Michael Hefferman prays in the Oz Chapel

Healing body and soul

In a quiet moment, a shelter resident shows how SVdP heals spirits as much as it heals ives

Michael stood silently, clutching his rosary beads and praying in the chapel inside Ozanam Manor, St. Vincent de Paul's transitional shelter for seniors 55+, veterans, and guests with disabilities. He cherishes these moments of solitude to ground himself nearly every day. 

The moment captured emphasizes SVdP's ability to not only heal one's body or mend one's housing situation, but also its ability to heal the souls of guests who turn to SVdP in the most vulnerable of states. In all SVdP programs, whether it be the resources provided, the meals served, the health care received, or especially the one-on-one case management provided, all the work contributes toward healing the whole self, so that people like Michael reestablish their confidence, spirit and joy while also getting back on their feet.