February 2024

If you haven’t noticed, and if you haven’t you must be living in your basement, there are Hearts everywhere! Hearts on clothing, hearts on jewelry, hearts on cards hearts on candy. hearts on billboards and hearts on store windows.

Chances are you’ll see literally hundreds of hearts this month, because, after all, St. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.  It is a day of love, a day of romance, a day of candy and flowers, a day of hearts. In our culture, the heart, or a stylized heart shape, at any rate, is the sign of romantic love.

1 Peter 1:22 makes a strong connection between love and the heart, but it’s not the kind of connection that sells cards and candy on Valentine’s Day. The verse reads, “Love one another deeply, from the heart.” This almost sounds like what you’d read in a Valentine’s Day card. But, in fact, the meaning is much different from the romantic message of most cards.

Rather, it refers to choiceful, self-giving, sacrificial action for the sake of another person.  The love Peter is talking about flows from commitment, not emotion.

But doesn’t “Love one another deeply” imply emotion? Not really, We love people when we hang in there with them, in bad times as well as good times, on Valentine’s Day, yes, but also on the day when we’d like to shove them off a cliff.

So, is love a matter of the heart? Yes, in the sense that love is something we choose to do, being motivated as much by conviction as by emotion. Is love something romantic? Yes, in a way. But the love we find in 1 Peter 1:22 is a different sort of love, a love that goes beyond feelings and romance, a love that flows from commitment and conscience, a love that perseveres in good times and in bad.

So, on Valentine’s Day, send hearts and flowers to the one you love. But, today and tomorrow and the next day and every day, love one another deeply, from the heart. We all need to act out of self-giving commitment to what is best for others. Be persistent in loving, even when it’s hard. Choose to love because you know it’s right. 

Warmest Regards,

Tony Rosati

President St Joseph’s Helpers

News & Updates

In January there is only one word to describe the outpouring of calls from clients who need our help – “Overwhelming”.  We received over 150 calls, from simple grab bars and railings, leaky faucets, to people without hot water and heat.  By the way, a special thanks to some of our business partners – Sieb Plumbing, and Gee & Missler HVAC for their help and support!   On that note, the volunteer button on the website has been up and running for almost a month. We need your help in responding to all of the calls we are receiving and are asking if you can find time to commit to handling a case or two over this month.

I want to thank those volunteers that are using the website and have contacted us with some minor issues that we have corrected.  If anyone else is experiencing trouble with the site, please reach out to us so we can correct the situation.  We are sorry for any inconvenience. 

Also, on the website, the “prayer request” button has been up and running for almost a month.  We have two deacons, and a priest, with a few other volunteers that have offered to be “Prayer Advocates” for those who leave their intentions.  If you would also like to be a prayer advocate, or would like to know more about the ministry, please contact us at 313-900-5235    

              And please feel free, if you, or someone you know has a special intention, please go to the website and submit your prayer request.  Your prayer request will be kept totally confidential. Know that the St Jospeh’s Helpers Family will pray for your intention.

Finally, in other news, the board of directors met last month and have unanimously agreed to open our second office serving those in need in Macomb, Oakland, and Livingston Counties.  We are planning to open that office by the beginning of Q2.  Your support and prayers are greatly appreciated!

This month’s offering for purchase is a SJH 11 oz. Traditional Ceramic Coffee Mug in two styles.  The cost is $10.00.  Please send an email to SJHelpers.org if you are interested.