Suitcases packed, three small faces looked up at their mother with trust and confusion. Pierrette had moved from New Brunswick with her children and husband, chasing dreams of a fresh start. Instead, she found herself in a life of confinement.

In an unfamiliar city, the English language felt like a wall she couldn’t climb. Every street was strange, every face unknown. Pierrette was isolated—no friends, no family, and completely dependent on her husband for food, translation, and more. The woman who had just crossed a country with courage, now couldn’t cross a room without fear.

But deep inside, she held onto hope.

The Night Everything Changed

The decision to leave came quietly—with trembling hands packing bags, and whispered promises to her children. When Pierrette and her children arrived at Catholic Social Services’ Lurana emergency shelter, she didn’t know if she was running toward something or away from everything. She only knew they deserved more than a life of fear.

The CSS team at Lurana believed that too. What began as a sanctuary became the start of a new chapter. Through a translator, Pierrette shared her dreams: learn English, get an education, work in healthcare, and give her children a home where laughter didn’t need permission.

The team didn’t just hear her—they saw her. And together, they built a plan.

Small Victories, Big Changes

The first time Pierrette signed her own name on a bank account, her hand shook. That signature meant she existed—not only as someone’s wife or mother, but as herself. English classes followed. Each word learned unlocked new doors. The language that once trapped her became the language of her liberation. The Lurana shelter offered more than paperwork—it offered empowerment. Pierrette learned resilience and strength.

A Life Reclaimed

Pierrette’s world expanded. The mother who once lived in crisis began to breathe freely. Her children’s laughter came quicker, rang louder. Movie nights. Park visits. Ordinary moments that felt extraordinary because they were theirs—safe,
joyful, free.

Today, Pierrette is grateful: “I’m thankful for the staff of Catholic Social Services’ Lurana Shelter. They helped me stand on my feet and be a strong, independent mom. They changed my life.” Pierrette now has a safe home, thriving children, and is pursuing a career in healthcare—ready to be for others what Lurana was for her: a lifeline, a source of hope, and a guide toward healing. Pierrette was given the chance to rewrite her story – and your generous support made that possible!

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