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Programs

St. Gianna Program

St Gianna Program Team in the SGWH chapel
St. Gianna Program Team in the SGWH Chapel

Assisting women and children fleeing domestic violence or who are experiencing undersupported pregnancies through THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREAS:

🏠ST. GIANNA WOMEN'S HOME

St. Gianna Women’s Home (SGWH) is a transitional housing program for women and children. This program offers a safe and secure environment for each family to heal from the trauma caused by abuse, become self-sufficient, and create a safe and healthy future. While in the program, each individual works with an Advocate to identify strengths, needs, and resources. Counseling and a variety of educational opportunities are also provided onsite.

The program requires commitment to weekly and monthly meetings with program staff, setting program goals, and progress towards those goals, as well as complete adherence to the established program rules.

Things to know before you apply:

  • SGWH is not an emergency shelter. The application and acceptance process takes a minimum of two weeks. Acceptance depends on program availability and individual eligibility.
  • Eligibility includes:
    • Fleeing domestic violence or pregnant
    • At least 6 months sober (from drugs and/or alcohol)
    • No males over the age of 12
  • A waitlist is not held, and space is limited. If there are no openings in the program, applicants will be offered resources and referrals to other agencies.
  • Due to high need, participants can only go through this program once. Any future needs will be addressed through Crisis Response.

If you would like to discuss your situation or find out more about the program, please contact our Program Coordinator by clicking here or by calling Catholic Social Services at 402-474-1600

🛟CRISIS RESPONSE

Crisis Response offers short-term financial assistance to women and their families fleeing domestic violence and in undersupported pregnancies. Areas of assistance include: rent, utilities, relocation to another city or state, and doctor’s bills related to domestic violence or pregnancy. 

There is an application and evaluation process for each request. Assistance is not guaranteed and depends upon available funding. In order for the application to be considered, all required documents must be submitted within the timeframe given. 

PLEASE NOTE: Anyone 18 or older in the household will need to give permission for their information to be included in the database that CSS and other organizations use to track services provided. Please click here to read our Release of Information before submitting your application.

🎓GRADUATE SERVICES

Graduate Services provides ongoing support for women who have completed the program at St. Gianna Women’s Home. A monthly support group is held at Catholic Social Services’ office, in addition to individual meetings with our Program Specialist.

How you can help:

🙏🏻Prayer of St. Gianna

O Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me, make me only know Your Will. 

My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls, and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirm which You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms, I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart, the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy Will, the grace to confide in You, the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms. 

Amen.

Who was St. Gianna?

St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a modern-day physician and mother who sacrificed her life to save her unborn baby. In 1961, Gianna and her husband Pietro were expecting their fourth child. During her fourth pregnancy, Gianna developed a fibrous tumor on her uterus. Wanting to save the life of her unborn baby at all costs, she chose a more risky procedure, the removal of the fibroma.
After the operation, complications continued throughout her pregnancy. Gianna was quite clear about her wishes, expressing to her family, “This time it will be a difficult delivery, and they may have to save one or the other -- I want them to save my baby.” On April 21, 1962, Good Friday of that year, Gianna went to the hospital, where her fourth child, Gianna Emanuela, was successfully delivered via Caesarean section. However, Gianna continued to have severe pain, and died of septic peritonitis one week after the birth.

Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, and canonized as a saint on May 16, 2004. Her husband Pietro and their last child, Gianna, were present at the canonization ceremony. She is the patron saint of mothers and families.

Volunteering at St. Gianna’s has been an incredible gift for me. Seeing and being with the beautiful children, watching them play and working with other volunteers are all very fulfilling. - Fran Potter, SGP volunteer 
July 16, 2026

FROM THE SISTERS' DESK: Putting families on the road to HOPE IN THE GOOD LIFE

bySister Melissa Moxley, SGP Advocate
Sister Melissa

I want to take this opportunity to give a big shout-out and thank you to all our wonderful donors out there who make our work possible in the St. Gianna Program (SGP) and, more specifically, a special thank you to those who have donated vehicles for our women and children.

Since my arrival at St. Gianna’s in August of 2025, I have seen firsthand the real difficulties, challenges, and hardships that our women and children face without a vehicle. Many of our women are not only trying to find work and raise their children single-handedly but they also need transportation to get to work, take their children to daycare/school, get groceries, clothes, resources, and healthcare. Not only that, but so often in domestic violence situations, the abuser restricts the woman’s freedom by taking control over the car, the finances, and even small decisions throughout the day, so having a vehicle gives them freedom to live and do the things they need to do.  

One of our residents had been walking three hours with her children to daycare and to work. She did not have enough money to pay for an Uber and riding the bus was difficult for her with her three little children, so when she received a good, reliable van from a generous donor, it was life-changing for her and her children! She was so grateful for this gift. We do what we can to help support the women and children with bus passes and rides when we are able to, but it is not possible to keep up with the high demand, so when someone donates a vehicle, it is such a blessing that changes lives.

A resident told one of the Sisters after she received a vehicle from a generous donor, “I am so thankful for everything Catholic Social Services and St. Gianna’s have done for me. You guys have truly changed my life for the better, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything!” I have seen many times over how this big act of generosity of a vehicle has empowered the women here at St. Gianna’s to have a better quality of life for themselves and their children. It has allowed them to accomplish their goals and the dreams they have for themselves and their families.
 


If you’re upgrading to a newer vehicle & your current car is still in roadworthy condition, reliable, and safe to drive, please consider donating it to the CSS Vehicle Donation Program! Start your donation journey by clicking here.

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