St. Joseph Parish in Needham Helps Children Living in Catholic Charities Boston Shelters Stay Warm This Winter

 “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” 

For Jeanne-Marie, a longtime parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Needham, which recently merged with St. Bartholomew’s Parish of Needham, this simple sentiment from Mother Teresa has become a guiding life principle, reminding her that the greatest joy is found in helping others, even if it is in the smallest of ways – a sentiment she shares with her fellow parishioners. 

As a member of the St. Joseph Justice and Peace Committee, Jeanne-Marie worked with the Committee’s Coordinator Ellen Benoit and other members to organize a parish-wide donation of brand-new winter clothing for children living at Catholic Charities Boston’s Nazareth Family Shelter and St. Ambrose Family Shelter, two of five shelters operated by the agency. Over a hundred new jackets, hats, scarves and mittens in various sizes and colors poured in from many parishioners, allowing each child to receive three new outfits. 

Jeanne-Marie was inspired to help after hearing Catholic Charities Boston’s President and CEO, Kelley Tuthill speak at the 2023 Social Justice Convocation about the urgent needs that shelter residents face – many of whom are migrants with young children – especially as winter rolls around.   

“As a mother and a grandmother, the thought of a child in the cold without a jacket is heartbreaking,” said Ellen. “It is something every child deserves.” 

What made this project all the more meaningful, Jeanne-Marie added, was working with the Catholic Charities team to receive a list from the resident mothers in the two shelters who offered the name, age, size and gender of each of their children, allowing the committee members to thoughtfully select items for each child and to infuse their gift with loving prayers.  

“On the day that we gathered at church to organize the clothing, there was palpable joy in the room,” said Jeanne-Marie. “Everyone was so careful, trying to make the hats and gloves, coats and outfits match.  It made me think of the Isaiah quote, ‘I have called you by name, you are mine … because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you.’” 

When the clothing collection was complete, the committee divided forces to deliver four packed carloads of the warm clothing to Nazareth and St. Ambrose Family shelter. During a tour of the St. Ambrose shelter, members met a young refugee woman in her 20’s who was living there with her children.   

“It just struck me how serious and how worried she looked,” said Jeanne-Marie.  “It was very eye-opening, and it just went straight to my heart.” 

Beyond the reward of helping those most in need, Jeanne-Marie added that the warm clothing initiative brought faith-filled joy and a sense of community to the “new” St. Joseph Parish as Christmas approaches. 

Latesha Watkins, Director of the St. Ambrose Shelter, said that the donation not only provided the residents with material support for the winter, but moreover with a sense of hope and community.  

“Knowing that people care makes a huge difference in residents’ journey toward stabilization and ending homelessness,” she said. 

To learn more about how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need, visit our Ways to Give page here.