The Mission of Hope House Ministries is founded in the spirit of St. Louis de Montfort, who had a commitment to the poor and the courage to do what no one else had the courage to do.
This is our mission: To provide compassionate, comprehensive, and competent care for the poor, the marginal and the wounded among us. This commitment is woven in the Gospel vision that all life is sacred, and every human person is unique and has the right to be respected and protected.
Specifically, we are committed to young people and families in crisis, pregnant women and mothers and babies in crisis and all other wounded people within our society, who are seen as abandoned and neglected.
Founder and CEO, Fr. Francis Pizzarelli, is a Montfort Missionary. Most people think of missionaries as working overseas. But Fr. Frank, as he is affectionately known, found his life’s calling in Port Jefferson, New York. There, 41 years ago, he was assigned to his first parish at Infant Jesus where he discovered hundreds of youth who were homeless, experiencing mental health issues and living with addictions. It wasn’t long before he realized that neither government nor faith communities were doing enough to meet the crisis of homelessness.
Committed to strengthening families and saving lives, Fr. Frank set about finding space for youth in crisis to receive housing and programming that would help them on their road to recovery and independence.
Not long after, volunteers recognized that they could make a difference and looked for ways to help. What started as a neighborhood response to a neighborhood issue, has expanded its service area to include all of Long Island.
Fr. Frank is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist specializing in mental health and substance abuse counseling. He is a recognized member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and holds the highest level of credentialing available through the National Association of Social Workers. He is a Professor of Social Work at Fordham University, St. Joseph’s College and Suffolk Community College and holds Honorary Doctorates in Humane Letters from both St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s College. In 2019 he received the St. Joseph College Humanitarian Award for Extraordinary Human Service.
In addition to his professional career, Fr. Frank is a missionary priest. When not at home meeting with clients or celebrating Mass for those who attend Little Portion Friary in Mt. Sinai, Fr. Frank is called upon for speaking engagements, marriages, baptisms, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, last rites and funerals. During summer months, you can catch him on Saturday evenings saying Mass for parishioners of Most Precious Blood Parish at Davis Park, Fire Island.
For those familiar with the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous, connection to a Higher Power is paramount to one’s recovery. For the residents of our programs, incorporating a relationship with one’s Higher Power is essential, no matter a person’s faith tradition, ethnic background, or gender. At Hope House Ministries, all are accepted for who they are and where they’re at on their own life’s journey.
Our eleven unique programs serve as a source of healing and strength for those who are broken in any way. Our staff and volunteers believe in the transformative power of hope because we witness miracles every day:
When someone who has struggled to remain sober for years is finally restored to a life of love and healing, we believe in hope.
When a stranger is able to regain a sense of dignity from a hot shower, a homemade meal or conversation, we believe in hope.
When an expectant mother, with no place to call home due to domestic violence, stands up and reclaims her life and the future of her child, we believe in hope.
When children, separated from their families because of behavior issues are reconciled and return home to their family, instead of heading to prison, we believe in hope.
And when those who are lonely, depressed, isolated, or contemplating suicide begin to believe in themselves, we believe in hope.
The 18th century French saint and scholar, St. Louis de Montfort, had the courage to do what no one else had the courage to do. He lived his life entrusting every moment to God and did everything in his power to reach those in need, especially the poor.
To learn more about our programs visit us at www.hhm.org
