Initiation of Programs

           On Thursday, March 31, the staff at Point of Hope and the Program volunteer staff came together in prayer, followed by meeting and social with the new residents.  We as staff began at 10 a.m. for a commissioning ceremony starting with a psalm prayer and a brief reflection given by Sr Kateri.  She used the symbols of planting seeds for the work we were about to begin.  The empty pot, the soil, water and the seeds were all used as symbols for the work we are beginning.  We were reminded that we can plant and water all we want, but it is in reality, God who gives the growth.  We as program providers, who teach the basic skills of survival in society are planting seeds.  Dominic handed out the planting containers, the soil, water and the seeds. Father Beiting was also present and spoke to the staff explaining our mission and our purpose here at Point of Hope and sharing how his dream of helping the homeless came about. 

           Then the residents started to arrive and we moved into the resident and staff meeting.  After an official welcome by Dominic, he presented each family with a cross. Trisha and Cindy then displayed a drawing, an outline of a house which symbolized the vision of the program. Since our program is transition  housing, they used the structure and the foundation of a house as a symbol of the programs and life skills we offer at Point of Hope for people to learn in order to secure proper and permanent housing. Then Christine was asked to share her own personal story of how she grew up and how the family struggled through hard work and with prayer.  She ended the story leaving us with a feeling of how with God we can do all things.  Following the sharing, all the program staff took turns introducing themselves and the program they were going to be leading.  They presented the residents with a symbol of their program.  The residents were also presented with a "welcome basket" filled with odds and ends of household necessities. At the end, Pat gave the residents a task.  Giving each of them poster paper, he asked them draw a symbol of how they envisioned their future house and to show what foundation they were going to build on. This ended the introduction to the program.

          With the Holy Spirit always at work, Wawa called just before the end of our meeting, telling us she was bringing lunch.  Together with food left over from Saturday's Point of Hope blessing and Wawa's special, we had another feast with a social of getting to know each. 

         God is and has been so good to us through the staff, volunteers and those of you who pray for us, and those of you who support us materially and financially.  Thank you and may God bless each and every one of you.  We also keep you in our prayers.