The Edmundite Catholic Center of Hope
April 9, 2010
I have faith that, “God makes a way when there is no way!” The Edmundite Missions have survived tough challenges over the last 70 years but now we have come to a turning point and although He makes a way, I need your help to complete the journey.
Some of our most important buildings have taken a toll since they were first built and they are no longer able to adequately serve the needs of the hungry poor. The Bosco Kitchen and Selma Outreach Service facilities for children, the handicapped and elderly have reached their limit.
A couple of weeks ago, I walked over to Bosco and while I was sitting at one of the lunch tables I watched a long line form that reached from the door way down to the sidewalk outside. Many were new faces of the working poor with their little children and grandparents in tow, and single mothers with babies. The line was so long, I saw two elders and a young family turn away.
I hurried outside and caught up with them. “Why can’t you stay and eat?” I asked them. The parents told me they were hungry and the children were crying for food but they didn’t have enough time to wait in line because they had to get back to work. I told the elders and family to wait and I rushed back in to gather fruit, hard boiled eggs and bread for them. Then I turned and walked back with a big lump in my throat.
Since the unprecedented downturn in our economy and the already excessive poverty in our ministry sites, we will far exceed the 80,000 meals we served the poor in 2009. Twice as many people are coming to Bosco than five years ago due to the massive job layoffs.
I am writing to you today because we have finally run out of room. I need additional square footage to store, prepare and feed the hungry. One major problem is that Bosco Food Kitchen is land-locked, which prohibits expansion. Even with extended hours the size of the kitchen will not allow me to produce enough meals to serve the working poor.
Each day I am also forced to deal with the critical issue of providing efficient and effective social outreach services and care for the elderly and handicapped. So many elders are abandoned and left to simply fade away, becoming the faceless unknown in society, but not to God! No one should be forgotten or discarded. I must expand our adult daycare program to help instill dignity and create a place of compassion and caring.
The Social Outreach Center served over 7,769 families last year alone. They ministered to those who lacked proper clothing, food and shelter and especially people with critical medical needs. As a Missionary Priest, I can not say no! We are receiving unprecedented referrals and people are being sent to us from local churches because they lack the ability to help.
After much prayer I believe I have found a solution to care for the “least of these.” We can renovate our current warehouse into a multi-function facility–The Edmundite Catholic Center–to serve the poor in need of God’s mercy. The Bosco Kitchen and the Social Outreach will be moved to a more centralized area under one roof. This will allow us to coordinate and steward our limited resources in one facility to provide daily meals to over 220 people, enhance our Catholic Social Services of clothing distribution, emergency medical aid, referral and hygiene services for the homeless as well as a disaster relief center for Selma.
This will be a task like no other in the history of the Missions – to renovate and create a Center of Hope for the hopeless. Without you I cannot make this a reality. With our strong faith, I know that “God will make the way.”
I need your help to remodel the warehouse that will become The Edmundite Catholic Center of Hope. This $1.2 million structure will be well-built and contain no frills. The building renovation and purchase of fixtures such as: a walk-in freezer, large commercial stove, a bakery area, cooking ovens, food mixer and a large food storage area are needed just to get the kitchen going. Simple rooms to minister to those in need by outreach ministers will be created. These areas will instill dignity and grace to all people made in the image of God. The more I can raise; the less I must borrow.
Please help me build for the future since Jesus reminded us, “The poor you will have with you always”. I ask you from the bottom of my heart to take some time to pray over this letter and consider what you may be able to give. I need your donation to bring the light of Christ to a darkened world of sadness and despair.
May your New Year be filled with Blessings,
Rev. Richard Myhalyk, S.S.E.
