On Sunday, May 16, 2021, St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home in East Chicago, Indiana, suffered a devastating fire. Home to the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, it also is home to children needing emergency shelter or longer term care, and expectant teen mothers. Their mission is the opening their hearts & homes to children in crisis from birth to 18. What a beautiful work of mercy!
Thankfully, everyone was safely evacuated, and no harm came to any of the residents.
As a result of the fire, the entire main building (built in 1920) was completely destroyed, and the interiors of their north and south building are also unable to be salvaged. Due to limited space now, the numbers of youth and children they can help has dwindled considerably. Many have been sent to other facilities or to foster homes.
“Grasselli Avenue has turned into a zone of massive reconstruction with huge trucks and equipment covering the entire street,” says Sister Maria Giuseppe. “At the present time, we have a construction crew in the Tauscher Center remodeling the entire area to be more user-friendly and in compliance with DCS codes. This work is going smoothly and hopefully will be completed within a few months so that our doors may be re-opened to accept new children. Our nuns are living in our Casa Maria in quite small quarters, with our chapel, dining and living area all blended into one. ”
“The sisters are grateful “beyond words to the many people who have poured forth upon us their love and interest in our Carmelite Home and have showered us with blessings of donations both monetary and material. We are tremendously grateful for each one and for the indescribable kindness of each donor – may our merciful Lord Jesus bless them in every way!”
The sisters ask only for prayers to deal prudently and successfully with the many decisions that have to be made so that they can continue on with their ministry among God’s children and youth.
But we also noticed on their GoFundMe page that they are only $5,000 short of their fundraising goal. Go here if you would like to help!
“We are inviting the Holy Spirit to be present continuously in our Carmelite Home,” says Sr. Maria Giuseppe. “We hold HIM to be responsible since the whole thing was made for Him and belongs to Him anyway!”
St. Joseph’s Carmelite Home
4840 Grasselli Ave.
East Chicago, IN 46312