A Mini-Day in the Life of Two Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests and Co-Pastors of the Good Shepherd Community, Ft. Myers, Florida

Pastor Judy Lee (ARCWP) and Betty 

Yesterday was an overwhelming ministry day with some of our women.

Co-Pastor Judy Beaumont (ARCWP) and Betty

We had wonderful housing for one woman and had put her in a

 motel for two weeks 

preparing for this day.  

But, her confused mind betrayed her and so she 
disappeared leaving a note full of paranoia and the opportunity

 forever as this is about the third time this has happened 

and she cannot remain on this housing 
list. 

We were very sad for her as she will be homeless again.

 Then we had a beautiful experience helping another woman, 

Betty age 60, get settled in housing. 

She was so happy as she now has housing and a 

well deserved 
Disability income and, as she is slow, to her it is a

 miracle and she kept thanking God for it! 

Sadly, later in the day as we returned to bring her a TV 
she came limping and crying to the door with her face swollen

 and knees bleeding. 

She rode her bike to her sisters' crowded home where she had

 lived on the couch for nine years, and she was beaten and robbed 

of her little money and her keys and ID 

on the way by some violent 

young men(probably on drugs). 

Her new landlord is wonderful and he 

mmediately changed the locks on her

door and, with another of our men, Louis, 

carried the big TV up the stairs

 for us. 

We calmed her down, made sure she was physically okay,

 and prayed with her, 

and she will be okay, but what a day for her!

We then met with seven or eight of our people 

for whom Judy B. is the Rep Payee 
(for their Disability checks) and with the men 

living at Joshua House. 

This was an uplifting experience as all were doing well 

and two of the men were planning 

to cook a Bar-B-Q feast for the others for the July 4th holiday. 

Also among 
these were two women whose lives are truly turned around 

and we celebrated the 
health of one and one year out of jail for the other, 

a very slow woman 

who now lives with another woman who guides

 her in positive ways.
 
Then, we had to move another woman to a Motel as her mental illness 

causes her 
to avoid toilets and just "go" and she was once again evicted. 

She is gentile and educated and sweet,

and our Doctor did check her out medically, 

but this is truly "all in her head" and she cannot control it.

Therefore we cannot keep her 
housed although she has her Disability check. 

We pray this Motel can put up with 
her and have taken a lot of measures with plastic sheets,etc., 

and one of our 
church members to help her clean, but the stench gets her evicted. 

We take her to the psychiatrist and to the medical doctors, 

but she simply does not follow up and 

refuses help as she believes that she is fine.

 In Florida if you refuse 
any medical or mental health service there is NONE!! 

She is the one that lived 
on the doorsteps of St. Francis RC Church for years. 

This is our hardest and 
perhaps most difficult woman to minister to, oh for a miracle!

And, finally, we visited and brought some bread to another woman 

whom we moved from a condemned trailer to good housing. 

While she too suffers from physical disability and mental illness 

and hoarding that crowds her out, she is doing 
well in her new place. 

She has resumed her activities as an activist and Board 
member for the Coalition to End Homelessness 

and as a jewelry maker. 

It was a joy to see her and hear the plans for a day of 

outreach to the homeless.

 
We are glad that, as this Nation celebrates its Independence,

we can help people who have fallen through the gaping hole 

in 

the bottom of the flimsy safety net, 
to slowly regain their dignity and independence and 

enjoy housing, positive relationships and the lives

that God has given them. Our special joy is 
witnessing the many ways in which they help 

one another. 

Judy Lee, ARCWP

Judy Beaumont, ARCWP

Co-Pastors of Good Shepherd Community

www.arcwp.org