December Newsletter

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a time to reflect on the blessings God gives us, even amid adversity. Often, it is in challenging times that we discover some of our greatest gifts. Our home is a place where many of these gifts are revealed, and I am grateful to be part of this mission of hope. Our guests arrive facing significant challenges, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, many leave our hospitality with renewed hope and dignity.

Recently, I recorded a podcast with Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines at the Iowa Catholic Radio studio. Bishop Joensen graciously allowed us to share our message with his listeners, discussing how Pope Leo’s recent Apostolic Exhortation, titled “Dilexi te” (“Love of the Poor”), is reflected in the work we do at the Ames Romero House. Through our mission, we find numerous ways to “love the poor” in our home. The Church’s social teachings and the Magisterium over the past two hundred years have emphasized the importance of advocating for the poor and using our resources to serve them, as illustrated in both the Old and New Testaments.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a prime example of what we witness in Ames. We must remember that this story remains relevant today.

In Pope Leo’s Exhortation, he writes, “If I encounter a person sleeping outdoors on a cold night, I can view him or her as an annoyance, an idler, an obstacle in my path, a troubling sight, a problem for politicians to sort out, or even as refuse cluttering a public space. Or I can respond with faith and charity, seeing in this person a human being with dignity equal to my own, a creature infinitely loved by the Father, an image of God, and a brother or sister redeemed by Jesus Christ. That is what it means to be a Christian!”