November Volunteer Needs & Donation Requests

Good morning!

Can you believe that we are only two weeks away from Thanksgiving? Many spend this whole month sharing their gratitude, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention how thankful we are at Mary's Mantle for the dedication and love of our volunteers.

If you are interested in sharing your time and gifts with us, please email or call me! Here are a few needs we are looking to fill right now:

1) IT/Computer help - We are looking for someone who can come and maintain our resident and staff computers on a regular basis, as well as advise us on future technology purchases. If that sounds like your cup of tea, send us a note!

2) House Coverage - Mary's Mantle is staffed 24/7/365, but on occasion we are looking for people to help cover the house when our staff are out sick, on vacation, or during our staff meetings. If you would like to be considered for our sub list, send me a note. There will be some short, additional training required.

3) Babysitter - The residents of Mary's Mantle have the opportunity to intern at the Faith@Work Baby Boutique. We are looking for someone to come help with the babies on Tuesdays while the moms are working. If you are interested, please let us know.

We are also currently looking for a couple of specific items for our residents. If you or someone you know has a baby monitor (audio or video) or a baby carrier/sling (the easier the better), we could use a few for our new mamas.

Thank you for all you do, and for your constant support of Mary's Mantle and our mission.

God bless you in abundance,
Rakhi

Your Faith Can Help Save

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors

and had spent all that she had.

Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd

and touched his cloak.

She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”

Immediately her flow of blood dried up.

She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,

turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”

But his disciples said to Jesus,

“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,

and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her,

approached in fear and trembling.

She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.

Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

Mark 5:25-34

If I but touch his clothes I shall be cured...

I love this passage from Sunday's Gospel reading. In my mind, I can just imagine the woman's helplessness, her desperation as she goes in search of this man Jesus who she has heard heals the sick. I can imagine her trepidation - do I or don't I? Should I reach out? What will happen? Her desire to be well is so strong, her faith in the ability of Jesus to heal her so firm, she presses through the crowds just to touch his cloak. And...zap! Power. Healing. Miracles.

Your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction...

We each have places in our lives where we need healing. It may not be as severe as a hemorrhage, but somewhere we are hurting and broken. We may not want to admit it, but all of us are in need of our Divine Healer. How badly do we want to be well? All of us have to answer this question for ourselves.

As the women at Mary's Mantle enter our home, they bring with them a multitude of wounds, attachments, and afflictions. They are in desperate need of healing, and we do our best to create a refuge for them to begin that process. Sometimes we have to drag them to Jesus kicking and screaming; sometimes we hold them as they tremble in fear of admitting their brokenness. Other times we act as a conduit of divine healing, reaching out to Christ on their behalf when they are not strong enough to brave the crowds and reach out to Him themselves. 

I ask you this week to pray for our women (past, present, and future) in a special way. Unite them to the hemorrhaging woman who is reaching out to Christ in courage and faith to receive the healing that is waiting for her. Pray for our staff that they might be an instrument of Christ's healing power. 

Thank you in advance for your prayers! I am confident that through them, abundant grace pours out upon us here. Your faith saves us...go in peace. 

Blessings,

Rakhi

PS - If you would like to pray for needs of Mary's Mantle on a regular basis, contact us at marysmantlehelpers@gmail.com and we will be in touch with more specific prayer requests.

Shaking the Dust Off Our Feet (With a Happy Dance)

Hello, dear volunteers!

Mary's Mantle is finally emerging out of the chaos that consumed us as we prepared to pack up and move to our new location. We are here! God has blessed us with a refuge nestled in the middle of His wonderful creation. 

While we are working on figuring out our new rhythm of life, we are able to breathe and enjoy the spacious living areas, keep an eye out for the deer that come to visit, and begin to dream about what the future holds. No matter the dream, the future definitely involves all of you!

It is with your generosity that we have been able to begin this new chapter of Mary's Mantle. Every prayer uttered, every meal cooked, every hug given, every minute spent with our women, all the workshops, food, and love you have poured out has gotten us to this moment. 

You will see more volunteer opportunities coming over the next month as we begin to learn what our standard needs are and how our volunteers can best engage with the ministry. If you haven't submitted the volunteer paperwork to us yet this year, we would love for you to take a moment to do so. This will help us be sure that we are able to contact you and all is clear when volunteer opportunities come up. 

In addition to the new space we have been enjoying, we also now have a new Executive Director, Katie Montes. We are thrilled to have her passion, heart, and experience to help grow during this next chapter. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we try to be faithful to the call God has given us. 

May God bless you and yours abundantly!

Rakhi

Give Twice At Mother's Day!

Are you still looking for a Mother's Day gift? Perhaps a gift for a mom who already has everything? Why not consider treating your mother while giving back to the moms in residence at Mary's Mantle?

Bring your mom (or daughter) and join us for the True Beauty Breakfast on Saturday, May 9th at Addison Oaks. It is a morning filled with faithful women, delicious food, and an inspiring message. (Seriously - the food is incredible and the stories will touch your soul!) Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at www.marysmantle.net. All proceeds from the brunch go directly to Mary's Mantle.

Prior to the True Beauty Breakfast, you can also stop by Faith@Work at 1977 E. Wattles in Troy to shop at our Used Purse Sale Benefit Presale. Purses are $5 a piece, and all proceeds to go Mary's Mantle. There have been some real gems in the past, including Prada, vintage Coach, new Coach, Louis Vuitton, Vera Bradley, and many more. (Every purse I use now has come from this sale!) Purses will also be sold at the True Beauty Breakfast, but they go fast, so feel free to stop by the pre-sale going on now!

Shop early and often, and come join us for brunch!!

Blessings to you in Christ,

Rakhi

Things are Moving & Shaking!

Here it is, three weeks past Easter, and life at Mary's Mantle is moving and shaking! We are busy preparing for our move to the new residence at the end of May. We have a new baby who will be coming home this week. We have women who are learning, growing, interviewing for jobs, finishing school, and preparing to welcome their babies into the world. Life is moving along!

In the midst of our moving preparations, we are so thankful for those volunteers who have been working tirelessly to make sure our new residence is prepared for our mothers and children, for those volunteers who have been helping us sort through our current home to lighten the load, and for those who have been helping us pack up what we will be taking with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you to the team from Bishop Foley Catholic High School who came to
help us pack up for their Be The Difference Day. You were awesome!

If you are thinking about volunteering with us for the first time, thank you as well! You will find all the forms you need to start the application process in this website, as well as an overview of different standard volunteer opportunities. Please feel free to submit your forms and browse the site to get ideas about how your might like to help out at Mary's Mantle.

I will be out of the office for a short while beginning April 30th. In my absence, please feel free to call the main office at 248-376-5338 if you have any immediate questions. If you are submitting paperwork as a new volunteer, I will get in touch with you upon my return.

May God bless you in abundance!
Rakhi

Rise Up, Oh Men of God!

Dear Gentlemen,

While a large number of our volunteers are women, we at Mary's Mantle want you to know how important you are. Your support and your prayers do not go unnoticed or unappreciated! We want you to know how important your witness of kindness, respect, honor, and authentic love is to the women who come through the doors of Mary's Mantle.

We also want you to know how important your example is to the men who these women are attached to when they come to us. While the women have found a home here with us, where we will lavish them with the love of God, teach them to walk in faith, and hold their hands as they start to put their lives together to build a home for their children, the men they are involved with often have no such resources or opportunities.

Enter Men of the Mantle. We are asking for men who are willing to serve Mary's Mantle in a dual role.

First, we are in need of some men (preferably with a truck or larger vehicle) who can help us to move large items when our moms find a place to live, or who can help us to pick up and deliver larger donations. While we will usually find all the items our moms need when they move out or relocate while in our Aftercare Program, they often have a little trouble finding a way to pick up items or move into their new homes. Our hope is to form a team of men to help so we would only call on each of you a few times per year.

Secondly, we are looking for men who will commit to praying for the unnamed men of the Mantle - the fathers of the children born here, the fathers of the women who come here, the men who have shaped the way our mothers understand themselves, the nature of love, and God. We ask you to hold these men in prayer. Intercede for them. Fast for them. Offer small sacrifices for them without their knowledge, but in the sight of God who knows all things. While we work with the moms here at Mary's Mantle, we offer these men up to the Lord that He may work on them through your prayers and sacrifices.

If you feel called to help in either capacity, please contact us at marysmantlehelpers@gmail.com.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Rakhi

Looking Forward to Easter - Volunteer Opportunity

We are one week into Lent and already dreaming of Easter!

For over a decade, the folks over at Faith@Work have hosted an Easter Egg collection to gather eggs to be distributed to local families in need, shelters, and group homes. This year, they are asking for 8000 stuffed plastic eggs (that translates to roughly 667 dozen eggs). 

Over the past several years, the residents of Mary's Mantle have helped to stuff a few dozen eggs supplied by our generous donors. This year, we are inviting our volunteers to come to Mary's Mantle with eggs, candy, and prayers in hand and help our residents put together a few dozen eggs for this collection. Other fun stuffing ideas include coins, candy, tattoos, small toys, Chuckie Cheese tokens or stickers. There does not need to be much in each egg, the kids will be getting dozens of them. Remember to pack each egg with a prayer for the child that will be opening it up!

If you or your family would be interested in coming to assemble Easter Eggs with our residents, please let us know as soon as possible so we can get you on our activity calendar! Faith@Work would like the eggs returned to the store by Friday, March 27.

As always, thanks in advance for your generosity!

Blessings to you this Lent and always,

Rakhi

Lent is Here! Come Volunteer!

Yet even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart.

Joel 2:12

Lent has arrived! We have many ways for you to share the Lenten experience with Mary's Mantle over the next 40 days as we devote ourselves to walking more closely with Jesus. Why not consider volunteering with us during this time?

We have several ways for you to volunteer, but we are specifically looking for the following right now:

• Lead a childbirth class.
• Be a childbirth coach.
• Teach a budgeting workshop.
• Share your home maintenance secrets.
• Teach the women infant CPR/first aid.
• Lead an exercise class on-site for the women. 

These are some of our most immediate needs. It is, of course, not an exhaustive list of all the opportunities for you to volunteer with us.

If you or someone you know might be qualified and available to offer their time and knowledge in any of the areas listed above, please let us know!

Blessings to you this Lent and always!
Rakhi

FAST, PRAY, GIVE: Lent is Coming!

We just packed up all the Christmas decorations, shoveled our way out from under the snow, and Lent is already knocking at our door! Where did the time go? As we head into this holy and quiet season, here are some ways you can walk alongside Mary's Mantle over these 40 days.

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FASTING: Refraining from food and drink as an expression of interior penance, in imitation of the fast of Jesus for forty days in the desert. Fasting is an ascetical practice recommended in Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers; it is sometimes prescribed by a precept of the Church, especially during the liturgical season of Lent (CCC* 538, 1434, 2043).

So many of the women who walk through the doors of Mary's Mantle have spent their lives with so little. Many have suffered from a shortage of food, shelter, and clothing, but all have in some way suffered from a deprivation of authentic love. While the catechism calls us to fast from food and drink as part of our practice of Lent, there are many other practices of self-denial that can be added to deepen the experience of Lent.

This Lent, consider giving up something for the women, children, and staff of Mary's Mantle. Here are some ways you could fast for us.

• Skip one meal a week.
• Drink nothing other than water.
• Eliminate non-meal snacking.
• Extend the required fasts for the duration of Lent.
• Commit to spending no more than $5-10/day on meals (prepared or purchased).
• Give up Facebook.
• Give up social media entirely.
• Only allow yourself three outfits for the duration of Lent. 
• Give up non-essential shopping.
• Give up television.
• Give up the radio in your car. 
• If it were warmer, I would suggest walking to places within a certain radius of your home, but use your best judgment with that one!

PRAYER: The elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of his glory; a petition made to God for some desired good, or in thanksgiving for a good received, or in intercession for others before God. Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church (CCC* 2559–2565).

We know that the work we do here at the Mantle is not of our own doing. Rather, we are vessels for the Lord to do His work in the lives of the women He sends us (and in our own lives through that service). Many of the women who enter our program have little to no understanding of the love of God. I know in my own life, until I understood that tremendous and unyielding love, I did not fully understand myself or how to be in the world. These mothers are no different. God is doing a work in them, and they are in desperate need of His healing hand.

This Lent, please consider offering your prayers for the mothers and children (and staff) of Mary's Mantle. Below are some possible avenues for intercessory prayer:

• Pray a daily Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
• Pray a daily Rosary
• Offer a Mass for the work and women of Mary's Mantle.
• Offer a novena. (Might I suggest one to Our Lady Undoer of Knots?)
• Adopt a woman/child for prayer. 
• Spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament weekly for the intentions of Mary's Mantle.
• Attend daily Mass on our behalf.
• Write a letter of encouragement/prayer to a woman in residence or in our aftercare program.
• Offer a Memorare Novena.
• Light a candle at a chapel for the women and children of Mary's Mantle.

ALMSGIVING: Money or goods given to the poor as an act of penance or fraternal charity. Almsgiving, together with prayer and fasting, are traditionally recommended to foster the state of interior penance (CCC* 1434; cf. 1969, 2447).

One of my very favorite things about Mary's Mantle is the deep dependence we have on our donors. Whether it is $5 or $5000, our donors have kept our doors open these past five years not only with their dollars, but with their dedication and service. 

This year, please consider Mary's Mantle in your Lenten giving. You could:

• Make a monetary donation.
• Host a canned food drive.
• Host a penny drive.
• Give of your time by volunteering.
• Host a gift card drive (Meijer, Target, and Kroger are some of our favorites!)
• Offer to make a meal for the residents.
• Donate movie tickets or the cost of museum admission(s) for resident outings.

These lists are by no means exhaustive!

Mary's Mantle appreciates your dedicated support of our ministry. We pray that Lent is a peaceful time to reconnect with the voice of the Holy Spirit in your life. Thank you for being a part of our lives!

Blessings in Christ,

Rakhi

In Case You Missed It: We are Moving!

For those who have missed the announcement, Mary's Mantle will be moving this spring. We have a beautiful new home on several acres just a few miles from where we are now. 

With that move, we will have need of many volunteers! Whether it comes to updating rooms, manual labor with the actual move, prayer for us in transition, or the multitude of other needs that arise when you are relocating, we know we will be calling on you for assistance in the near future. 

I want to thank those of you who signed up for our attempt at Perpetual Adoration over this past week. Unfortunately, it seems the weather and snow removal efforts were against us! Rest assured, we will be scheduling Adoration once again (most likely after Easter). We want to give the Lord proper honor and glory before we settle in to our new residence!

In other news, now that the mad dash to Adoration is over, I will begin following up with you all about updating paperwork. Please take a moment to re-submit your forms - we want to be sure we have all the updated contact information and required background checks on file so we can hit the ground running!

As always, I thank you for your continued support and dedication to the work of Mary's Mantle and the women and babies that the Lord sends our way. 

Blessings in Christ,

Rakhi

Renewal in the New Year...Volunteer Style

It's that time of year again!

Each January, we are asking all our volunteers to re-submit paperwork to volunteer in the coming year. This includes all the forms in our Volunteer Application packet.

Having updated information is critical for us to maintain accurate volunteer records and safeguard the integrity of our volunteer program. Many of you have graciously been volunteering, but perhaps we don't have full contact information for you or an emergency contact. Many of you have been informally volunteering, and we may not have run background checks. In addition, the new Information Form lets us know whether you have taken Protecting God's Children, which is an important training that we encourage all our volunteers to attend.  Please help us to update our records so we can provide the best program possible for our residents and provide a rewarding experience for you while you take part in our ministry. 

All forms can be found on the Volunteer Application Tab in electronic or print format. If you need us to send you a new packet, please email us.

Thank you again for all you do. We look forward to an active and fulfilling 2015!

Blessings in Christ,
Rakhi

Hello 2015!

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ 

Revelation 21:2-5

Happy New Year from Mary's Mantle! 

We wish you a year filled with every blessing from above. May this year hold more joy than sorrow, more laughter than tears, and a firm hope in the promises of Christ. Thank you for helping make all things new again for the women God sends into our care. In His name, we continue to wipe the tears from their eyes, heal the hurt of their hearts, help them to bring new life into the world. As we persevere in our work, we are so glad to have you with us. Look for an update on how to continue serving as a volunteer at Mary's Mantle for 2015 in the coming week.

In the meantime, I will close with the blessing the Lord gave to Moses:

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and

give you peace!

Blessings in Christ,

Rakhi