FLORIDAWWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | December 2018 Catholic MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE Who could imagine that this little baby is the Son of the Most High? Only she, his mother, does. Looking at her newborn baby with the eyes of faith, Mary knows the truth and guards the Mystery. Today, we can also join in her gaze, and look on this child through her eyes — through those eyes of simple and unwavering faith — and so recognize in this child the human face of God. — Archbishop Thomas Wenski 2 YOUR MIAMI COMMUNITY Florida Catholic December 2018 ARTWORK FROM NEW LIFE Local homeless programs FAMILY’S CHILDREN awarded $5 million grant TOM TRACY Florida Catholic correspondent MIAMI | The Bezos Day One Fund associated with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — who attended high school in Miami as well as the University of Florida — has award- ed Catholic Charities of the Archdi- ocese of Miami $5 million towards its homelessness prevention and intervention programs. The Bezos charity announced Nov. 20 that 24 organizations around the country that are work- ing to support families in need will share in a total distribution of almost $100 million. Most of the grants were for $5 million or less Back in 2016, this three-year-old was living temporarily at New Life This picture depicts New Life Family Center’s goal of keeping families and, in the case of Miami, the mon- Family Center, a Catholic Charities-sponsored motel-style residence together. Often, homeless families are split up into different shelters. ey is intended to be used to support providing a safe environment for 15 families while they get back on At New Life, the whole family unit is welcomed. programs over the next four years, their feet. Children are the central focus of New Life. (FILE PHOTO) according to Peter Routsis-Arroyo, chief executive officer of Catholic forts in Broward, Miami-Dade and Arroyo said. “I think it is safe to say Charities. Monroe counties. Those efforts are the reputation is that of having ex- The whole process was by direct in conjunction with the Homeless cellent stewardship.” invitation and moved along very Trust in Miami Dade and Broward Other Catholic entities that re- quickly, said Routsis-Arroyo, who counties, and the Continuum of ceived either a $2.5 million or $5 credited Miami Archbishop Thom- Care program in Monroe, which million grant from the Day One as Wenski and Miami’s Catholic is federally funded. The programs Fund include Catholic Charities Charities for a record of community help families in danger of home- of the Archdiocese of New Orleans service and integrity that attracted lessness or who are currently and Catholic Community Services the prize. homeless and in need of social of Western Washington. “It happened quickly, which is worker case management. Earlier this year, Bezos and his great,” Routsis-Arroyo said. He said The Miami-Dade County Home- wife, MacKenzie, launched the Day he was in touch with one of Bezos’ less Trust’s annual “Point-in-Time” One project which consists of two attorneys throughout the process census for 2018 shows the number programs: The Day One Families and that there will be a system of of homeless individuals and fami- Fund provides grants to nonprofits regular reporting and accountabil- lies is 3,526 — an 8 percent decrease fighting homelessness, and the Day ity to the Day One Fund as to how from the previous year – although One Academies Fund aims to cre- the funds are applied locally in the the number of those “unsheltered” ate a network of non-profit, tier-one coming years. – in need of housing – had increased preschools in low-income commu- The grant will allow Catholic by 19 persons. nities. Charities to provide additional as- Routsis-Arroyo noted that New In addition to Amazon, Bezos Families at Catholic Charities’ New Life Family Center are encouraged sistance to families in need of per- Life programing was in dire need of is the founder of the Blue Origin to identify personal and professional goals. The case manager then manent housing through the Hous- a financial boost. rocket company and owner of The helps them outline the steps that need to be taken, as well as provide ing First Model, a best practice, and “This couldn’t have happened at Washington Post. Earlier this year, soft skills needed to achieve their goals. This client, age 6, described will ensure Catholic Charities can a better time,” he said. “We had lost Forbes declared him the wealthiest her image as Wish Upon a Star. address more of its clients’ most ba- some funding for New Life and — person in the world with a current sic needs. It also will help to expand while it wasn’t the first time we lost net worth of about $150 billion. supportive services that help fami- funding — we were going to have to The Day One Families Fund was lies fighting homelessness become start charging rents, so this will al- inspired by Mary’s Place in Seattle, self-sufficient. low us to go back strictly to serving whose motto is “no child should The funds will support two key homeless children and families.” sleep outside.” A small group of ex- areas of Catholic Charities: The cost of the New Life program perts advised the Day One team in • The New Life Family Center, a will now be covered by the Day One selecting the grant recipients. The downtown Miami shelter for home- Fund grant “and we will be able to Day 1 Families Fund will be award- less children and families which work closely with families and help- ing grants annually. provides a safe environment for 15 ing create some savings accounts “These 24 organizations are families while they get back on their for them,” said Routsis-Arroyo. working on a number of initiatives feet. Children are the central focus He said he recently received a let- that support families in need – from of New Life. ter of congratulations directly from emergency shelter and safe short- The facility was already in the Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, whose term shelter for families to get on process of moving to an expanded stepfather, Michael Bezos, arrived their feet, to access and support for location with room for additional in the U.S. as a teenager via the Pe- permanent housing and support clients, and includes an art therapy dro Pan exodus in the early 1960s – services that help families move program, meals and intensive case a program that brought more than forward together,” Bezos said in management. 14,000 unaccompanied Cuban announcing the grants. “We hope “We will probably be expanding children to the U.S. and was spear- these grants provide the additional the program to 30 units,” Routsis- headed by Catholic Charities in the resources these leaders and their Catholic Charities’ New Life Family Center in Miami has an art Arroyo said of New Life. “This will then-Diocese of Miami. organizations need to expand the therapy program to help children who face homelessness cope and also allow us to add an additional “The (grant) speaks to the history scope and impact of their efforts.” Q express their emotions productively. These drawings were all done case worker or two: one for rapid re- and reputation of the Archdiocese by children while staying at New Life. The goal at the heart of New housing efforts as well.” of Miami and Archbishop Wen- For more information, visit Life Center is for each family to be self-sufficient and permanently • An expansion of Catholic ski, who is nationally known for his www.BezosDayOneFund.org/ housed. Charities’ rapid re-housing ef- work with social justice,” Routsis- Day1FamiliesFund. December 2018 www.thefloridacatholic.org YOUR MIAMI COMMUNITY 3 St. Martin de Porres honorees: Focused on the greater good Eight receive annual Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, chaplain of the ministry to black Catholics, also award as part of local received a special recognition, the Father Augustus Tolton Award of celebration of Black Excellence. Msgr. Jeanty is pastor of St. James Church in North Miami in Catholic History Month addition to serving as archdiocesan chancellor for canonical affairs. MARLENE QUARONI Dawson, from St. Katharine Florida Catholic correspondent Drexel Church in Weston, is a re- tired teacher and lay minister. She MIAMI GARDENS | When founded and is CEO of the non- Douglas Smalls was a baby he be- profit “I AM Ministries” of Miami- came very ill. He was hospitalized Dade/Broward Inc. The organi- and in need of a blood transfusion. zation’s mission is to restore and Doctors told his parents he would empower family life. The ministry’s most likely die, and they ought to “Divas Destined for Greatness” is call on their minister for prayer. a mentoring and character-devel- “My Protestant parents called Megan Juste, 12, and Kayla opment program that has served several churches, but no one came,” Weaver, 7, members of Mbofro teenage girls for the past 10 years. Smalls recalled. “Finally, someone Ne Nyame, “Children and God” Dawson has written two support called the local Catholic church. dance group, perform for the manuals, Women’s Empowerment Even though my parents weren’t audience during the Archdiocese Hour and Divas Destined for Great- members of the parish or even Ro- Katrenia Reeves Jackman, director of the Office of Black Catholic of Miami’s Office of Black ness, which guide and direct these man Catholic, a priest came and Ministry, poses with Lona and Jerome Matthews of St. Philip Neri Catholic Ministry celebration of programs. prayed with them and gave them Church in Miami Gardens, who received one of this year’s St.