CSS Outreach Offices

By Elli Wyllie,
Marketing Associate,
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:35-36.

When we hear these words, we often think of the great saints—Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Damien of Molokai; individuals who embraced this call in radical ways, serving the poorest of the poor in India, selling every possession they had, caring for lepers. Their stories are inspiring, yet they can sometimes lead us to wonder: Well, what can I do? Most of us are not in a position to drop everything. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities that are noble and good. The stories of great saints can sometimes feel overwhelming. But the reality is that most often, answering God’s call doesn’t require drastic measures. It simply requires a “yes,” and a willingness to try.

by Veronica Pino
St. Gianna Program Manager 
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska

Oftentimes at St. Gianna Women’s Home, we work with a family for a year—sometimes even longer—and when they complete the program, we don’t hear from them.

Although we are always thankful when they have undergone a successful transition to their next step outside of St. Gianna’s, it can be difficult to have those relationships disappear. We always encourage them to keep in touch—to continue to share their struggles and their joys with us. However, trying to keep up with work, kids, school, and all the other activities of a family that is taking steps forward usually leaves little time for extra phone calls or visits.

Every now and then, though, we hear from a family who wants to share a little about their current life after St. Gianna’s. Sometimes this happens a few months after graduating from the program; other times, years pass before someone reaches out. But it’s always a special moment to hear stories or see pictures of growing kids as they share their continued achievements.