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House of Mercy / Farbridge House
 

House of Mercy
725 Hudson Avenue
Rochester, NY 14621
585-266-2580

Dear Friends,

She came to the House of Mercy because she had no place to go. That day she had a disagreement with he live-in boyfriend who physically abused her. She called the Battered Women's Shelter - no room. She called other shelters - no room. What was she going to do? She needed a safe place to stay. The House of Mercy listened to her need and found a place for here to stay and to reconnect with her social worker. This is part of the ministry of the House of Mercy.

The House of Mercy Ministry has grown immensely. For the first time in eight years, the U.S. poverty rat is going up again, while request for emergency food and shelter are skyrocketing. According to the U.S. Conference of Mayor's annual report, "A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities", demands for shelter and food assistance increased by 19 percent in 2002 - the biggest increase in a decade. Lack of affordable housing was cited as the leading cause of both problems.

State and local leaders are pushing for help from Washington. Yet with unprecedented increases in military spending coupled with revenue shortfalls, federal funding of many domestic programs is being frozen at previous levels. In spite of the decrease in human service spending, the Ministry of the House of Mercy will continue.

Again this Lent we invite you to take part in OPERATION - HOUSE OF MERCY. This is a Lenten moment when we realize that many people have reached the end of their resources and must totally rely on the mercy of God and the generosity of people.

We invite you to make sacrificial offerings during Lent for the House of Mercy and to place your donations in the envelope provided by the Church. If you write a Check, please make it payable to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and indicate that the check is for the House of Mercy. Please bring your donation to the Church on Easter Sunday (April 20) and place it in the second collection or mail it to the rectory, 1089 Joseph Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14621.

Almsgiving (works of charity) is precisely the work Lent calls us to. The Prophet Micah tells us that the first thing God wants is that we "do justice" (Micah 6:8). Everything, Micah says, everything is  measured on the basis of how we treat the poor. May this be our Lenten journey, our Lenten moment.

Gratefully,

Father Peter Deckman, Joseph Perrotta, Father Neil R. Miller

You can make the House of Mercy a part of your United Way pledge. Ask specifically for Donor Option Card #3. Write in House of Mercy, 725 Hudson Avenue, Option 1507; or you can make donations directly to the House of Mercy. 

Thank you for your continued support.

May God bless you,
Friends of the House of Mercy

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Farbridge House
74 Farbridge St.
Rochester, NY 14621

    This ministry is one that is co-sponsored by Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the House of Mercy and focuses on spirituality for the recovering addict. The Farbridge House is located at 74 Farbridge Street and, to date, has six men in residence. It is directed by Charles W. Earlsey (C.W.) from the House of Mercy and Father Neil, and is funded by the men in residence and private donations. The men are expected to attend two meetings a week - one meeting at the Farbridge House on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and the second one held every Saturday at 12 noon in the rectory. The Saturday meeting is open to anyone who is struggling with an addition. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addition and would like some help, invite yourself or that person to come to the Saturday meeting at 12 noon. For more information call Father Neil at 585-467-2725 or C.W. at 585-266-2580.
    Our goals call for setting up more houses and a farm for addicts who wish to recover from their addiction. Pray for this ministry. It is much needed. We have been in operation for over two years, and are growing.
    We have two houses on Farbridge Street, housing at this time 9 men, participating in our program. We are pleased to announce that we have acquired a third house, in the city. This house will be for women in recovery. The focus in our ministry is strongly on how God works in our lives to free us from addiction. PRAY FOR US!

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