Parish’s St. Rita Ministry assists abuse shelter

The new ministry at Holy Family Parish hopes to “make a significant difference” through action, faith and the saint’s intercession.

TANYA GOODMAN | FLORIDA CATHOLIC ORLANDO BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 10.22.09

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Parish’s St. Rita Ministry assists abuse shelter

ORLANDO | She felt God had placed it on her heart. Stephanie Kresl knew she had to help women – those victimized by domestic abuse – become survivors.

Kresl’s resolve was bolstered by “When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women,” issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002.

“At the time, I was doing the newsletter for MOMS (Ministry of Mothers Sharing). Every month I would include information empowering to women,” said Kresl, Holy Family parishioner.

It was almost October – National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She decided to include information on domestic abuse in her newsletter. Shortly thereafter, a speaker from Harbor House of Central Florida that offers counseling, advocacy and shelter for abused women made a presentation to her group. After four of the women in the group took a tour of the shelter, the St. Rita Ministry was born.

Kresl named the ministry after St. Rita of Cascia, known as patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes, abuse victims and difficult marriages. St. Rita endured a violent marriage. After praying for her husband for 18 years, he became penitent and converted. Soon after, he was killed as part of a vendetta.

Kresl emphasized that the Church is often a first responder in instances of domestic abuse, Kresl said.

Domestic violence and animal abuse

According to the Harbor House of Central Florida Web site, studies have shown that 85 percent of domestic violence victims, nationwide, report incidents of animal abuse prior to leaving their batterer. In central Florida, 48 percent of domestic violence survivors delay leaving an abusive household because they do not have a safe place for their pets.

The agency reports about two to three hot-line callers each week – up to 156 families annually – postpone moving to safe shelter in order to stay and protect their beloved pets. To address this issue, Harbor House is building on-site the first kennel in central Florida to be certified through the American Humane Society’s PAWS – pets and women’s shelter – program. To learn more, visit their Web site.

Harbor House crisis hot line is 407-886-2856.

“Using our parish infrastructure, the ministry is designed to prepare our pastoral staff, ministry volunteers and individual families within our parish community to respond with compassion, factual knowledge, as well as prayer and resources that victims need to make positive changes in their lives,” Kresl said. “With faith in God and the intercession of St. Rita, our vision is that we may begin to make a significant difference as we work together to help stop the violence and restore the spiritual well-being of our families, our friends and our community.”

“We’ve had a huge outpouring of support from our church community,” Kresl said.

The ministry is now in its fifth year. The ministry is also a family affair. Husband John Kresl helps. Everyone in the family pitches in to make the pasta dishes for the monthly pasta night at Harbor House.

Volunteers contribute as much time as they can; even an hour helps Kresl said. Every November, the ministry hosts a craft party for the children at Harbor House where they have fun making Christmas ornaments and enjoy treats.

“Holidays can be a really tough time,” Kresl add. She is extra concerned about Christmas this year.

The ministry gives $10 gift cards from Publix, Target and Wal-Mart to Harbor House each year at the annual Christmas party that can be used for the women and children during the year. Donations have decreased in the last few years as the economy has become depressed. “It’s become harder and harder,” she said.

Kresl remains filled with hope.

“I’m on a mission,” she said emphatically.

A story from a battered wife

In the beginning, I was young ... he was handsome. He said I was beautiful, smart, worthy of love ... made me feel that way. And so we were married, walking joyfully together down a church aisle, our union blessed by God.

Then came the angry words … the verbal tearing apart. … Now I was made to feel ugly, unintelligent, unworthy of any love, God’s or man’s. Next came the beatings … unrelenting violence … unceasing pain. I shouldn’t stay, but this is my husband … promised forever. He says I deserve it … maybe I do … if I could just be good. I feel so alone … doesn’t God hear me when I cry out silently as I lie in bed each night?

Finally came the release, the realization. It’s not me … it’s him. … I am worthy of love, God’s and man’s. One spring morning, my heart was filled with hope and with fear now only of starting over on my own. And so again I walked ... down the hallway of our apartment building ... never again to be silent … never again to live with that kind of violence, to suffer that kind of pain.

– A battered wife

From “When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women,” U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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