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css celebrates new beginnings, continued care

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

The Diocese of Belleville celebrated two major events during October: the opening of a new regional office in Mt. Vernon and the blessing and dedication of Don Bosco Children’s Center in Belleville.

The center moved into newly remodeled and larger quarters and can now accept up to 15 boys and girls between the ages of 5-12 years old. At the dedication the center had 11 boys who were referred by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Don Bosco’s residents have been abused or neglected and have experienced trauma due to those issues, center director, George Ferguson, said.

Over time, Ferguson said, “we have success” with the children “to help them decrease aggressive behavior and cope” with their problems in “healthier ways.”

However, on the day of the dedication, the boys present, dressed in the Sunday best, were all smiles as Bishop Edward K. Braxton told them about the center’s namesake — St. John Bosco — and blessed their rooms and the grounds where they live.

As he began the blessing, Bishop Braxton said: “We bless and dedicate this building to children, especially those who need our assistance. Hopefully, they will come to know the loving presence of God. These children have a dignity that comes to them as children of God.”

The children composed verses to a song which they sang for the group.
“We’re a circle made of children, by and by Lord, by and by.

“May this circle be unbroken, in your sky Lord, in your sky.”
The verses spoke to the children’s experiences: a boy who was very poor, another who had no food, a girl who rejected her parents, a child who was homeless. All were helped in some way by people who cared.
The new Mt. Vernon office enlarges the space from 2,200 square feet to 7,500 square feet. “We were in a basement office,” regional director, Pam Flota said.
Five years ago the office had eight employees and now it has 30 staff members — foster care case workers, counselors and support staff.

The move to the new building “is exciting for us,” Flota said.

Father Daniel Jurek, pastor of St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon offered a blessing for not only the building but those who work for the children as well.

Flota thanked her advisory council from the Mt. Vernon area and those who had traveled from other locations in the diocese to come to the dedication. CSS board members and executive director, Gary Huelsmann attended the dedication and blessing and held the regular CSS board meeting in the conference room at the new location.