Mission of St. Clare, Helper of the Poor, Inc.

Our primary mission is Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), specifically the region in and around Medjugorje. We were introduced to this area while on a religious pilgrimage to Medjugorje in July 1998. On subsequent pilgrimages, we were being drawn into small acts of charity as God presented the opportunities to us. In January 2000, right before departing for Medjugorje again, we received a fax from representatives of the village of Ravno, BiH through Patrick and Nancy Latta in Medjugorje requesting help obtaining an ambulance, medicines and medical supplies. See the “Origin of St. Clare, Helper of the Poor” page which precedes this for that story. From this St. Clare blossomed into the missions of the current time. Before discussing our areas of current focus, it is important to understand a little of the background of this region.

The poor economy defines life in Bosnia-Herzegovina. All sectors of the economy were hit hard by the wars which occurred from 1992 to 1995. About 45% of the industrial plants, including about 75% of the republic’s oil refineries, were destroyed, damaged, or plundered. Post-war unemployment was 75%.

The Dayton Accord of 1995 allowed some economic recovery to begin, fueled by international aid, much of which has since been redirected to other areas in the region or globally. Renewed economic growth has come mainly within the construction, trade, and services sectors, with traditional light industries also showing some capacity for recovery. But the large government-owned industrial conglomerates that dominated Bosnia’s pre-war economic life operate at a fraction of their production capacity. Under communism, these enterprises did not have to be profitable and often where managed inefficiently. Privatization was seen as the way to make them prosper or fail and, thus, cease to be a drag on the economy in general. While comprehensive privatization legislation is now in place, the political obstacles to privatization remain formidable. Corrupt political leaders apply regulations and taxes arbitrarily, which stymies the development and growth of new businesses. The black market remains a significant factor. The resultant 60% unemployment rate lingers up to today in the region.

Many of the younger generation have left the small communities for the city in hopes of achieving a better economic lifestyle, often times leaving their elderly parents and family members behind. As often happens, the very old and the very young suffer the most.

Father Jozo and "Mary Our Hope" Rehabilitation Center

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, there are no government programs, community programs or private programs to assist families with a mentally or physically handicapped special-needs child. The person who the people have always turned to is their parish priest. When Father Jozo Zovko was approached by concerned parents of special-needs children, he said he would pray about the problem and see what could be done. He was led to contact the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation of Milan, Italy and they agreed to travel to Siroki Brijeg and survey his situation. The Foundation immediately recognized the need and agreed to build a rehabilitation center and train its staff. The Foundation had the experience of establishing eleven such centers in Italy.

On September 5, 2003, the “Mary Our Hope” Rehabilitation Center opened its doors to begin serving the needs of handicapped children living in Western Bosnia-Herzegovina. As more and more parents of special-needs children have learned of the center’s existence, the demand for its services has grown to the point where it is necessary to expand to meet the demand. “Mary Our Hope” Center currently serves over 300 special-needs children with almost as many more wait-listed.

St. Clare, Helper of the Poor has been authorized by Father Jozo to be the representatives for fund raising in the United States. As part of this effort, we have instituted a “sponsor-a-special-needs child” program to raise funds to support the operations of the center. Sponsorship costs $50 US per month payable annually or semi-annually. If this is out of reach for you, you may want to encourage a family group, church group or prayer group to pool their donations to accomplish this. We also happily accept any size donation you are able to offer. Further, we have various fund raising events during the year. Among these is our annual Medjugorje calendar which features scenes of Medjugorje and a 30 day liturgical calendar for each of the 12 months.

It is our fervent desire that all pilgrims who have traveled to Medjugorje and Siroki Brijeg will open their hearts to help Father Jozo and these children who have such great need. For further information on how you can help one of these suffering little ones, call (770) 887-3081 or e-mail: GailBoosatStClare@msn.com.

"Mary Our Hope" Rehabilitation Center expansion project

"Mary Our Hope" Rehabilitation Center remains the only facility of its kind in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Since its opening in September 2003, word has spread rapidly to the parents of special-needs children in Western Herzegovina. In addition to the 300 children it now serves, there is a significant number who are wait listed as noted above, hoping to have access to these services in the near future. This has prompted a bold expansion project which will near double the capacity of the Center. However, it is a costly undertaking at $750,000 US. We have begun receving some donations thanks to the efforts of a volunteer in the Chicago, Illinois area. Since St. Clare, Helper of the Poor is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, we can furnish a tax deductible donation acknowledgement to anyone who wishes to donate to this project. Please earmark your check "Mary Our Hope Expansion." For more information, contact us at (770) 887-3081 or e-mail: GailBoosatStClare@msn.com.

Father Jozo's Families-in-Need Program

The winters are very cold in Bosnia-Herzegovina, especially when the “bura” (northeaster) winds come off the Asian continent. Many of the families live in homes with very little heat and some have no heat at all. It can be hard for us living in America with our many material goods, warm homes and good jobs to relate to these poor people and what they go through each day. Life for so many of these people is hopeless and depressing. The monthly cost to heat a home with electricity is $130 US per month and with wood it is $100 US per month. Food for one month costs about $400 US for a family. The average monthly income is only $400 to 450 US. Making ends meet is a difficult chore. This is why Father Jozo setup the Families-in-Need Program.

There is one family whose father earns the average wage and whose little daughter has Krohn’s disease. It costs about $750 US per month for her medications and food. Without sponsorship from a wonderful lady in Pennsylvania, this family could not make it.

Father Jozo has many, many families like this one waiting for help. Our office received an e-mail in December 2007 informing us about a family with nine children whose father had recently died leaving the mother, who cannot work, and her children with little hope and no financial help. We are now praying for benefactors to help feed and care for this family.

It can be so easy to help, so easy a five year old can do it! Last winter, the five year old grandson of one of our volunteers heard his grandmother talking about the need for winter coats and decided to do something about it. The little boy shared his grandmother’s story with everyone they knew and collected over 100 coats, all of which were taken over in early January of this year.

In September 2007, a young mother of six from Davenport, Iowa went with us to Medjugorje and learned about St. Clare’s mission for the first time. She went home and started collecting warm winter clothing for the needy children. Her son goes to St. Paul Catholic School in Davenport, Iowa and told his class what his mother was doing. Now the entire class has made it a project to help with winter coats and clothing for the poor in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

On our January 2008 trip, one of our volunteers from Baton Rouge, LA went with us and she was able to meet the mother of the little handicapped child she sponsors. The mother had just lost her husband due to a heart attack, leaving her with six children to care for and she is unable to work. In Monica’s words, “I realized what a tremendous amount of faith this woman has and the sacrifices she must make for her children. This family lives in a very small rented apartment with a tiny kitchen that serves as a living area. The family has only three bedrooms. Their home is heated by wood and she prepares the meals for the family on the wood stove. I am aware of a valuable lesson being taught to me about being humble and blessed. Seeing my Godchild was a life changing experience. She is five years old, mentally and physically handicapped and full of Christ-like features. Her small sweet face and smile showed me how to offer my sufferings to God. Many thanks and prayers to all the people at 'Mary Our Hope' Center for helping these special-needs children. I will never forget the trip and the many lessons Blessed Mother and this family have taught me. My heart is changed forever and I promise to guide as many people as possible to be charitable to Father Jozo’s programs.”

We need loving hearts and families to help sponsor children in the Families-in-Need Program so they can have food and the medical attention they so deserve. You can sponsor a child through the Families-in-Need Program for $60.00 a month (payable semi-annually or annually.) Prayer groups, church groups, family members or co-workers can pool their donations and make a difference in the life of one child and bring hope into that child’s life. We truly need sponsors. Father Jozo said one of the greatest needs they have right now is to help feed these children and families so desperate for help. Please contact us at (770) 887-3081 or e-mail: GailBoosatStClarea@msn.com.

Mostar Hospital

Mostar Hospital has been one of St. Clare's missions from its beginning. The city of Mostar and this hospital still depict the remains of the war. The hospital is in great need of support. Without the aid of charities, it would be hard for the hospital to exist. One can still see how badly the hospital was damaged during the war by looking at the exterior and interior of the hospital. The furniture and medical equipment are old and outdated.

Sister Silvana, a Franciscan nun who is Head Nurse of the OB/GYN ward at the hospital, relies on the charity of those who bring newborn baby diapers, baby clothes, baby powder, Advil, writing pens and pads, medications, etc. In America, mothers-to-be can expect very warm and inviting conditions to bring forth their child into the world. This is not the case in the Mostar Hospital. The rooms for these mothers are very depressing with at least five beds and little bassinets per room. All babies stay in the rooms with their mothers. There are no private bathrooms in these rooms. Mothers have to go to the end of the hallway to use a bathroom. The recovery room is the hallway. We witnessed a log jam of beds in the hallway one day when 21 new babies had been born that morning. The intensive care unit has four to five beds per room. The word "privacy" does not exist for these mothers.

Since 2002, St. Clare has been providing the OB/GYN ward with newborn baby diapers, baby clothes, new hospital sheets and bed liners, baby products such as powder, lotions, shampoos, medications and over the counter products such as Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, hand creams for the mothers, writing pens and pads, bandages and tapes, etc.

In addition, we work with Sister Silvana supplying food, clothing, medical supplies, medicines and school supplies to poor families in the Mostar area. Sister Silvana is highly regarded and trusted by the local people.