Restoring hope by restoring moms

An Ohio ministry helps women and children move from crisis to enduring stability 

“In order to improve the lives of children, you have to improve the lives of the moms,” says Father Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S. At The Glen at St. Joseph in Dayton, Ohio, that simple conviction drives a comprehensive, long-term program for women raising young children while navigating generational poverty, family instability, and often, deep wounds from the past. With a spirituality rooted in compassion, the organization offers safe housing, childcare, coaching, education, and spiritual guidance for mothers and their children. 

A whole-person pathway 

Unlike short-term programs that can only address one crisis at a time, The Glen is built for the long haul. The program is designed to be two years, but many women stay longer. The time is needed to heal, learn, and build the practical skills that lead to durable independence. 

Each resident lives in her own apartment, with space for her children and the dignity of a stable home environment. That stability is intentional. For many, it is the highest standard of living they have ever experienced. The goal is not just comfort for comfort’s sake, but a vision of what is possible — something to work toward when they eventually move out on their own. 

Days at The Glen are structured. Residents participate in required programming, from life skills to parenting support, health and nutrition education, and relational growth. But the heart of the approach is individualized: each woman works with a personal coach to identify her strengths, set goals, and map out a path toward education and employment. That could mean an associate degree, finishing a bachelor’s, earning a professional license, or training for skilled work. Fr. Hemmelgarn recalls graduates moving into a wide range of careers, including one who became an electrician. 

Childcare that makes progress possible 

Practical support matters, especially for mothers who are trying to study, work, and parent at the same time. The Glen’s Early Learning Center (ELC) is state of the art, providing childcare from infancy up to kindergarten, with hours that run from early morning to evening. That coverage creates the margin women need to attend classes, hold jobs, and take part in programming, without constantly choosing between their own growth and their children’s care. 

A Catholic identity that serves, not pressures 

The Glen is Catholic in its roots, with a chapel on site and the Blessed Sacrament reserved, elements which were important to the founders. Yet the ministry is intentionally open: women of any faith tradition (or none) may come, and there is no expectation that residents become Catholic. 

This clarity about identity and freedom allows The Glen to offer spiritual care as an invitation rather than a requirement. Because the program does not rely on government funding, Fr. Hemmelgarn notes, it can maintain a strong spiritual component. “We don’t pass judgment on where they’ve been or what’s happened in their lives,” Fr. Hemmelgarn says. “We take them right where they are. My job is to try and help them find out where God is in their life and then grow in their spirituality.” 

“It does fit right in with our spirituality because St. Gaspar was always looking to work with the people when church hours weren’t available,” he says. 

Sometimes, he says, they begin to see how God worked through another person, such as an aunt who intervened, a neighbor who offered help, or a friend who refused to give up on them. 

Safety, boundaries, and community 

The Glen’s commitment to safety includes 24/7 security, a necessity for residents with histories of violence or restraining orders. Boundaries are also part of the healing. For example, men are not permitted in the apartments; there are designated visiting areas for fathers of children, but the living space remains the mother and child’s place. The rule is challenging at first, Fr. Hemmelgarn says, but many graduates later name it as a turning point that was deeply needed to prove to them that they could build a stable life without depending on an unhealthy relationship. 

Community support also sustains the work. Neighbors attend Mass in the chapel and pray regularly for the families on campus. Residents build friendships with other mothers, often forming lifelong relationships. Staff and families gather for events that celebrate milestones and holidays, strengthening a sense of belonging that many residents have never known. 

Hope as a practice 

Fr. Hemmelgarn hopes The Glen can keep refining its already strong program and expand spiritual offerings for mothers and children, even as time constraints remain a constant challenge. He also dreams of sharing parts of the model elsewhere. A 22-acre campus may not be easily replicated, but the core commitments, such as dignity, comprehensive support, and long-term accompaniment, can inspire similar programs in other communities. 

For those who want to help, he suggests beginning with a visit and a tour. Volunteers are often needed for childcare during evening programming. Prayer and financial support matter, too, especially for women who may be experiencing, for the first time, the steady knowledge that others are rooting for them. 

Fr. Hemmelgarn witnesses the power of transformation every day at The Glen at St. Joseph. “I am just so lucky to be able to be part of a program that tries to give people the opportunities they should have had all along but haven’t,” he says. “It’s just a real gift to be able to do the ministry I do and to get to meet these women. When they leave The Glen, they know that God’s always available to them.”   

To learn more and to support The Glen at St. Joseph, visit www.glenatstjoseph.org.