Just minutes before typing these words, I talked to a single woman who is struggling to keep her head above water and to avoid homelessness. She is employed, but because of debt (including past school loans and some garnishing of wages and daycare costs), she is behind in her rent. Because of the generosity of our benefactors, we will be able to help this woman.
On Thursday, Jan. 14, Bishop James Conley blessed our brand new “Gianna’s Java and Gelato” in Lincoln. After blessing it, he presented us a beautiful print of St. Gianna which we have hung above the fireplace. I informed everyone that, providentially, I had received earlier that morning an email from Dr. Gianna Emanuela, the daughter for whom St. Gianna gave her life.
After the blessing, we served food items that are served daily, and, of course, our delicious handcrafted gelato, made on-site from genuine ingredients imported from Italy and in our gelato machine (also imported from Italy). I am happy that, after taking months to develop our own blend of coffee, everyone loved it, too.
It is a unique project in that it may very well be the only gelato and coffee shop in the Lincoln Diocese that makes the gelato on-site. As some of you know, Msgr. Thomas Fucinaro, one of our priests of the diocese, works in Rome at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments. He recently visited Gianna’s and later told Father Robert Matya, who is the vocations director for the diocese and the chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center downtown, that our gelato is the “real deal,” just like what you get in Rome!
Just to reiterate, 100% of the profits will be used to help needy individuals and families, ladies and their children at St. Gianna’s, and single mothers who are struggling to avoid homelessness like the woman whose story I outlined above.
I would like to thank the two anonymous donors who made this dream come true and all who helped make this happen. Thanks also to those who are and will become addicted to our coffee and gelato!
Please keep the success of Gianna’s Java and Gelato in your prayers and PLEASE, do not give up gelato or coffee this Lent! I would rather you give up your New Year’s resolutions! St. Gianna, pray for us!
