Regretfully and shamefully, the great state of Texas always lags far behind the other states when it comes to providing much needed services to the poor and the disadvantaged. Happily the federal government has assumed some responsibility in this area, and has established a program called CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). The federal government pays a large portion of the cost connected with this program, but does require the state government to participate. And that is where Texas has frequently dragged its heals. Four or five years ago, when the budget became terribly tight, one of the first items cut back drastically in the state budget was participation in CHIP. Tens of thousands of poor sick children were no longer covered because the state participation was quite low.

Into the breech steps Sr. Helen Brewer, D.C., from Seton Medical Center in Austin. Sr. Helen, with a forceful group of like-minded co-workers, managed to get the rates of participation by Texas raised considerably. Hers was a strong voice resounding in the halls of the state Capitol and that struggle went on over several years. CHIP has now been folded in to the Medicaid program, and offers more technical advantages in enabling more children to participate.

In addition to her dedication to the health needs of poor children, Sr. Helen has chaired the Board of Directors of Seton Health Care Network. She has held that position for six years! Sr. Helen is now going to get bit of a rest-if she knows how to do that…

How blessed the Church is, with tens of thousands of Religious Women accomplishing this kind of wonderful work all over the world in the fields of health care, education, social service, etc., etc. Every Catholic in the world- from the Holy Father to a 7-year-old First Communicant- should thank God for their presence among us!

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