Newsletter
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Greetings...from our house to yours! - November 2009A Message from MaureenAs we approach Thanksgiving, gratitude is a word that seems to permeate the environment here at Angela House. For those women currently in residence, we daily hear expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to "do life differently" and for the desire to learn all that change involves. For those women who have successfully completed the program and return often to support the new comers, our gratitude is deep and heartfelt. It is one thing to be offered an opportunity, it is quite another to meet and experience someone who has walked this same path. Our graduates and you, our community supporters, are great assets. Everyday we are touched by the generosity of so many of you, our loyal and faithful friends, who, in spite of challenging financial times, continue to care for us. The message of care and concern reflected in your kindness makes such a difference. With hearts filled with gratitude we wish you the blessings of the season of peace, joy and remembering. Maureen O'Connell, OP The mission of Angela House is "To provide, with sensitivity to the unique needs of women after incarceration, a safe place where they can live, grow and become the kind of person they want to be." Our VolunteersAnne Gorman returned in September to lead our writing circle. Becky, one of our residents, shares the following: "Every Wednesday at 9:30am, pen and journal ready, I wait and watch for Mrs. Anne, our writing teacher. Mrs. Anne's class has opened our eyes and our hearts to the importance of writing. This has become a very therapeutic tool, learning to express one's self. Something magical happens when pen meets paper. We remain very excited about this class. It also has helped us get to know one another on a deeper level. Our favorite part is saying 'Ase' (a Urubic term) after each reader, giving that person honor. So, Ase." Anne invited our women to a poetry reading by Sarah Cortez on November 4th at The Houston Public Library. She is a self-described Poet-Cop and author of How to Undress a Cop. The women came back with raving reviews and a copy of her book. Thank you, Anne! Volunteers from the Leo A Daly firm visited in August to winterize our houses, hang a ceiling fan in the kitchen, and repair other odds and ends. We are so grateful for their time and energy. UPS spent a weekend in October giving Angela House a fresh coat of interior paint. The women and the front office staff are enjoying it immensely! Our thanks go to UPS, also, for sponsoring our attendance at the 2009 Texas Women's Conference on November 12th. Sister Deenan, CCVI continues to volunteer her time to provide montly dinner and movie nights to residents. Our women always love the time they get to spend with Sister Deenan! CongratulationsSince our last newsletter two women graduated from the program. One graduate was recently approved to receive rental assistance from Shelter +Care (MHMRA) and the other is employed full-time and in her own apartment. Our prayers go with them as they take this next step toward a new life. Angela House ActivitiesDuring the last four months, we have been blessed to receive invitations to many community arts events. Our friends at AD players, Alley Theater, and the Ensemble Theater provided us with free tickets, or deeply discounted tickets, to some very enjoyable plays. Felicia Sexton, founder of Personal Touch Plus, has returend to Angela House to facilitate an in-house Job Readines Training for our residents. Our first twleve-week cycle ended in October, culminating with a presentation for our staff and board members. During the class, one woman found a job, and three women have found jobs since completing it. We are beginning our second twelve-week cycle with our newer residents. Our women have put in a lot of hard work and we are so proud of them! Angela House was the proud recipient of the proceeds from the St. Cyril Savvy Seniors breakfast booth at the Archdiocesan Senior Senate craft show on September 15th. Earlier that month, the Savvy Seniors paid Angela House a visit to tour the facility and learn more about what we do. We loved having them! Church Women United invited our residents to participate in "Piecing the Earth Together," a World Community Day Celebration on Friday, November 6th. We are grateful for everything they did to welcome us. New World Church once again hosted our residents at a picnic on September 19th. The women thoroughly enjoyed themselves. UpdateCurrently, 11 women reside at Angela House and are at varying stages of the program. Six residents have completed their sixty day orientation. Our five newest residents are working hard, completing all of the paper and leg work required for the myriad of medical, dental, and mental health services they must access as they return to the community. One of our residents is enrolled at ITT Technical Institue, pursuing her Associate's Degree of Applied Science in Information Technology and Computer Networking System. Another is enrolled in Culinary Arts classes at the Houston Food Bank, and four others are currently employed. The Duchesne ConnectionSince the start of the new school year in September, the students of Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart have been busy at Angela House! Our monthly dinner and BINGO dates began again, and we love the fellowship time. Also in September, Sister Maureen and one of our former residents spoke to the sophomore class at Duchesne. The students were moved by the experiences our former resdient shared. One student responded, "I hope more women like you will triumph their weaknesses and re-establish their lives to go on to tell more girls like me just how important our simple choices are." Another added that it was "a great way to bring our high class lives to see reality." Among the thank you letters the students sent was a monetary gift for our former residnet they had raised to thank her for taking time off of work that day. What a touching surprise! In October, the students also collected many pairs of shoes for our women, some of whom have used them at their new jobs. Thank you, DASH, for your dedicated service to our residents!! InternshipsPsychology majors, Maria Birriel and Lauren Rahman, from Houston Baptist University began an intensive field placement through their "Capstone in Psychology" class. During the five hours per week they serve at Angela House, Maria and Lauren attend a 12-step meeting once each week with residents and tutor two of the residents in GED preparation. Welcome, Maria and Lauren! Wish ListHousehold Items
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