Home For Adults Opens With Parish Support
The Florida Catholic, May 4, 2000 by Heather Alelix Moore
ST. PETERSBURG - As Father Rubert Schneider, V.F., pastor of
Holy Family in St. Petersburg, read the words that accompanied his
blessing of each room at Benedict Haven, he admitted doubing that the
home for mentally handcapped adults would ever be built.
Several years earlier, parishioner Dolores Castaldo appreached Father
Schneider and asked him for help to build her dream home, a permanent
residence for individuals with severe mental illness.
On March 24, Father Schneider joined Castaldo at the official opening
of Benedict Haven, located at 210 72nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, as
it opened its doors to six male residents, ranging in age from 35 to
50. Attending the opening along with Father Schneider were a group of
students from the parish school.
Castaldo, the facility's executive director, said that Father
Schneider, the Sisters at Holy Family, children at the parish school
and the parishioners were "absolutely wonderful" in providing prayer,
surport,and assistance.
Sister Jamesann McCue LHM, director of St. Vincent de Paul and Pastoral
Ministry, secured canned goods and foods from parishioners to help fill
Benedict Haven's pantry.
The parish also hosted a fund raiser in February, 1999 that raised $3,028 toward the construction of Benedict Haven.
Students at Holy Family School also contributed by raising $528 through a bake sale.
Castaldo's tenacious enthusiasm to build Benedict Haven arose from the
need to find a home for her 44 year old son, Sal, diagnosed with
schizophrenia 24 years ago.
After learning that there were limited resources available to care for
her adult son when she couldn't, Castaldo decided she would establish a
facility herself.
She told the Florida Catholic that she hopes Benedict Haven will serve
as a role model for other facilities and a tool to educate society on
the needs of the severely mentally ill.
"This way, those that suffered so much, won't have to suffer anymore."
Back
|
|