Good Shepherd Sisters Mission in St. Croix   August 28, 2011 Dear Good Shepherd people, As you recover from the destruction of Hurricane Irene, I want to share with you a bit of new life here in St. Croix.  Sr. Digna and I are happy to announce the August 25th grand opening of our new ministry, Victoria's Kitchen, a weekly breakfast program for our homeless brothers and sisters. The local program, run by the Baptist Church, is open Monday through Saturday, except Thursday, so we decided to fill that gap.  Our opening day was great fun!  We were hoping that at least ten people might come but 29 arrived …it was a joyous, chaotic, wonderful beginning of a new community of parish volunteers and our brothers and sisters in need.  Our volunteers served the guests on the patio outside our Center at tables set with bright cloths. (Sisters Debbie and Carol were my table cloth consultants this summer at just about every Christmas Tree Shop on the Cape!)  As our guests entered they were surprised that they could just sit, relax and be served instead of having to line up as they do on the other mornings. We had so many volunteers that each of our guests had almost individual attention.  After breakfast, they were invited to take a shirt, pair of slacks and pair of socks from “Euphrasia’s Boutique”, our new clothing ministry.  Our guests were touched by the welcome and kindness they received and the volunteers were touched by the gratitude and kindness of the homeless.  Digna and I left with loving and grateful hearts, so aware of people's goodness and God's Providence and direct intervention in this ministry through the many “miracles” that encouraged us forward. Sr. Judy Mannix, rgs St. Croix