Runners going 175 miles to help Bethany House
Money will assist ministry to domestic abuse victims

By Karen Mahoney
Special to your Catholic Herald

RACINE — It is a 175-mile run, but Richard Sosa says he’s up to it, particularly because he knows he’ll be doing it to help victims of domestic violence in Racine County.

On Sept. 14, Sosa, his wife, Josephine, and eight others will participate in the second annual Miss2Mich run across Wisconsin, from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan to raise money for Bethany House Apartments, a ministry of the Racine Dominican Sisters which houses victims of domestic violence.

Sosa, a member of St. John Nepomuk Parish and of the Bethany House board of directors, said he joined the fight against domestic violence after learning about the extensive efforts of the shelter to assist battered women and children.

“My eyes and ears have been chosen to see and hear the good works Bethany does for the folks they serve,” he said. “I guess if I did nothing, knowing what I know, I feel I’d have to account to God for doing nothing. Just as in Matthew 25:31, when Jesus is explaining how we will be judged and he says, ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

The non-profit organization offers shelter, counsel, and supportive services to the families it helps. While much of the shelter’s operation is funded through grants, the money often comes with stipulations on its usage. Funds raised through the three-day Miss2Mich run give Bethany the flexibility to use the donations where they are most needed.

“So, if Bethany wants to allocate some of the funds for children’s programming or other types of expenses not covered by their grants, they will be allowed to do that,” Sosa said. “From tutoring to life skills training to education to providing fun activities for the children, Bethany serves their residents to the fullest. Sr. Evelyn, Sr. Carol, Linda Jackson — these are great people living like Christ, helping turn lives around. I am just running for three days, they do this all year round.”

The inaugural Miss2Mich run raised more than $6,300. Sosa is hoping to exceed that this year. There is a good chance, he admitted, as the participants are better prepared than they were last year — especially Sosa, who ran 42 miles in two days, not long after recovering from a stress fracture.

“My fitness level wasn’t what it should have been, but I was able to run as much as I did only through the grace of God,” he said. “I believe that because, before the run, I had prayed for healing and endurance. He gave it to me. God has given me a gift to endure pain which seems to be suitable for a long distance runner.”

Describing himself as a fallible human being, living an uninspiring life, the self-effacing Sosa humbly admits that on most days he regrets some things he says or does, but tries to persevere despite his own weaknesses.

“I am a man with many faults who seems to always be saying, ‘I’m sorry.’ I have to thank my parents for giving me a strong foundation of faith to guide me,” he said, noting that they would make sure the family went to Mass on Sundays and holy days.

Learning by Christ’s example, Sosa learned that to live as Christ meant to rise above the persecution and to help those in need, no matter than who they are. A couple of years ago, Mary Rath, one of Bethany’s board members, presented Sosa with a quote from St. Teresa of Avila that guides each day of his life.

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours
No hands but yours,
No feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which his compassion shines on the world;
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”
While the 38-year-old is running a marathon to raise money for others, he isn’t certain whether he is the giver or the receiver of the blessing.

“I have never experienced anything so gratifying, spiritually or emotionally,” he said. “I arrived in tears and when it was time to speak, I just broke down. I was overcome by the Holy Spirit, I believe. So many thoughts crossed my mind — completion, achievement, closure, penance. Running for yourself is fine and setting goals and meeting them can be satisfying for many people, but running for Jesus has so much more of a lasting impact and relevance.”

In addition to growing in faith by following his parents’ example, Sosa credits his Catholic education at St. Catherine High School for giving him the will and desire to put others before himself. He hopes that through the run, residents of Bethany and their children will believe that anything is possible and understand that they can overcome all adversity.

“I want to inspire them by showing them that someone else is willing to ‘carry their cross’ so to speak,” he said. “So, for this run, I am going to carry their cross and run with it all the way across the state for 175 miles. By attempting this run, I hope it compels people to donate to the cause. I’ve seen the great works at Bethany first hand. I truly believe God is at work there each day.”

In addition to Sosa, runners include Josephine Sosa, Paul Dybro, Migdalia Dybro, Rebecca Pagan, Sarah Northwood, Brian Bieri, Keri Bieri, Angila Sosa, and Danny Carbajal. Providing an RV, food and respite are Bethany board chairperson, Marta Kultgen and her husband. Handling logistics will be Tim Northwood.

Sosa asks for prayers for the runners as well as the residents and staff of Bethany House.

“Please pray for generous hearts, and especially pray for God to come into the hearts of those living at Bethany that God will give them courage and the strength to rebuild their lives,” he said, adding, “I am going to attempt to run 175 miles in less than 60 hours. Logically, I shouldn’t be able to complete this, but I believe God is going to get me through this.”

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