“I have this miraculous story to tell”

Catholic Charities 2019 Annual Appeal

Hello!
 
You have never met me. You do not know me personally, and you don’t know my name. But because of your thoughtful gift to Catholic Charities, you have helped my family and me.
 
My story begins in California where I was raised by loving parents with my eight brothers and sister. I married in my early 20s and my husband and I had five children together. I am not proud to admit this, but we began using drugs and for 10 years I struggled with addiction.
 
It got so bad, my brother and sister-in-law had to take temporary guardianship of my children in Oklahoma. The drugs, the gang violence and not seeing my children all made me feel unsafe, alone and depressed. I knew I needed to change my life, so I made the trip to Oklahoma. I knew my children needed me and missed me as I missed them.
 
For a year, I lived on the streets. The Recovery Center gave me a place to sleep. I completed a sobriety program at Jordan’s Crossing and was referred to Holy Family Home in Midwest City. I got a job and lived alone at Holy Family Home for a year. After getting a car, I applied for a better job with paid time off and insurance. Holy Family Home staff took me through the process of transferring my case to a different Catholic Charities program called Family HOPE.
 
This program approved me to reside in a three-bedroom unit at Casa Maria Apartments. With everything in place, I was ready to be the mother my children desperately needed. The mother they deserved. For 10 years I fought to get my next drug fix. I knew I had it in me to fight hard or harder to get my children back.
 
It took months for my Family HOPE case manager and me to gather all of the papers for my court date. I would have given up if I’d had to do it alone. On the day of my court appearance, I was really nervous. When the judge called my name, I tearfully walked up to hear his decision. The judge looked through all the paperwork and paused before telling me he wished he could use my story as an example for others to see, and then he granted me a second chance at being a mom.
 
Today, I hold a full-time job and all my children live with me at Casa Maria. I never knew I had it in me to change. I never knew I was strong. The staff at Holy Family Home and Family HOPE gave me the courage I needed to see that in myself.
 
If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have made it. Some people don’t have family, but when I lived at Holy Family Home, the staff always treated me like part of theirs.
 
My name is Emma and because of your gift I have this miraculous story to tell. Sometimes all you need are people seeing you for who you are and supporting you along the way.
 
Thank you for your generosity,
Emma
 

The inspirational stories shared by those who have been helped by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City provide a glimpse of the wonderful work being done in your name through your support of our brothers and sisters in need. As Archbishop Coakley mentioned in his recent pastoral letter, we must work to build a culture of discipleship and conversion by living as missionary disciples who are called to make a difference in the lives of others. Each September, every parish is given a goal for the Catholic Charities Appeal that your pastor will share with you. To complete this goal, we must come together in love and mercy to ensure Catholic Charities has the resources to assist men, women and children who arrive at the door with nothing more than the clothes on their back. It is our responsibility, and part of our mission, to help them with basic needs and not turn them away. Please consider a gift to the 2019 Catholic Charities Appeal.
 
“When we practice seeing through the eyes of Jesus, we will always be able to recognize those who need our help.” ~ Pope Francis