Our Ministries
The Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (ADROP) is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization whose underlying principle is the preferential option for the poor and underserved.
ADROP is dedicated to advocacy for, and collaboration with, the poor and powerless in our society. We look to identify the face of poverty, challenge the politics that perpetuate it and influence systematic change that could lead to the alleviation of poverty as we know it.
Wellness Ministry
The Unity Clinic
The first project developed by ADROP was the Unity Clinic. The Unity Clinic opened in June 2006 with 3 Nurse Practitioners and a Physician Assistant. Today, it is a collaborative effort between the Villanova School of Nursing, the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Jefferson Methodist Hospital, and a dedicated group of practitioners, volunteer interpreters and staff. The Clinic is staffed throughout the week by a Clinic Manager but is open for appointments on Tuesday evenings. Its patients are adult individuals (18+) who have no health insurance, and who are not eligible for government programs. Acute primary care and monitoring of chronic adult issues like diabetes are available amid other services including phlebotomy and immunizations. Language Interpreters assist the patients who have little English skills.
Metrics are important to judge the success of any program. Below is a chart of the Patients served and the financial impact, not to mention to the personal suffering relieved, by the presence of the Clinic. For the last two years, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics has awarded the Unity Clinic with its Gold Rating.
20,243
Patients served since 2006
$2.2M
Money saved by primary care patients since 2006
$5.5M
Money saved by patients on E.R. visits
Education Ministry
Adult & Elementary Education
Education has always been important to the Augustinians and one of their essential ministries. ADROP continues that tradition providing educational support to the young by supporting Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic School and to adults by supporting a unique English and Spanish Language (ESL-SSL) program for adults in the surrounding South Philadelphia area. The education programs were the first (Elementary) and
latest (Adult education) programs offered to the South Philadelphia community.
Elementary Education Support
Catholic elementary education in urban areas has become a real challenge. With fewer religious teachers, costs have risen, and services are focused on the essentials of reading, writing and science. The goal of ADROP has been twofold: the first has been to have a physical presence to provide support services for students. This goal is accomplished through sponsorship of the Augustinian Volunteer Program. Augustinian Volunteers (AVs) are college graduates who offer a year of service through the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. ADROP funds an AV each year to support the organization and to help among other assignments at Saint Anthony's Parochial School. Over the years, the AV has worked in Administration, assisted with classroom support, and developed and implemented special activities that the school would not be able to offer due to limited resources. The programs include the development of a Distance Learning program utilizing special equipment purchased for the school by ADROP For example, the school presented Art classes from the Philadelphia Art Museum, and a science program offered to upper grade students. Ballroom Dancing was offered as a collaborative effort to give students an appreciation of other cultures while having a fun participative program that involved the students in a physical activity. A Musicopia program supported that effort as well. The school would be unable to afford these programs without ADROP's support. Sixty percent of the sponsored Augustinian Volunteer's year of service is dedicated to Elementary School support.
$16,500
Total Funding During 2020-21 Year
60%
Volunteers spend 3 Days per Week with Students
$9,900
Annual Support
Adult Education
In the early twentieth century, the Augustinians supported the Italian immigrants to South Philadelphia by staffing Our Mother of Good Counsel, Saint Rita's, and Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Churches. They provided for the spiritual and educational needs of the community. Over the last few years ADROP has built on that legacy by initiating a few educational programs to support the community. One unique program is the ESOLESS program. ESL stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages and ESS stands for Spanish as a Second Language. The typical ESOL program strives to teach the immigrant population English. It is a one-way program. The ADROP program adds a unique feature that allows the Spanish speaking students to teach Spanish to their supporters. It is a sharing of language and culture, enhancing relationship and community and providing the space to exchange their rich language and heritage with the class and not just attend an English class. All involved benefit from the experience. In addition, basic computer classes are offered in Spanish to prepare the population to enter an ever-increasing technological world. Twenty-eight (28) students have participated in these programs over the last year.
195
Elementary Students Served Annually, Average
30
Adult Students Served Annually, Average
$13,762
Budget
Restorative Justice
Criminal Justice Accompaniment & Reform Programs
The Criminal Justice Accompaniment & Reform Program supports inmates and returning citizens in a variety of ways. From direct services to current and former inmates, to educational programming and political calls-to action for systemic change, the ADROP Criminal Justice Accompaniment & Reform program aims to restore and unite our communities. In 2019, there were 2.1 million inmates in prison in the United States, 45,485 in Pennsylvania prisons. ADROP has two ministries that address inmate needs. These ministries are Mary, Mother of Captives and Adeodatus Prison Ministry. ADROP maintains paid staff to address the needs of the Restorative Justice initiative.
Mary, Mother of Captives
Maty, Mother of Captives (MMOC) was founded by Jack and Sophie Weber in 1996 as a support meeting for parents who had a family member in prison. The parents shared their pain, and knowledge of what they individually came to know of the legal, penal and transition phases for former inmates. They helped each other mentally, physically, and emotionally to survive the indignities, the embarrassment and the shame that comes from having a family member in prison. As an outgrowth of the support meetings, the members began writing to each other's family members. The MMOC Pen Pal Program now matches outside writers to inmates in over 175 state and federal prisons throughout the country. In many cases, these letters are the only communication the inmates receive. The letters provide a social tool that matches a 'friend' on the outside with an inmate on the inside.
MMOC continues to support inmates as they move to become "returning citizens" and leave prison to return to society. The penal system does little to support individuals who have left prison. The MMOC Transition Team fills the gap by providing housing, clothing, food, and job preparation. This support is essential in preventing frustrations that lead to recidivism. Many former inmates have not been on the outside for years and need help with every aspect of daily living including how to get the available social services.
Since MMOC shared the vision with the Augustinian Office of Justice and Peace, they joined forces with ADROP in 2012. MMOC is currently guided by John and Susan Killeen who volunteer and devote many hours to support the activities offered to these needy individuals.
1,125
Pen Pal Letters Sent in 2022-2023
24,529
Estimated Pen Pal Letters Sent Since Inception
Adeodatus Prison Ministry
Adeodatus Prison Ministry was the vision of Augustinian, Fr. Paul Morrissey, O.S.A., in 2007. It is committed to restorative justice by working to heal the wounds and broken relationships caused by crime. Using an ecumenical outreach model, the program ministers to those recently released from prison, those working the 12-steps program, those who have been victimized by others, and the family members of these groups. This includes a weekly, spirituality and support group meeting.
In addition, Adeodatus is committed to changing our present criminal justice system to one of restorative justice - a form of criminal justice that works to heal the broken relationships caused by crime rather than simply punishing people. This is because prison ministry begs for a justice component. It is not enough to just do charitable works without real change in the justice system. If there is not real change, the endless cycle of incarceration for many will continue unabated. Their children will continue to increase the prison population ( children of prisoners are six times more likely to wind up in prison unless the pattern is interrupted).
To this end, A.D.R.O.P. through Adeodatus is a co-founder of "Philly RJ," a coalition of key organizations in Philadelphia working on restorative justice. These organizations include: the Federal Re-entry Court, the Office of the District Attorney, Villanova University, St. Joseph's University, the Mural Arts Program, and Heart to Heart Prison Minist1y. The Philly RJ has sponsored a few successful conferences in conjunction with Villanova University and the Augustinian Office of Justice and Peace, to spread the word, educate students and practitioners, and bring like-minded people together to share and support one another. Adeodatus came under the umbrella of ADROP in 2007.
Coffee Cart
Brewin' Peace
In a joint partnership with the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia and funded by the Borchard Foundation, ADROP is pleased to announce a new program: the Brewin’ Peace Coffee Cart. The purpose of this project is to support people formerly incarcerated (returning citizens) in their effort to return to society, gain sustainable employment and build for the future. The 6-12 month program provides returning citizens with valuable experience to prepare for the responsibilities of today’s job market and mentorship on how to apply for and accept a position in full time employment.
All coffee and food is offered free to the public with request for donations to help fund operations. The Brewin’ Peace Coffee Cart also serves as a community gathering place where people can learn and dialogue about the issue of mass incarceration and its impact on society. The Coffee Cart seeks to be an example to others on creative ways to make a difference in someone’s life.
The Coffee Cart operates at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Casica, at the corner of South Broad and Ellsworth Streets, 8am-noon 3 days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). Additional hours will be offered in conjunction with activities that occur with the Shrine.
If you are interested in applying for the position of working the cart, please find the job description here.
A Prison Focused Newsletter "Voices from Prison and the Edge"
Newsletters serve to inform the population on the various efforts made in the Restorative Justice area. ADROP's Adeodatus newsletter, Voices from Prison and the Edge gives special insights to life in and involving those individuals involved within the prison system. The quarterly newsletter includes reflections by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers on their lives and the impact of prison on each aspect of their lives. The newsletter goes out to prisons, churches, half-way houses, service organizations and colleges across Philadelphia region and the country.
The Healing Garden
The Healing Garden is a place of remembering, praying for, and reconciling those who have been banned by violence in the greater Philadelphia area and beyond. It is located on the south side of St. Augustine church at 4th and Vine Streets in Philadelphia, the site of anti-immigrant riots that burned the church down in 1844. This garden is a place that invites the perpetrators and victims of violence to reconciliation and forgiveness. A shrine, housing an original icon to Mary, Mother of Captives, depicts the Mother of God clutching handcuffs over her heart--a sign of her love for those imprisoned in any way. Memorial bricks, shaped in the form of a cross, symbolize the departing prayer of Jesus that we all may be healed.
350
Adeodatus meeting attendees during 2020-2023
60
Families Served in Support Meetings 2022-2023
4,387
Total Families Served in Support Meetings
Support Ministries
Other Ministries
In 2004, Fr. John Deegan, O.S.A., Founder of ADROP, was appointed Director of Justice and Peace for the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova and asked to incorporate ADROP and certain support ministries under the Office of Justice and Peace. These support ministries were founded by Friars of the Province and had addressed individual needs of the people that they served. The three support ministries receive minimal or focused financial support with limited reliance on the ADROP budget.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is an ensemble of musicians and artists in the Catholic and Augustinian spiritual tradition. Founded by the late Father Shawn Tracey, O.S.A., Dan Mason and fellow musicians have turned the words of sacred scripture into songs, hymns and reflective mantras of beauty and lasting impact. The music is offered at seasonal Evening Prayers, Masses including the ADROP's annual Mass of Thanksgiving, community celebrations, retreats, and festivals. The group supports itself by offering music on CDs which are available through the ADROP website.
Handicapped Encounter Christ
Handicapped Encounter Christ (HEC) is another ministry established by the late Father Shawn Tracey, O.S.A. It is a retreat experience founded to offer people with differing abilities an oppmtunity to come together in community to pray, reflect and celebrate their life with God. It strives to achieve an atmosphere in which all people feel loved and accepted for who they are. It allows for both able-bodied people and those with differing abilities to join people of other faith traditions, ethnicities and walks of life to share life's journey within a supportive and loving community.
Caritas Populorum
The Augustinians have always been active in the foreign missions. In 1796 Irish Augustinians came to the United States, in 1899 American Augustinians went to Cuba, in 1952 Friars were sent to Japan, and in 1964 American Augustinians went to Peru. Having served 40 years in Chulucanas, Peru, Father Art Purcaro, O.S.A. is the current Chair of the ADROP Board of Directors. Working with the Province; the Sisters of Saint Joseph; board member, John Faustman; and Sr. Jean Faustman, SSJ they founded Caritas Populorum in 2003. Designed to respond to the social, economic, health and educational needs of the people of Peru this ministry is in conjunction principally with the ministries of the Augustinians and the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Recently, Caritas Populorum officially became a ministry of ADROP Like the other support ministries of ADROP, little financial support comes from the budget as donations are focused and specifically designated to support this Ministry.