News & Events
Rooted in Boston; Open to the World!
Casserly House Looks to the Future
Donna Stiglmeier, Director of Casserly House
This winter, Casserly House engaged in strategic visioning to meet the emerging needs of the neighborhood. To begin the process, we took an appreciative look back at an evolving history. Recently, I had a pleasant conversation with Sr. Ann Marie Grady to talk about how she created the Casserly House logo and motto.
Sr. Ann Marie began her logo creation with the basic shape of a circle for the world. She chose a tree because it has roots, and the roots were made bigger than the branches to reflect the difference between the deeply-rooted Sisters of Saint Joseph in Boston and the more globally-sent Sisters who she encountered in France.
The logo and motto are fitting for Casserly House’s beginning…and its future growth. Casserly House’s roots are intermingled with other tree roots, and together with the soil, are bigger than the single tree above ground. This represents Casserly House’s collaboration with others. The circle of the world expands to include individuals and engage families who may not have previously crossed our doorstep.
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Those deep roots are the ability to sustain the mission of Casserly House over time – even weathering a global pandemic! Those deep roots in Boston, almost 150 years old, are the charism of connecting neighbor to neighbor, neighbor to God, and exemplifying God’s unifying love. For 22 years, Casserly House prioritizes welcome and connection more than big scale without relationship.
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Casserly House’s roots are intermingled with other tree roots, and together with the soil, are bigger than the single tree above ground. This represents Casserly House’s collaboration with others – in the past, now, and the future – to strengthen the neighborhood and contribute to a more whole social context out of which we all can grow and thrive.
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The branches provide both cover from the storms…and literally air to breathe for those so often knelt upon. In our focus groups of participants in February, we heard about the challenges of affordable housing, discrimination, and worker rights. AND, we heard how our immigrant neighborhood “helps each other out.” In addition to English classes, Casserly House will offer educational workshops on common issues, with partners, and prioritize the immigrant neighbor voice.
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The circle of the world expands to include individuals and engage families who may not have previously crossed our doorstep. The ever-expanding circle represents our niche to focus on the newly arriving immigrant with welcome, English classes, and connection to other resources, and to re-focus our family engagement.
May we continue to use our influence in ways that make sense to promote the common good. May we continue to “read the signs of the times” and act according to emerging needs, strengths, resources, and opportunities. May we breathe new life into our world, with deep roots of love – love of God and love of neighbor – in community.
Youth at Arboretum during April School Vacation week field trip