delivered to the Madonna House on Monday afternoons.
We invite you to sign-up for a date or dates that work for you in the coming weeks! This is a great opportunity to cook with your family, your friends, or maybe even your small group. In the coming weeks, the Madonna House will home about 20 people, with the majority of them being small children. For serving sizes, please plan to cook for about 10-12 adults.
If you need help with recipe ideas, have questions about drop-off logistics, or would like to learn more about other ways to be involved with the Madonna House, please contact Martina Ricca and Christina Oropeza. Thank you!
FEBRUARY 14 UPDATE ON PARTNERSHIP:
Last week, Saint Clement volunteers finished the in-house preparations for the families moving into Madonna House. The clothing rooms, the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms were stocked with plenty of items to get the first families started on the right foot. The House will first welcome 3-5 families, and then move to full capacity in the coming weeks. We are so thankful for the parish’s generosity up to this point. As the families settle, we know that many new needs will arise. We invite you to prayerfully consider donating to our Lenten Almsgiving fund in support of Madonna House so that we may be best equipped to respond to the needs that arise. To learn more about Madonna House updates, or to get involved with the families, please contact Martina Ricca and Christina Oropeza.
A Call to Accompaniment: Navigating Chicago's Migrant Crisis
Talk + Q&A with Sally Blount, President and CEO of Catholic Charities
Monday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m., Chapel
Over the past 6 months, we have all worked together to respond to the needs of the poor, the forgotten, and the lonely within the migrant communities in the city. Through meal-trains, collections of most-needed items, and financial support, we have sought to bring some semblance of grace to these individuals. Saint Clement's parish partnership with Catholic Charities and parishes like ICSJ, St. Josaphat, and St. Teresa of Avila have helped to specifically support the reopening of the Madonna House to now provide a safe space for 6 mothers and their 10 children. As we continue to support these mothers, and the mothers who will soon move into the home, we have the opportunity to sit down with the CEO of Catholic Charities, Sally Blount, for an evening of discussion and Q&A on the work that Catholic Charities is doing to support migrant families, ensure safe spaces for all who are in need, and accompany families through periods of vast transition.
We invite you to join us on Monday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the Saint Clement Chapel to hear from Sally on the important work that has been done, and that which is left to do! Please submit your RSVP here. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
We are so blessed for the ways you embrace Christ's message to love and serve others. Thank you for the tireless work that you do to be His hands, His feet, and His heart!