Archbishop Chaput to bless new homeless shelter for women

Denver, Colo., Jan 26, 2009 / 12:39 pm

This evening, Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput will bless the Gift of Mary Homeless Shelter, operated by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

The Denver charity, in their continuous search to serve the "poorest of the poor" has decided to move the shelter to a poorer neighborhood. Their new home, according to a press release from the archdiocese will be an old school building on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

"The sisters were looking for a poorer area to work," said St. Joseph pastor Rev. Jorge de los Santos. "Until now, they’ve been in [Capitol Hill]. ‘It’s not a poor area anymore,’ they told me. They found St. Joseph’s Parish to be a good place where they could work for the poor, live with the poor, and also help the homeless."

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 26, Archbishop Chaput will join the parish community and the Missionary sisters in blessing the new location. The welcoming ceremony will begin with Mass at 6 p.m., followed by a Eucharistic procession from the main church to the shelter’s new chapel. In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Chaput will then offer a prayerful blessing upon the building.

The Gift of Mary Shelter is dedicated to providing housing and spiritual support to homeless women specifically. The shelter is capable of housing a total of eight women, providing them personal living accommodations, food, gathering space and spiritual guidance.

Since the closing of St. Joseph’s Catholic school in 1993, the parish has used the building for various religious classes and activities. The Archdiocese of Denver has since donated over $300,000 towards renovation of the building, in preparation for the shelter’s needs.