Dear Friends
Marking Our 10th Anniversary
Week of November 30, 2015
Prayer Requests
Dear Friends,
This fall has been an emotional jumble for me as the Friends
of St. John the Caregiver marks its tenth anniversary.
Some of you may know that FSJC has its roots in a monthly
newspaper column my wife, Monica, and I began writing for Catholic
News Service in 1991. That led to a book on caring for an aging
parent and that led to the website YourAgingParent.com in 2004. The
following year we began FSJC.
Monica had been a social worker with Catholic Community
Services in Seattle and I was a long-time writer and editor for the
Catholic press.
We each got to bring our strengths and background to the
task and what an exciting, challenging, and deeply satisfying time
it was. We knew we had been given a gift: working together to help
to family caregivers.
The reaction and the response in those early years— from
families, parishes, dioceses and the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops—was so encouraging! I have no doubt that was due in very
large part to the fact that Monica was the director of the whole
operation and what a talented woman she was!
Some of you may also know that Monica died of uterine cancer
in early 2013 at the age of 60. Thanks to our volunteers (the
ministry has always been all-volunteer) and many faithful donors,
FSJC has continued and grown but…
Yes, I’m sure she’s praying for all of us and helping us in
many ways but…
I’m deeply grateful you and I
can continue her legacy but I do miss working side-by-side
with her.
This week we're so pleased to welcome Ethelreda P. of Nebraska, Kathy-Jean M. of New Hampshire, and John G. of Michigan as the newest members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep them and their intentions in your prayers. They have promised to pray for you and yours.
And again this week we cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.
No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).
You can:
sign up on-line here
or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)
or
print and mail an application form.
God bless you!
Bill