Catholic Charities In the News News Releases Experts Other Resources

May 19, 2007 - The Clarion Herald

St. Jude Center Responds to Need for Food, Shelter

By Christine Bordelon

With babies in their arms or toddlers sitting next to them coloring, nearly a dozen women listened as Eancia Mundy, R.N., imparted information about child immunizations and domestic abuse.

“Whenever they (children) first get shots, I recommend that you give them Tylenol and put cold compresses on the area of the shot,” Mundy said.

The women are part of the Healthy Start New Orleans program that meets weekly at St. Jude Community Center on North Rampart Street. Class topics include child safety, breast-feeding, nutrition and depression.

“These classes are very important,” Mundy said. “They (women) learn the importance of vaccinating themselves and their children, and the diseases they can catch if they don’t get vaccinated as well as the myths about vaccinations. As far as domestic violence, I tell them it’s not the victim’s fault. It is a crime, and they can get help.”

Addressing parenting issues is just one of the services added at St. Jude Community Center since Hurricane Katrina hit and Marianites of Holy Cross Sister Beth Mouch took over as its director.

Pre-Katrina, the center had day care, a youth initiative, cardiac rehabilitation services and offered lunch for senior citizens five days a week. After Katrina, Oblate Father Tony Rigoli, pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe, which owns the center, reassessed the immediate community needs and knew he had to expand the center’s mission.

“The need was shelter,” he said. “There was no place to stay (after the storm). We still have a lot of homeless.”

In October 2005, Unity, a housing program, opened an emergency shelter for men, women and children at St. Jude Community Center. When Sister Beth stepped in, she revamped it as an overnight shelter for women, who receive counseling from staff social worker John Simms. Emergency shelter in extreme heat and cold weather remains available to others.

In addition to the women’s shelter, Sister Beth has corralled case managers from Katrina Aid Today and Community Employment Services through Catholic Charities, free civil legal aid from New Orleans Legal Assistance, the parenting classes, prison rehabilitation through AmeriCorps, and food through Second Harvest Food Bank, which distributes approximately 3,000 to 5,000 boxes of food a month.

“Our goal is to try to follow the Gospel in feeding, clothing, protecting and teaching so that people can leave on their own,” Sister Beth said. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes people to get on their own. We help them understand that what’s inside of them is a gift they can share; to not let the past discourage them from using what they are able to contribute.”

Coriana Coleman attended her first parenting course May 10 and said she learned a lot. She plans to return again, possibly for the job services program and day care.

“It’s what I’m going through,” the New Orleans resident said. “I learned about getting shots for my baby, and I’m trying to learn to control my temper because there’s always something going on in life, and you can’t let it hold you back.”

Paralegal Lloyd Roberson, a member of the New Orleans Legal Assistance staff for more than 30 years, offers legal assistance at the center on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He knows how needed the center is in the community.

“You have to have compassion all day, every day, when you come in here,” Roberson said about his job. “You see people going through such tragedies.”

Sister Beth sees St. Jude Community Center as a springboard – not a stopgap measure – that people can use as long as they need to until they can get situated permanently.

“I’d like to see us work more closely with residents to help them learn their gifts,” she said. “I want to try to establish a reading and sewing room. It’s something they’ve asked for – and more recreational activities.”

More services are planned at St. Jude Community Center. A children’s day care program will open in the next few weeks, and soon a weekly prayer group and weekday hot breakfast and dinner will be available to women living on-site. The hot meal program will open soon to the community.

“It won’t take long for the population to grow,” Sister Beth said about the hot meals. “I think it’s a need. Ozanam Inn alone serves 300 people a day. If people need a place to eat, they will be able to come eat here. It’s one of the Gospel mandates – to feed, clothe and protect.”

Father Tony is proud of what St. Jude Community Center is accomplishing.

“St. Jude is known for the hope­less and despairing, and we are trying to give some hope to people.” Father Tony said. “The center is trying to enable people to move ahead and give some assistance and direction to help them to get back on their feet.”