Charity-Works

“Thank you for all the gifts I’ve received…” A Letter of Gratitude from a Marian Plaza  Resident

by

“I can’t begin to tell you how thankful and grateful I am for all the gifts I received,” said Mary Onosco, a resident of Marian Plaza, in a thank you letter she sent to Catholic Charities of Denver.  

Mary, who is 89 years strong, found herself in need of assistance. A rough divorce partnered with the lack of family in the area, she leaned on community resources that connected her to affordable housing. Since 2017, Marian Plaza has given Mary a sense of home. “Marian Plaza is home to me. My friends are here, and I couldn’t be happier,” said Mary, who spends most of her days coloring. 

Marian Plaza is one of 30 affordable housing properties across Northern Colorado run by Catholic Charities of Denver. It provides 121 affordable housing units to Colorado seniors. Mary loves her one-bedroom apartment and enjoys her cozy living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.  

The staff fosters community at Marian Plazathat keeps residents active and healthy. Residents are given monthly activity calendars that are filled with social, educational and necessary activities such as trips to the grocery store and shopping centers. During scheduled activities and downtime, seniors are encouraged to socialize with other residents. These structured programs help seniors maintain a high quality of life and provide them with independence, mobility and transportation when needed.  

Mary was one of the Adopt-A-Family recipients, a holiday drive sponsored by Catholic Charities of Denver which matches compassionate donors with families and individuals who need a little assistance during the holiday season. “The gifts I received were things I really needed. Items such as clothing and household items were gifts that I deeply appreciated,” said Mary.  

 Throughout the year, there are several Catholic Charities’ programs and events that help our residents. Learn more about all of them here and find out how you can help. 

We are grateful that Mary took the time to express her gratitude to our team and everyone who helps us support neighbors and transform lives.

Counseling team expands into more Catholic Schools across Colorado

by

COUNSELING TEAM HAS AMBITIOUS PLANS TO EXPAND INTO MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS St. Raphael Counseling’s robust and growing team has ambitious plans to offer counseling for every child in local Catholic schools. The team of compassionate and licensed counselors will double their days of counseling services in Catholic Schools this current school year and has plans … Read more

Former teacher and veteran, Howard, seeks housing

by

Howard is a Colorado native, proud Vietnam veteran and advocate of good children’s books. “I was a first-grade teacher,” Howard said outside Samaritan House downtown. “When I got out of Vietnam, I decided to become a teacher and so I went back to school.” Howard said he served in the military from 1971-1974. Afterward, he … Read more

VIDEO: Rachel and family flourish at ECE

by

With Catholic Charities supporting her, Rachel keeps moving onward and upward, including her two sons attending its Early Childhood Education centers. “If my son Liam wasn’t in Head Start program before going into kindergarten, he wouldn’t be where he is at now,” Rachel said about her 6-year-old son. “I feel like he was already ahead … Read more

Fort Collins volunteer receives ‘He Comes to Serve’ award

by

If ever there is a more committed and valued volunteer, Skip Colyer is it in Larimer County. When the sunlight breaks over the morning sky, Skip is already at Samaritan House Fort Collins with staff collecting a week’s worth of food and cooking lunch for hungry residents. He is talented at finding nutritional food on … Read more

VIDEO: New beginnings for Jordan and Ashley

by

Jordan and Ashley came to Samaritan House Fort Collins desperately seeking safety from themselves, for their daughter. Without hesitation, staff served the small family dinner and began helping them on their journey to stability. Fast forward to nine months later, the couple is sober, found an apartment, with Jordan working a full-time job. And best … Read more

Not just a woman’s choice

by

MEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SUPPORTING MARISOL HEALTH Lenny believes more men should be involved in supporting pregnant women in crisis. He’s doing his part by joining volunteers in support of Marisol Health, a Catholic Charities’ medical clinic that provides holistic medical care, support and a network of resources for women and families facing unexpected … Read more

Shorty champions fatherhood with Marisol Health’s help

by

  Shorty Zeferino is a proud father with wife, Yenifer. The dad of three, who goes by “Shorty,” took his 5-year-old son to T-ball practice and watched him take his first swing. “I never had that,” Shorty said about his own father who wasn’t active in his life. “My son said, ‘I’m going to be … Read more

St. Raphael Counseling: Children, families and seasons of change

by

By Mark Sanders, MA
St. Raphael Counseling

Those of us who are blessed to be parents constantly face challenges while raising a family - and the necessity to adjust our expectations, tactics and attitudes. As a father, I have found that this is one of the biggest opportunities for healthy growth. There may also be an "aggressive nostalgia" and a longing for a "better" time from the past that we may not have recognized before now.

When children first arrive, it can be overwhelming. Bottles to heat, diapers to change, getting chores done and paying bills can leave any couple battling for their sanity. Over time, as the family adjusts and new practices are put into place, these tasks can become easier. We become accustomed to the pace of life.

However, constant adjustments are required for these little people who have graced us with their presence. Children will
progress from the "feed me and change me" phase to the "come play with me" phase to the "leave me alone" phase as they approach adulthood. Each of these periods of life can be challenging in their own respect as we attempt to meet the mysterious and complicated needs of our children.

There is also a bigger change afoot - that of how to adjust our own expectations to the new realities around us. A family friend, who had children older than ours, told us that "You never know when the last time for something is." I found this comment both profound and haunting, but I have recognized it in my own life as a father. The question, "When will she sleep through the night and not come into our room?" is replaced with the recognition that she is now sleeping through the night. And despite my previous thoughts on this matter, I really do miss her coming into our room.

As much as we complain about doing the same things every day, we humans become accustomed to our routines. A clinical term for this is called habituation, where we don't respond as much to ongoing stimuli. At times, we may not even recognize that the stimuli is still there - such as growing accustomed to the ticking of a new clock on the wall. In a similar way, we become used to our lifestyle even as it is constantly changing and adjusting. We also recognize what happens when we are on vacation and our usual sleeping, eating and exercise habits don't happen.

Regardless of what season in life you and your family are in, I hope that you will find a way to embrace it and look for the blessings that are hidden in plain sight. As one activity replaces another, avoid as best you can the very human need to go back in time and relive things from the past - or you may miss what is in front of you. As the Andy Bernard character from "The Office" wistfully articulates, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the 'good old days' before you've actually left them."

 

St. Raphael Counseling is a comprehensive, community-based psychological service ministry. We offer counseling and mental health services to help restore and strengthen family and parish communities. We are focused on providing assistance to those in need, offering services for individuals, children, teens, couples and families.

Nicholas and Andrea are surprised with a welcoming gift into the country

by

For the first time since they’ve arrived in the United States, Nicholas and Andrea felt relief.   A few short weeks ago, the couple and their 6-year-old daughter fled their home in Venezuela. With food insecurity looming in the country and violence on the rise, the couple made the brave leap that many immigrants do when … Read more