By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Just days ago, St. Gianna’s held their annual Thanksgiving dinner. For those who may not know, St. Gianna’s is a 24-apartment home for women escaping abortion and domestic violence. It is run by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln.
The annual Thanksgiving dinner is a combined effort of Sister Bernadette Radek, Sister Karen Eden, Sister Carol Hohmeier, and some St. Gianna volunteers. I was fortunate to have attended. We enjoyed turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and many desserts. Most of the ladies and their children attended. The Marian Sisters also made cute candy items in the form of wagons, turkeys and acorns, made from graham crackers and candy items. They looked so nice that the children were not sure if they were allowed to eat them! One even came up to me prompted by her mother to find out for sure.
After dinner, I sat down briefly at each table, to greet the ladies and their children. I asked each lady what St. Gianna has meant to them. One lady told me St. Gianna’s literally saved her life. Before coming to St. Gianna’s, after losing custody of her baby, she found herself pregnant and homeless living in a storage container. She has since turned to God, prays daily (sometimes in our beautiful chapel), and is awaiting the birth of her baby. She is actively working on getting her other child back from foster care. This woman is like the others who are at St. Gianna’s: with the grace of God, and the help of our generous donors, they are putting their lives back together.
I am happy to announce that St. Gianna’s is holding their annual “Carole Fest,” a benefit for St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes, at the beautiful St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center (located at 16th and Q streets in Lincoln) Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Like previous years, multiple choirs will perform and sing Advent and Christmas carols. The cost to attend is $10 per person and $25 per family. There will be a raffle for a unique “Cat in the Hat” quilt and gift basket. Christmas cookies and refreshments will be served after the concert.
I pray that you will be able to join us but if not, please pray for the success for this wonderful event and please consider helping us because St. Gianna’s is funded solely by private donations.
As we enjoy the Thanksgiving break, the ladies, their children and I would like to personally thank our benefactors and volunteers for supporting St. Gianna’s. St. Gianna, pray for us!
