R.O.S.A. is an acronym for Reaching Out Serving All — a goal the staff, volunteer health care providers, and board strive towards each day to fulfill the clinic’s mission: to
serve the underserved with quality health care in a responsible manner continuing the mission the Sisters of Charity established in 1937. “Rosa” is also the Spanish word for
“rose.” And, roses are the favorite flower of St. Therese of Lisieux, the clinic’s patroness. St. Therese is often painted or sculpted holding an armful of roses. When she was still
alive, St. Therese had promised that when she died she would shower “rose petals” down from the sky, a sign of her intercession. “A soul inflamed with love can not remain
inactive … If only you knew what I plan to do when I’m in heaven … I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.” R.O.S.A will share the good that Villa Therese Catholic
Clinic does in our work, things we have learned, and how we strive to improve our compassionate service.
Last month VTCC had its 19th Pack-2-School program serving over 130 children and their families. When we went to Staples in Santa Fe to order the school supplies, we
introduced ourselves to the manager, Mario Mente. But the clinic itself needed no introduction to Mario because he and his four siblings all came to Villa Therese while
growing up in Santa Fe. Mario’s dad was a single father and worked three jobs to support his family. “The services at Villa Therese were a necessity for us,” Mario said, “and it was
awesome. It meant so much to our family.” Mario said that because of help from Villa Therese Catholic Clinic and St. Vincent de Paul, he and his siblings were the first
generation in his family to graduate from high school.
Mario, in turn, gave back to the clinic by helping the Pack-2-School program receive an additional discount for the school supplies from Staples and simplifying the ordering
process for us.