Nghia Vy's Deportation

 Nghia Vy is a former "cloistered brother" and has been free for 17 years.  During that time, he went to school to be a dog groomer and also worked for Sister Ruth in the Hope Chest.  That is, until he got a letter from ICE.  The following poem speaks what happened.

Nghia Vy's Deportation

Time stays the same

       as usual--always.

Nghia helping customers

       find their treasures

Nghia who trained our dogs

       to sit and stay.

Nghia who prayed rosaries

      for all--far and near

Nghia who said "blessed,"

      instead of "happy"

Nghia who spread love,

     not hate and fear.

Nghia who paid taxes

     and obeyed laws.

Then came the letter from ICE

    to appear for a hearing.

Fear took over our thoughts

    suddenly--abruptly.

Passed from state to state,

     from prison to prison.

Nghia was stolen away.

     Unfair!  A good man!

Guantanamo, Panama, Yemen:

     deportation somewhere.

Vietnam the final destination.

     Due process be damned!

Last week we learned

     Nghia is dead.

Bethany House Mass

 The first celebration in 2021 for Bethany House Ministries was a Mass --come rain or shine.  It was raining so Mass was held under a tent.

                                               The Mass celebrant was Father Joe McDermott.

It was cold and rainy but not dismal.  It was a celebration of the Mass!  I was happy to reacquaint myself with many old friends:

Sue and me.

Frank and me.

Frank and Chelle

Sister Ruth

Paul, Mike and wife Sue

Nghia

John and friend

Tom

Wayne and Sister Ann Marie

Father Joe in the 

back with black cap

Jay

We also celebrated Sister Ruth's 70 th Birthday!

Help Given, Help Sought

Announcing a great way to help out returning residents from prison.

A Stitch in Time Textiles

Dear Friends of Bethany House,

We are so excited to share with you our new joint venture with our good friend Guido Jacques, Vice President of Operations at A &M Tool and Design Company in Southbridge, MA.

For the past year we have been working with Guido who has begun a program to give employment to folks being released from prison. He has given our brothers a job opportunity with a future....it has been a positive experience for all.

And now Bethany House Ministries is entering into a joint venture with Guido in a business that is more geared to women. Two members of our Bethany family, Joli and Lisa have begun "A Stitch in Time Textiles" company on the 4th floor of the mill of Guido's business in Southbridge, MA.

Our mission is to build a profitable business that serves both its customers and its employees. "A Stitch in Time Textiles" was formed to provide employment with a living wage to folks who have been released from prison. The skill acquired by the greatest number of incarcerated people in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections is sewing and embroidery.

Joli spent 8 years of her incarceration working in Prison Industries and has 5 years of direct experience running a Tajima machine head embroidery machine. Lisa, prior to her incarceration spent 12 years working as a manufacturing engineer. In addition,she was instrumental in the establishment of two engineering consulting businesses primarily serving the medical device industry. Their combined experience is invaluable.

As we move forward with this venture, we are asking for your support. First and foremost for your prayers...this is a huge undertaking for all of us.

If anyone knows of a good corporate lawyer who works with non profits please let us know. In the future we are looking for investors.

If you are able to help us with start up costs we would be so grateful.

Finally, Joli and Lisa, in the near future will be taking new embroidery orders. If you have or know of any organization that would have embroidery needs, tshirts, sweatshirts, hats,etc. let us know. When Joli and Lisa are ready to fulfill these orders I will have them get in touch with you.

With much gratitude,

Sr. Kathleen, Ruth and all of us at Bethany House Ministries 

P.S. We would be so grateful if you would share this post on social media!

508-376-9923

Bethanyosfop@aol.com

Lay Dominican Prison Ministry Initiative

The Lay Dominican Prison Ministry Initiative had a holy day today.  We gathered at the Connors Family Retreat Center (formerly St. Stephen's Priory) to have a day of retreat, sponsored by the Bethany House Ministries.  Members of three chapters of Lay Dominicans attended: Our Lady of Mercy Chapter, MCI Norfolk, Hope of Bethany Pro-Chapter, Norfok, MA, and the Community of the Resurrection Chapter from Casco, Maine, attended along with others who follow the spirituality of Father Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.

The theme was advertised as "Holding Up the Mirror God's Grace in Action."  What this meant was to really look at our perceptions in looking at people.

We began with Professor John McDargh, PHD talking about his father telling him to watch out for the men in prison because they were bad men.  John's dad perceived prisoners as bad men.  But when John went to the prison, he found out that they were just people.  In fact, they were good people who chose to do bad things.

The second speaker was Father Wayne Cavalier, O.P., who talked about Father Jean-Joseph Lastaste's perceptions, and how they were changed, when he met the women in Cadillac prison.

The final speaker was Kathleen Dennehy, the former commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.  She gave interesting insight on the "inside" perception of inmates.  We also brainstormed some ideas on how to support prisoners and their families.

The location was spectacular.  I know this property very well, as it once was a Dominican priory--the place where I entered the Order.  Most of my spiritual formation was held here.  So you better believe what celebrating the closing Mass meant to me.  At this time of the year, around 5 PM the setting sun is in the perfect position to shine its rays upon the raised consecrated Host.  Father Wayne raised the Host in the sunbeams, twice.  Once to show up the Body of Christ, and again to show us His Broken Body.

Awesome!

Christmas in Prison

White Socks are like gold!

Every year Bethany House Ministries distributes over 1700 Christmas packages to prisoners.  What is their mission?

The mission of Bethany House Ministries comes from the Gospels and the spirit of Father Jean Joseph Lataste, OP, who recognized through his work with prisoners that God's love has the power to heal, transform and renew to what many seemed hopeless.  Their mission is to create a compassionate and healing environment, and to provide services for those in difficult situations.  They are especially committed to the physical, emotional, and spiritual support of prisoners, and their loved ones.

So today, I helped package for prisoners.  I carried packages, help pack the truck, but mostly I worked in a production line.  It was my job to open the bags that would be filled.

Filled with what?  Socks, small toiletries, such as toothpaste, and bars of soap

Big deal, huh?  Well, that's Christmas in prison.

And it's very appreciated!

Doesn't that look like an angel inside the truck on the right side?

Bethany House Ministries

What a great site.  Bethany House is a Catholic Ministry that services the families of prisoners and programs for prisons.  Currently there are two stores in Millis, MA.  One of the stores sells bric brac that has been donated.  This is the Hope Chest.  In addition to the Hope Chest, is another store right next door.  It is Threads of Hope and it sells donated clothing.

I love both stores.  Before I go shopping for clothes I'll go to Threads of Hope and see if maybe I can find
what I need there; instead of spending a lot of money
someplace else.

Bethany House Ministry has also rented a house for ex-cons to live in.  Sometimes when a prisoner is released he has no where to live, so the House of Hope is a place for them.  Mostly, it is for when an ex-con needs a residence to satisfy the requirement for being released.  Some can't be released unless they have a place to go to.

Then there are programs for the prisons themselves.  Around Christmas, packages are made up as presents for the prisoners.  They mostly consists of personal hygiene items.  But still.  Presents are presents.  Also at Christmas, Bethany House Ministries hosts a Christmas party for the families of prisoners.  That's always a good time.

Sister Kathleen and Ruth run the organization.  It's their baby.  One's a Franciscan and one's a Dominican.  That's the perfect combination.  A business with a heart, that's Bethany House Ministries.

A Bargain

BETHANY HOUSE AUCTION

Saturday, September 26
Preview at 8AM
Changed to 8AM because of the multitude of items
Live Auction at 10AM
St. Thomas Parish Hall
974 Main Street (Rt. 109) Millis
(Parking across the street)

Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, artwork, Musical Instruments, Fine China, Gift Items, Holiday Items, Pottery, Silver, Glassware, Vintage Postcards and Buttons,Collector Dolls, Gift Certificates and Lots of LOTS!
50/50 RAFFLE - DRAWING AT 10AM
Must be present to win
For more information call 508-376-9923

Over 400 Plus Lots!
Keep Watching for More Pictures!

Bethany House Ministries Inc. is a 501 C 3 non profit charitable organization





Today I went to my first auction. I loved it! I spent half a day there. The preview was at 8:00 AM and it ended at 3:00 PM.

I was only going to spend an hour.

I wasn't going to buy anything.

You see, Sisters Kathleen and Ruth operate a second hand store. The proceeds of which go to programs for prisoners and their families. Ruth is in my chapter and besides, I like to help out with her ministry--Bethany House Ministries. So Kathleen and Ruth had so much stuff accumulated that they decided to have an auction--not really knowing what that entailed. Well, it morphed once it was advertised. People started donating items. A professional auctioneer donated his services. A church hall had to be rented to hold everything. Ruth says this was their first, and last, auction. It was too much work.

I couldn't believe how cheap everything went. The point was to get rid of the stuff. I had my eye on a "secretary". It went for $180.00. I wasn't planning on really buying anything so I couldn't bid that high. The only reason I was there was to show my support.

But I did buy something. My daughter Karen, who just got married, received so much china and glassware, that she expressed the wish that she needed a china closet, or a hutch. Actually, that "secretary" that I had my eye on is what I had in mind, for a china closet. The auction did have one china closet, but it was way bigger than the "secretary," so I didn't think I had a chance in bidding for it. I also knew who had donated it, too. And the reason it was donated was because she had downsized; she had sold her house and bought a condo. And the stuff she donated was quality. She had some very dear things.

When the china closet was up for bidding, a lot of chatter was going on. The noise made it hard to hear the auctioneer. Someone opened with $5. The auctioneer asked for ten and I raised my hand. He asked for $ 15--again $ 15--"Do I hear $15?" There was so much noise that I don't think anyone was paying attention. It was kinda surreal. "Sold for $ 10." Then on to the next item.

I sat there stunned. I turned to Ray on my right and said, "I just bought that china closet for $10". He said, "huh?" I turned to Sue on my left and said, "I just bought that china closet for $ 10." She just smiled and shook her head.

I thought about it and realized that I must have misunderstood. The auctioneer must have started at $100 and I must have bid $110.

Another possibility was I had bought something else for $10. Something made out of china.

I didn't know what to think until I noticed my bidding # placed on the china closet. So I did own it, but for $ 10 or $ 110.

I went to pay for it and it was $ 10!

The rest of the auction I think I was in a stupor. I didn't buy anything else. But I saw people buy Lenox and Gorham for $ 10, $ 20. There were unbelievable bargains. Towards the end, stuff was bunched together, just to sell it, i.e., a table with a vase and with a picture. All were sold together for one price like $ 10. At the very end, everything left or that didn't sell was put on a table and we were told to go help ourselves.

The auction made me think that I've wasted my life buying new. I've paid much, much, much more for new items in stores that are not quality items, like those sold at this auction. I'm a convert, now.

And Karen loved the china closet.