Our First Big Step Forward

Looking over this past year, the generosity and encouragement we received from so many of you has been one way that God continues to encourage us in this mission.

We are truly grateful.

After we told our stories in the Pillar this past January, so many of you reached out with your support, with your own stories, and with prayers for our mission.

One person shared,

“I’ve been skeptical, cynical, and away from the Church … after working for [over a decade] in ministry. Your mission has given me hope.”

Then, after we shared how we had been going weekly to the streets of Portland with the Urban Missionaries to hand out supplies here and here, many of you sent us countless items, including medical supplies, socks, and blankets to hand out.

Our First Big Step Forward

With gratitude for the multitude of ways that you all have supported us over this past year, we are excited to share with you some big news and a significant step forward in the advancement of our mission. We have been accepted to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome this October to study safeguarding, or abuse prevention, for five months.

Upon completion of the program, we will be moving from the Archdiocese of Portland to a new diocese. Since plans are underway with our new diocese, we will share our new location later. Although we are confident this next move is God’s will, it’s bittersweet for us because we are leaving a place and people that we have grown to cherish.

Our Studies in Rome

As we move forward in our mission, we are excited to be going to Rome to further our studies. The Safeguarding Diploma we will obtain will teach us to assist and support victims of abuse, communicate the spiritual and theological implications of abuse, reflect on the institutional features of abuse, identify instruments for adequate intervention, and carry out safeguarding formation courses, among other things. 

We agree with Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ, the director of the program, who said,

“Listening to victims and survivors of abuse who have been harmed in the Church or outside, is key for being and acting in a responsible, accountable, and transparent way. This is the cornerstone for credibility and for promoting the faith.”

We are grateful for this opportunity and we believe it’s significant that we will be in Rome when the Jubilee Year of Hope begins in 2025!

We Need Your Help

One obstacle to attending this five-month program in Rome is cost. We have no major donors to our mission. Every penny we receive comes from people like you. Our supporters are ordinary, faithful Catholics in the pews; people who have left the Church but believe in what we do; people who are hanging onto their faith but want change. You donate what you are able—including five and ten dollar donations a month—and we do not take a penny for granted. 

We are grateful for whatever you feel able to send to support our mission.

Total costs for the program in Rome (for two sisters):

So far we have raised $8,200, almost 30%, of our total cost of $28,205!

We are grateful for any support you can provide but most of all we ask that you pray for us as we embark on this next adventure.

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Some Ways to Support Us:

• Make a one-time OR recurring monthly donation through Square

• Make a one-time donation through Zelle or Venmo

• Mail a check payable to ”Sisters of the Little Way” to:

  • US Bank

    c/o Sisters of the Little Way

    NW Oak Way

    Banks, OR 97106

• Help with items for our trip on our Amazon list

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We look forward to keeping you updated on our time in Rome!

We love you and keep you in our thankful prayers every day.

In Jesus,

Sr. Theresa Aletheia and Sr. Danielle Victoria