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Dear Friends

Celine Martin in 1889

The One -- the Caregiver --
Who Stayed Home

Week of October 1, 2018
Prayer Requests

Dear Friends:

Today's Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux has had me thinking about one of her older sisters.

As you may know, Thérèse was the youngest of the five Martin sisters who lived to adulthood. But she wasn't the last to enter the convent. That was Celine. She very much wanted to go, but chose postpone it.

Her immediate vocation was taking care of their widowed father who was in poor health. It wasn't until after his death, six years later, that she became a Carmelite.

Among the many sacrifices caregivers can be called upon to make is being the one who stays home. The one who moves back home or has a care-receiver move into their home. The one who takes early retirement or quits their job to care for a loved one.

Yes, others in the family may help (a lot) but often there's one primary, one frontline, caregiver. And that can be a hard and lonely place to be.

I have no doubt St. Thérèse kept Celine in her prayers in a special way during the six years her older sister was their father's caregiver. And I'm sure if you're "the one who stayed home" -- in whatever form that may have taken -- you now hold a special place in the saint's heart ... and prayers.

You can read more about Celine here. And about Thérèse  here.

You remain in my prayers.

--Bill

- - -

This week we're so pleased to welcome Jasper R. of Louisiana, Molly R. of Illinois, and Aurora R. of California as the newest members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep them and their intentions in your prayers. They have promised to pray for you and yours.

And again this week we cordially invite you to join the Friends of St. John the Caregiver! (FSJC's programs include YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com.) You can find out more about becoming a member here.

No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for caregivers and those receiving care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).

You can:

sign up on-line here

or call us toll-free at 1-800-392-JOHN (5646)

or print and mail an application form.

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