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Casa de Esperanza de los Niños—the House of Hope for Children—is a safe place for children in crisis due to abuse, neglect or HIV/AIDS. Casa de Esperanza provides residential, medical and psychological care to meet the individual needs of each child and offers counseling to the family. |
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Casa de Esperanza |
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Fall/Winter 2004 Newsletter
Sisters of the Presentation of Mary Provide In 1994 two Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, Sister Mariette Plante, then Provincial Superior, and Sister Lorraine Arsenault, a social worker, came to see what Casa was all about. They were impressed, but also realized that living in the houses caring for the children was not going to be the right fit for them. However, they recognized a need they could fill: caring for the caregivers. So the following year a small group of the Sisters left their Mother House in Manchester, New Hampshire, and moved to Houston to establish their own ministry to support the Casa caregivers. Knowing the enormous stresses put on the Casa caregivers the Sisters open their home to give them anything from a few quiet minutes away from their demanding jobs to spiritual guidance in times of crisis. Often it is a home-cooked meal or just listening. Other times it is taking care of the children so the regular caregivers may have a break. A community within a community
Sister Rita Pay, leader of the small community, visits the houses regularly, keeping in close contact with the caregivers and children alike. Although their primary mission is helping the caregivers, the Sisters love the children dearly and invite them in small groups to come to their home for lunch or play. This in itself takes some of the pressure off the caregivers. And for the children “The Sisters’ House” is a favorite destination. The most diminutive of the Sisters, Sister Fern Perrault has the most physically demanding job. She specializes in the Casa pantry—sorting, storing, distributing. The work in the pantry gives her a good opportunity to get to know the caregivers better. A particularly fun part of her task is receiving nice children’s clothes and knowing exactly which Casa child they should go to. Sister Rita says that the children love Sister Fern specially because she will get down on the floor and play with them as if she were an eight-year-old. Sister Jeanne Roberge spends some time every week in the office. Whatever her task Sister Jean tries to encourage everyone she encounters. In her words she is a cheerleader and sharing her faith is important. She is a strong believer in humor. She particularly loves the young people and welcomes them at any hour. Sister Jeanne recognizes the fact that the life of the young caregivers is not easy. They may be far from home and feeling overwhelmed. She is there to listen and give support. Always a warm welcome at their door The Sisters try to make sure that one of them is always in the house so those who come to their door are warmly received. In their tradition of hospitality the Sisters open their home for the monthly staff brunch and also give special receptions to celebrate the adoptions of Casa children. Sister Rita offers Bible Study, a Seder Meal and Lenten meals to caregivers. She also works with any individual caregiver who wants more religious study. Sister Rita was one of the original Sisters to come to Casa. She has been here the entire time and is now beginning her tenth year of service. She describes the joy that she and the other sisters have experienced knowing they have touched the lives of many young men and women. Volunteers from ten years ago are still in touch asking for advice and prayers. Over the years the individual Sisters have rotated, but the care remains the same. Sister Jeanne and Sister Fern returned to New Hampshire this past summer. Sister Rita Garneau and Sister Jeannine Spenard have taken their places. They are warmly welcomed.
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