It took Carolyn Lawrence a good long while to find a place to call home, and after just a few weeks at Harvest House, she says she is not going anywhere. Those with whom she shares her new home say she’s a completely different person now. Gone are the stress and worry, replaced by Carolyn’s beautiful smile and overflowing gratitude for the caring team that secured her homecoming at the Syosset residence.

She’s very thankful for Sister Jeanne Brendel and Sister Mary Butler, two religious sisters associated with Harvest House since its opening in 1985. The independent residence for well-elders features a community atmosphere in daily life and is a ministry of their religious community, the Dominican Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville. Carolyn is also grateful for Catholic Charities of Long Island, especially Linda Reich, who coordinates the CARES program, which stands for Comprehensive Assessment, Response, Engagement, Spirituality. Linda often gets a call when a case is particularly challenging.

An employee of another social service agency first contacted Linda to see if Catholic Charities might be able to help. After meeting with Carolyn and reviewing paperwork from her fruitless housing search, Linda soon considered approaching the sisters at Harvest House. Carolyn and Linda had a positive initial meeting with Sister Jeanne and Sister Mary, and then returned the next week for the official application and intake process. One hitch was that prospective residents must be free of debt, which Carolyn had accrued during a move two years ago. Enter Paula Malloy, director of Parish Social Ministry, who was able to wipe out the debt with Catholic Charities’ Emergency Relief Fund.

“The combination and the collaboration, and everything tied together, an amazing story,” Linda said. And Carolyn wants everyone to know how Catholic Charities and the two Dominican Sisters at Harvest House came through for her. “Catholic Charities was a godsend,” she said. “I wish everybody could do the same way. There are so many elderly people out there being taken advantage of.”

She described a series of ill-fated moves, including more than one that started with big promises and ended with big problems. The 80-year-old widow and mother, who had served for more than 35 years as a nurse and then personally helped care for close family members, says she was at her wit’s end before finding Harvest House. A low point found her living in a closet-like room with no windows, and enduring strict house rules that were hard to live by. Then she found Linda at Catholic Charities, and soon the sisters of Harvest House, who she says spoil her with kindness, “and I love it.”

The sisters also helped her return to the practice of her Catholic faith for the first time in many years. On Sundays, they attend Mass together at nearby St. Edward the Confessor Church, which has a supportive relationship with Harvest House. Carolyn has already made confession and twice received Holy Communion at Mass. “Thank God, that made me feel wonderful.”

Sister Mary said, “Carolyn’s being here is a light for us. From the moment that Linda brought her here to meet with us, and for us to meet her, it’s been a joy.” Joy is the operative word at Harvest House, which was founded as a direct response to the gloom and grumpiness Sister Jeanne had observed in members of the elder community.

Harvest House was filled with light last week when Danielle Campbell, director of development and communications at Catholic Charities of Long Island, recorded interviews about Carolyn’s journey for her weekly Catholic Charities segment on CFN Live on the Catholic Faith Network. The bright atmosphere goes beyond the light streaming through windows and photos on the walls showing residents through the years. Residents and the sisters share a communal meal in the middle of the day, and Carolyn credited special attention from quick peeks into her cozy room with making her feel loved. “I haven’t felt like that in a long time,” she said. “Deep down it’s a lot that I went through.”

The two sisters consider themselves part of the elder community they serve. Sister Jeanne, at 96, has the spirit of a person decades younger mixed with faith and wisdom of the ages. She founded Harvest House after a long battle that included working with the Town to secure approval. Sister Mary, nearly 79, started as a volunteer before joining Sister Jeanne full time. One reason Harvest House, which can house eight seniors, works so well is the commitment fostered by two religious “working at it, believing in it,” and sharing a life with those they serve, Sister Jeanne said. “When we listen to people’s hearts and desires and then you find you have a capacity to help, it’s joy,” she explained.

When Catholic ministries collaborate to bring joy and create hope, they share the Light of Christ with those they serve and each other.