Every year, the ladies at St. Gianna and their children gather in the community dining room for the annual Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and ham, complete with all of the fixings. Also present are Sister Bernadette Radek M.S., Sister Karen Eden M.S., Sister Carol Hohmeier M.S., and some of our volunteers.
St. Gianna’s, if you might not know, is a 24-apartment home for women, with their children, who are escaping domestic violence and the pressures of having an abortion. It is staffed by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln. In our sixth year, with the grace of God, we have helped save between 20 and 30 babies, while providing a safe place for women who are escaping violent situations with nowhere to go. Not long ago, one such mother told me what peace she had one night, after waking up, watching her children sleep safe and sound. She was most grateful that she and her children were at St. Gianna.
Since opening, most women, when shown their apartments for the first time visibly cry with a tremendous level of gratitude.
While at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, after getting my first plate (of two), I sat at a number of tables as I was invited to sit with some of the mothers and their children. It was a good time to get to know the ladies and their sons and daughters even more. One such little girl, after complimenting her on her beautiful dress, informed me that it was really a costume she wore on Halloween. She was a little Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.” It was flashy and fancy. Since she had a nice purse in tow, I couldn’t help but ask, “And what do young ladies keep in their purses?” After a bit of a pause, she replied, “Well …. rosaries, gummy bears and play money.” I was impressed that the first thing she listed was her rosary beads.
At St. Gianna’s, not only do we help ladies with a safe home until they are able to live safely and independently, we do so much more.
Not only do we help them materially and psychologically, but also spiritually as we want to help them save their souls… for they and their children are sons and daughters of God the Father, made in His image and likeness. In addition to wanting to help them find some earthly peace, we want to help them find peace that only God can give, the kind of peace that no one can take away from them.
Since opening, there have been women who have entered the Catholic Church and some who have returned to the practice of the faith. I am grateful for the loving example of the Marian Sisters at St. Gianna. Their mere presence is a great aid to helping the ladies and their children grow closer to God. But of course they do much more, for they teach not only by their loving example but also by their words. They are great teachers.
I would like to thank them, our St. Gianna and CSS volunteers and supporters in a special way this Thanksgiving. Please remember you are all in our prayers! Happy Thanksgiving!
