September 27, 2005 to December 22, 2005

For December 22 - Making Christmas Brighter for our Guests

"Are you doing anything special for your guests for Christmas?" is a question we are often asked. As always, we will be open for dinner at our Marquard Center dining room and for supper and shelter at Franciscan House. We've been open every day since 1983 at the shelter and since 1990 at the Marquard Center and will be open on Christmas too. 

You might be surprised to learn that Christmas night is often a lower night for attendance at the shelter, as family and friends will often let a person stay with them for just one night. However, we've had to turn away a record number of people this year so far, so maybe we'll see the usual number of guests on Christmas night this year.

At the shelter kitchen and the Marquard Center dining room we've decorated for Christmas. We also have some special events. 

Last night at the shelter, a special dinner of turkey and all the trimmings was prepared and served to our guests by Debra Thomesen and friends. As the holidays approach, we will be distributing hats and gloves provided by Kate Boege and the Chicago Options Exchange to people at our shelter as well as gifts from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville.

Tonight at the Marquard Center, Bob Bobber, Heather, and Jerauld are serving a gourmet dinner of marinated pork tenderloin. On other days we'll be having a blanket give-away, courtesy of Tenesha Daniels, her family and church, and a gift box give-away donated by Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview Catholic Church. A group from the Jewish Federation, TOV, will be volunteering on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. 

We are grateful to all the many donors and volunteers who make our services possible. Every donation you make to us stays right here and is used in our programs that provide direct service to the homeless. Thanks for making Christmas (and LIFE!) better for the homeless of Chicago! 

For December 15, 2005 - St. Francis, the Poor-ness of Christ, and the Nativity Scene

          With Christmas approaching, nativity scenes are all around us. St. Francis of Assisi was the first one to recreate the scene. He wasn't trying to be cute but to represent a crucial fact about Jesus' birth. Listen to the story of the occasion written by Thomas of Celano, his biographer.  Read the story from  The Life of Saint Francis, written in 1229 by his biographer, Thomas of Celano. (Chapter 30 ~ The Manger He Made in Celebration of the Lord’s Birthday).

 His highest aim, foremost desire, and greatest intention was

to pay heed to the holy gospel in all things and through all things,

to follow the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ

and to retrace His footsteps completely

with all vigilance and zeal,

all the desires of his soul,

and all fervor of his heart. 

Francis used to recall with regular meditation the words of Christ

and recollect His deeds with most attentive perception.

Indeed, so thoroughly did the humility of the Incarnation

occupy his memory,

that he scarcely wanted to think of anything else.

             We should note, then, as a matter worthy of memory and something to be recalled with reverence, what he did, three years prior to his death, at the town of Greccio, on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was a certain man in that area named John who had a good reputation but an even better manner of life. Blessed Francis loved him with special affection, since, despite being a noble in the land and very honored in human society, he had trampled the nobility of his flesh under his feet and pursued instead the nobility of spirit.

            As usual, Blessed Francis had John summoned to him some fifteen days prior to the birthday of the Lord. “If you desire to celebrate the coming feast of the Lord together at Greccio,” he said to him, “hurry before me and carefully make ready the things I tell you. For I wish to enact the memory of that babe who was born in Bethlehem: to see as much as possible with my own bodily eyes the discomfort of his infant needs, how he lay in a manger, and how, with an ox and an ass standing by, he rested on hay.” Once the good and faithful man had heard St. Francis’ words, he ran quickly and prepared in that place all the things that the holy man had requested.

 Finally, the day of joy has drawn near,

the time of exultation has come.

From many different places the brethren have been called.

As they could,

the men and women of that land with exultant hearts

prepare candles and torches to light up that night

whose shining star has enlightened every day and year.

Finally, the holy man of God comes

and, finding all things prepared,

he saw them and was glad.

Indeed, the manger is prepared,

the hay carried in,

and the ox and the ass are led to the spot.

There simplicity is given a place of honor,

poverty is exalted,

humility is commended,

and out of Greccio is made a new Bethlehem.

The night is lit up like day,

delighting both man and beast.

The people arrive, ecstatic at this new mystery of new joy.

The forest amplifies the cries

and the boulders echo back the joyful crowd.

The brothers sing, giving God due praise,

and the whole night abounds with jubilation.

The holy man of God stands before the manger,

filled with heartfelt sighs,

contrite in his piety,

and overcome with wondrous joy.

Over the manger the solemnities of the Mass are celebrated

and the priest enjoys a new consolation.

             The holy man of God is dressed in the vestments of a Levite [a deacon], and with full voice sings the holy gospel. Here is his voice: a powerful voice, a pleasant voice, a clear voice, inviting all to the highest gifts. Then he preaches to the people standing around him and pours forth sweet honey about the birth of the poor King and the poor city of Bethlehem.

             In honor of the God who came to earth in the form of a poor and homeless child, join with us in providing the poor and the homeless with the basic necessities of life and the help they need to make their lives better.  Celebrate the birth of the poor Christ by taking a few minutes to imagine what it would be like to be outside in the weather we're having this month, then do something that will help someone who is poor in some way. What better way to celebrate Christmas!

For December 9, 2005 - HIV-AIDS Testing

In his day, St. Francis and his brothers took care of lepers. As an organization with a Franciscan charism, we keep our doors and our hearts open to all those who suffer, including persons with HIV and AIDS. Fortunately, AIDS isn't compared to leprosy as much as it once was now that we have more information about how it is spread. Except that the people we serve - unaccompanied homeless adults - are among the groups most at risk of getting AIDS. Some factors are the desperate need for shelter, the hopelessness that leads to a disregard for one's health, and the unfortunate fact of intravenous drug use.

This summer we received a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health for HIV-AIDS Prevention. With it we hired a HIV case manager and are paying part of the salary of a program coordinator. Michael Kocher is our HIV Case Manager while Steve Greenberg is our Services Administrator. The testing itself is administered by an organization called Working for Togetherness. The services we provide include...

• Testing for HIV, AIDS, STDs, Hepatitis C - (as of Dec 6, 112 guests have been tested)

• Awareness & Prevention group meetings- education and questions & answers (132 persons attended a prevention group)

• Case management for persons who are considering being tested and have tested positive for anything (25 guests were engaged in case management)

• And coming soon... a support group for persons living with HIV - AIDS

Most HIV tests were negative - so we've given a lot of people peace of mind. Of the 112 guests who were tested, 2 had HIV, 2 had a STD, and 3 had Hep-C.

Those who tested positive for HIV, AIDS, STDs, or Hep-C were referred for medical treatment. There are also specific housing opportunities available for persons with HIV. Those who test negative are encouraged to consult with a case manager to help with any other issues they may have.  All are encouraged to attend the Awareness and Prevention group meetings.

Part of the grant is also being used to provide the basic shelter we offer at Franciscan House. Having a safe place to sleep and (and breakfast and supper) helps the homeless avoid behavior that could place a person at risk of getting HIV-AIDS. We are very grateful for the funding to be able to provide these services. 

Watch for an article by Mike about the HIV program in our next newsletter, which will be in mailboxes next week.

For the week of November 22, 2005 - Count your Blessings!

In honor of Thanksgiving this week, we present to you a poem that Rep. Joe Lyons shared with the guests at our Fall Dinner. He didn't write it - we don't know who did (neither, it seems, does Google) but it reflects the spirit of gratitude which many of our guests have despite difficult circumstances in life. 

Count on God instead of yourself.

May all of you enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. Remember our guests in your prayers as they struggle to look on the bright side of life. Our case managers stand ready to help them find whatever they need to build a better life, but sometimes they need a little help from the Spirit of God to believe that a better life is possible!

November 3, 2005 - Funding for a Housing Specialist in the Loop ~ Plus! Great Silent Auction Prizes at Fall Dinner

Announcing!!       We are pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Chicago Department of Housing for a case management specialist who will find housing for 15 individuals living in the downtown area of Chicago. This specialist will work together with a general case manager that we will hire. Both will work out of donated office space at St. Peter's Church (110 W. Madison) and First United Methodist Temple (Washington & Clark). The Department of Housing's Street to Home Initiative is providing full funding for the specialist, while we will have to raise funds for the general case manager. The funding for the specialist is for one year, with renewals possible for another four.  Yeah!!!

Fall Dinner at The Chicago Firehouse is Nov 10! We have some great silent auction prizes for our Fall Dinner on November 10 at The Chicago Firehouse. So buy your tickets to the dinner today and join the fun! Remember Christmas is coming soon! Prizes include...

A pair of round trip tickets on American Airlines (donated frequent flyer miles) and wheeled carry-on

Joe Crede autographed 8 x 10 photo

Joe Crede autographed baseball card, plaque, cert of authenticity

Tommie Harris autographed baseball card, plaque, cert of authenticity

Four box seat tickets to a White Soc game on April 6, 2006 donated by Gold Coast Tickets www.goldcoasttickets.com

$50 BP Amoco gift cards  (#1) d

$50 BP Amoco gift card (#2)

DVD/VCR player, certificates for 2 quarts of Oberweis ice cream, and crocheted lap blankets

Swarovski crystal ring and wood jewelry box

Dinner at India House for $50

Dinner at Green Dolphin Street (Jazz club) for $50

Dinner at The Tasting Room for $50 (wine tasting)

Two sets of 3 bottle wine gift boxes

Two sets of 4 bottle wine gift boxes

A Naperville gift basket ($50 dinner at Fontano’s, 4 smoothies, 4 sandwiches at Schlotzsky’s Deli, $20 gift cert to Quincy’s restaurant, $20 gift certificate to Qdoba Restaurant, $20 gift cert for vet visit at Animal Health Care)

Home Depot - $25 gift card

Camp Dogwood gift certificate for $125 (doggie & owner summer camp in Ingleside IL) and basket of dog items (balls, treats, etc.)

Hammond organ (we have it at MC, we'll deliver)

Radio/cooler combo

Decorative Jello molds and cook book

For October 21, 2005 - Recovery Groups now happening at FOA

What's a Recovery Group? Its a group designed to help people decide they want to be sober. Participants

• take ownership of their addictions,

• understand the patterns of substance abuse that have played a part in their homelessness

• discuss the negative consequences that came from their additions

• set goals for learning how to get clean

• envision what life would be like if they were sober

• acquire a working knowledge of the 12 step process

Its not an AA group but is a step in that direction - it gets people to think about the possibility of an abstinence-based lifestyle. It also makes it easier for them to take the big step of beginning to go to AA meetings.  The groups are facilitated by Steve Greenberg, our Services Administrator.

Recovery Groups meet at the Marquard Center on Thursdays at 11 am and at Franciscan House on Tuesdays at 11 am and Thursdays at 5:30 pm. A meal is provided at each meeting.

So far, we've had 27 different persons attend a Recovery Group since September 27th. An average of 8.5 persons attended each meeting, with a total attendance count of 85. Three persons have been referred to and entered a half-way house where they can learn how to achieve long tem sobriety in a structured, long term environment. One of these persons has relapsed and is back at the Recovery Group while two are still there.

These Recovery Groups are in addition to our Motivational Group that is facilitated by Ambryn Melius, one of our case managers, at our Marquard Center on Wednesdays at 10 am. The focus of this group is broader, with discussions covering any kind of issue related to the struggle to overcome barriers to improving a persons' lifestyle. Participants share resources, discuss difficulties they are having, and support each other in their efforts to end their homelessness or improve their situation in some way.

These groups join our AA meeting on Wednesday nights that we told you about in the What's New of June 14.

Please pray for all the participants in these groups as they travel together down the road to peace and a better life.

For the week of October 14, 2005 - Fall Dinner featuring Rep. Joe Lyons

Join us on November 10, 2005 for our Fall Benefit Dinner at The Chicago Firehouse. Click on the invitation to view it in a large size...

Proceeds from the dinner will be used to provide shelter, food and case management services to Chicago's homeless this Winter. Your support will make a difference!

The Chicago Firehouse is a beautiful restaurant located in a restored, turn-of-the century firehouse in the South Loop. The food is delicious and the atmosphere unique! Visit their website at www.chicagofirehouse.com

You can buy tickets on-line at www.franoutreach.org/donateonline.htm

You can also view photos from the Pooch Walk in Palos Heights at www.franoutreach.org/PoochWalk.htm  It was a lot of fun!

For the week of October 4, 2005 -  The Feast of St. Francis - Reflection on St. Francis, his Love for Animals, and Serving the Homeless

     Franciscan Outreach Association takes its inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is today. He had a special care for the poor. He also had a special love for animals. It was said of him…

 St. Francis praised the Artist in every one of his works;

whatever he found in thing made,

he referred to their maker.

He rejoiced in all the works of the Lord’s hands,

and with joyful vision

saw into the reason and cause that gave them life. …

To him, all things were good.

 and elsewhere…

 He called all animals “brother” and “sister”

and we read in the story of his life

how even wild animals came running to him

as their friend and companion.

      To us, all people are good, even those who are homeless, mired in substance abuse, suffering from mental illness, or too saddened by life’s circumstances to believe in themselves. Our mission statement is: 

 We, Franciscan Outreach Association,

strive to be the heart and hands of Jesus

in the Spirit of the Gospel

and St. Francis of Assisi.

We provide for basic human needs

such as food, shelter, encouragement,

and assistance in creating a better life

for the homeless and marginalized,

especially those who are underserved.

We pledge to walk with them by being vulnerable,

by advocating for them, and by being reliable.

We wish to provide an open, respectful,

welcoming, secure environment,

and to affirm the dignity of our guests.

We, the donors, board members, staff,

volunteers, and guests,

are looking for the transformation

of ourselves and our society.

We value every person as a beloved child of God. You can participate in this good work by donating, volunteering, or coming to one of our events.

For the week of September 27, 2005 - We're Fixing the Roof - Thanks to our Donors!

We are happy to announce that our donors have been generous in their response to our summer appeal to fix the roof at the Marquard Center. We have received enough to do a complete tear off of the roof and to fix the masonry on the parapet walls that's disintegrating. We extend a BIG THANK YOU to each and every one of our donors who sent in a contribution. Now we'll stay dry when it rains!