Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 9, 2002
Woman's gratitude for healing results in help to needy
Catholic Charities program helps nearly 300 families at Christmas
By Laurie Dunklee
The mother of four cried tears of happiness when she saw the Christmas gifts that had been donated for her family. There were warm coats for everyone and sheets for their beds, as well as toys and clothes for the children. There was even a huge bag of sweets for the family.
Pat Musgrave, who with her family had "adopted" the family of six through Catholic Charities' Adopt-a-Family program, said she felt great to be able to help.
"Giving just feels good in a way that nothing else does," said Pat.
Pat got the idea to adopt a family from the Denver Catholic Register.
"I was sitting in church, praying to God: `You know how much I love to do this. Let me help someone who really needs it,'" she said. "Then I saw the article in the Register."
Nearly 300 families in Catholic Charities' programs got help from generous donors this Christmas. The families were referred through Catholic Charities' emergency assistance centers and family programs, including the Kinship program, the Family Preservation program in Curtis Park, Victims Assistance, Homeless Prevention and the agency's child-care programs.
"These are families who are struggling. They are working with Catholic Charities' case managers to overcome their long-term issues," said Sister Kathleen O'Malley, coordinator of the Adopt-a-Family program. "We know they have very little."
Sister O'Malley matched needy families with people wanting to sponsor them. She said the donors had many reasons for wanting to help.
"Many said they wanted to show their children that giving is a way of life. They said they want to share some of what God has given them," she said. "Some families even cut back on their own Christmas giving in order to help others."
For Pat, helping is the fulfillment of a promise. Twelve years ago, she was pregnant and diagnosed with a tumor.
"The doctors didn't want to do a biopsy because I was pregnant," she said. "For six months we couldn't get a definitive answer. I prayed to St. Jude and promised I'd do something special if he got us through this. When I had the baby, the tumor was gone."
Pat bought Christmas gifts for the children at Catholic Charities' Samaritan House shelter that year and has kept on giving.
"When you have trials, you can lose hope," Pat said. "Giving a family a nice Christmas can give them the hope they need to go on. In this way God shows he's there and he's listening."
Catholic Charities helps the homeless, children in crisis and families in need, regardless of their faith. Last year Catholic Charities helped more than 237,000 people.
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