St. Joseph’s Residence, Spring 2013

14
May
Council 8157 crew poses just prior to performing like a well-oiled-machine.

[dropcaps] A [/dropcaps]s we gathered this Saturday morning at Holy Spirit Catholic Church to collect our cooking equipment and food supplies, we realized we couldn’t have picked a better spring day for grilling out in the company of some very fine men and women. Once loaded, our caravan of several vehicles carrying 14 Knights and 3 women volunteers headed out for the bi-annual cook out at St. Joseph’s Assisted Living Residence in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.

Spearheaded by Dan Murphy, this community activity is a charitable project for our council that takes place in May and October every year.

St Joseph’s Residence, is a not-for-profit, self-supporting facility operating within the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Texas since 1955. Its mission is to “provide care to the elderly who can no longer live alone and to help those in the final stage of their lives draw closer to God”. Their focus is on “wellness, dignity, and independence of residents in a caring, Catholic community.” St Joseph’s is run by the Bethlemite Sisters.

 

The Bethlemite Sisters

“The Institute of the Bethlemite Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, arose from the Bethlemite Order, begun in Guatemala in 1658 by Saint Brother Pedro de San José Betancur, a native of the Canary Islands. Pedro gave his life to the service of God working with the poor, whom he sought out and aided with great love and charitable care. His house was everyone’s house; those seeking spiritual and material help including shelter, found it there.”

“The Mother House of the Bethlemite Sisters is located in Bogotá, Colombia. The Congregation is divided into five provinces:

  1. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Province encompasses the countries of Colombia, Spain, Panama, the United States of America, and Venezuela.
  2. Saint Michael the Archangel Province is comprised of the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
  3. Our Lady of Bethlehem Province covers Chile and Ecuador.
  4. Immaculate Province is in Italy.
  5. Saint Brother Pedro Province is in India.

The Sisters teach; perform parish and social work; work with the aged, the deaf and mute, disabled children, and children of patients with Hansen’s disease; and serve in mission territories.” Read more on their website…

Residents and family members being served by council 8157 at St Joseph’s on Saturday, May 11, 2013.
A Bethlemite Sister being served lunch as onlookers wait in line thinking how good it all looks and smells…
A great looking lunch plate with beef hot dogs and lean beef cheeseburgers for all.

Our council provided beef hot dogs and 85% lean beef burgers with all the fixings complemented by Mike Fitzgerald’s delicious baked beans adorned with bacon strips, yummy! It is estimated that our Knights served approximately 150+ people, including residents and their family members visiting that day, as well as the staff of St. Joseph’s.

I could have done a lot of other things this Saturday morning, but none would have been as fulfilling as giving a little bit of my time back to some pretty amazing members of our community. I thank God for the selfless women who make up the order of the Bethlemite Sisters.

Check our events calendar for the next one coming up later this year in October.

  • All photography by Al Alonzo.

Council 8157 was represented by the following Knights and spouses:

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  1. Dan Murphy
  2. Frank & Lourdes Salazar
  3. Andy Goza
  4. Pat May
  5. Reynaldo Estrellas
  6. Al & Sally Alonzo
  7. Allen Alonzo
  8. Jack Ramsden
  9. Art Senato & Maureen White
  10. Tom Greco
  11. Bob Lamb
  12. Mike Fitzgerald
  13. Pat Stepniewski
  14. Jorge Ruiz

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A Saturday lunch would be incomplete without Mariachis.

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Two residents enjoying our classic all-American lunch.

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