January 8th was the fourteenth anniversary of my mother’s death. Seeking a place for quiet and reflection, I was drawn to the National Cathedral. I’ve been an occasional visitor to the Cathedral over my years in the city, but had visited more frequently in the preceding months for events large and small – a memorial service for Nelson Mandela, …read more »
Lean on Me, the Joseph's House Blog
NPR: “A Big Helping of Christmas Compassion at Joseph’s House”
December 22, 2013 by
Rachel Martin, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday came for breakfast to get a sense of what Joseph’s House is like around the holidays. The tree was decorated, the lights were up and there was plenty of hot coffee. There was definitely a sense of holiday cheer in the air, but in most ways the breakfast was like it is on other days. Plenty of …read more »
We’re Ablaze This Advent Season
December 20, 2013 by
In the liturgical calendar this is Advent, a welcome time of dark quiet, and waiting. But at Joseph’s House, we’re on fire. We’re ablaze because of Kenya. Kenya is a fierce, vulnerable young woman with learning disabilities and a drug habit. She’s a mother of two young sons and she’s HIV positive. This past summer, suffering from end-stage AIDS …read more »
A Special Evening with Filmmaker Poet Nic Askew
September 20, 2013 by
Filmmaker Nic Askew spent a day at Joseph’s House sharing meals, talking with residents, observing the rhythms of the house before he picked up his camera to begin filming. Only when he had a sense of the place and the people, did he feel comfortable turning his lens towards us. You will immediately feel his slow, deliberate style when you watch …read more »
When We Dwell in Compassion
September 18, 2013 by
Sometimes a person we invite to Joseph’s House for shelter longs for a different home. Zoe cannot be comforted. For many years she lived on the streets and for years at a time had no contact with her mother. Dying now, of liver disease, she was referred to Joseph’s House a few months ago for hospice care. Since then Zoe and her …read more »
Homecomings
August 23, 2013 by
August is a month of homecomings at Joseph’s House. Actually, it is a month of farewells and homecomings. We begin the month saying final good-byes to our service year volunteers before welcoming back former volunteers and staff who return to help out for a week or two while we are short staffed. We are grateful for their return because we can more …read more »
Dear Amy and Anand
July 31, 2013 by
By Neshia Alaovae, 2012-2013 Jesuit Volunteer Corps service volunteer. This entry was originally posted on Neshia's blog: Take Gentle Care: A Service Journey. It had been a full day, this last day. I had woken up that morning in semi-darkness after a night of blessed rest. For weeks, I had not been sleeping well. The DC heat certainly played a …read more »
In Their Words: a Year of Service at Joseph’s House
July 24, 2013 by
Our year-long volunteers are finishing up their service at Joseph's House. In these videos, they reflect on their time here, sharing their thoughts on everything from what makes our community life possible and the experience of sitting vigil to the power of laughter in a home that cares for the dying. Neshia Alaovae, Jesuit Volunteer …read more »
Taking Their Places in the World
July 22, 2013 by
Amy Chatelaine, Anand Dwivedi and Neshia Alaovae arrived at Joseph’s House last September to serve here for a year, from the heart. Our welcoming home is perched on the very edge of life and death and it took courage for them to cross the threshold. When they did we asked them for a lot. They gave their all. We asked for their courage to turn …read more »
Do More 24: Small Acts, Great Love
June 5, 2013 by
In everybody’s life small acts of great love begin with fresh home-made biscuits, isn’t that right? It’s definitely true at Joseph’s House! Our theme for the Do More 24 campaign is Small Acts, Great Love. It’s what we experience at Joseph’s House every day. It means so much to us that after 23 years, the doors of Joseph’s House are still open. …read more »