Daughters of Charity celebrate expansion in Ogden
OGDEN — Three years ago, Daughter of Charity Maria Nguyen rented a 100-year-old building in Ogden and began offering sewing classes to low-income women as a step toward self-sufficiency. The program, known as Give Me a Chance, soon turned a part of the building into a shop that sold handmade formal clothing such as baptismal outfits and prom dresses. That expansion has continued. On Sept. 6, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, blessed and dedicated the Give Me a Chance Learning Center. The learning center, 2913 Grant Ave. in Ogden, now will house Give Me a Chance’s sewing equipment; it also will offer basic computer classes and English as a Second Language classes. In addition, they already have begun hosting monthly speakers on topics such as nutrition, family relations and dealing with stress. All of these are meant to promote self-sufficiency, said Heidi Portz, the office manager. The original location, 2620 Washington Blvd. in Ogden, will be the home of the De Marillac Formal Attire shop, and also contain an area where clothing alterations may be made. The new facility may be called a learning center, "but it’s really a home," said Bishop Wester after he blessed the building. "It’s an environment in which women and children can learn and grow and increase in grace. And one of the main things they grow in here is a sense of self-worth and dignity. … There are many people in our society today who would have those precious graces and gifts if only someone would give them a chance; if only they had that kind of a home where God’s grace can work." The learning center provides a loving environment where people can feel safe, grow and learn and feel support all the while, Bishop Wester said. "Sister Maria has really created a home for these wonderful people who have become our brothers and sisters." The Sept. 6 event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Congregation of the Mission Father Andrew E. Bellisario, director of the Daughters of Charity Province of the West; Daughter of Charity Sister Marion Bill, Assistant Visitatrix; Daughter of Charity Sister Joyce Weller, executive director of the Daughters of Charity Foundation; Daughter of Charity Sister Sylvia Park, board director of the Daughters of Charity Foundation; Daughter of Charity Sister Margaret Brown, executive director of Saint Jude Food Bank in Tuba City, Ariz.; Monsignor Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy; Father Reynato Rodillas, pastor of Saint Olaf Parish in Bountiful; Father Ken Vialpando and Father Raul Cervantes of Saint Joseph Parish in Ogden; Dominican Father Peter Do, associate pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena/Newman Center in Salt Lake City, who also is Sister Maria’s nephew; Eduardo Arnal, Mexican Consulate of Salt Lake City; and Nina Frias, of the consulate’s community affairs office. The Daughters of Charity have a long history in Utah, as Sr. Marion explained. Members of their order first arrived in 1920; they have ministered here continuously since then. In his comments, Arnal thanked those gathered for supporting the learning center. "When you support this, you are supporting the most important thing that any human being can have, and that is hope – the ability to transform their reality," he said. "Believe me, there are many, many people who are waiting just for an opportunity, waiting for hope." Three of the women who have participated in the Give Me a Chance sewing classes also spoke at the dinner. "It really works. It’s not just for sewing; it helps people," said Maricella Romero, who asked everyone to support the program. "I think it’s more like a support group for women, because when we come here, it’s not just sewing; we share stories, we share our lives and we help everybody."
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