Bieszad Family challenges are past! (Updated 1/22/22 - Andrew is back to work)

The Bieszad family of eight entered a crisis situation in April 2021 and asked for prayer and help from the community. The Bieszads are active Basilica parishioners and valued contributors in our St. Ambrose Homeschool Co-op, Jubilate Deo Youth Schola, and Altar Server ministries. Jessica (Burton) and Andrew Bieszad are the loving parents of six beautiful children. After an anonymous report, their children were taken from their home at the end of April. The report cited safety concerns due to the state of repair of the exterior of their home (such as trenches and work tools present outside the house where the children play) and the interior (such as open spots in the drywall that were waiting to be patched); as well as the lack of space in their house. Jessica and Andrew have been required to repair, renovate, and add onto their home in a short amount of time, as part of the process of returning their children to live with them.  

The Bieszads are a family of very modest means, and they had been actively trying to repair and improve their home on their own, prior to this crisis. Parishioner JoAnn Polickoski has organized an initiative to help the Bieszads complete the home repairs and improvements that they are now required to make immediately as a condition for reuniting with their children. The Bieszads, homesteaders and homeschoolers who have always been self-reliant, have been humbled by receiving help from the community. They have graciously accepted help offered to them in the form of labor, donations of materials, and monetary donations. Please read below to learn of their story, and thank you for your prayers and support. The Bieszad family acknowledges that this support has enabled them to be reunited much sooner. 

Update 1/12/22: The Bieszad family sent the following letter to those who gave them gifts anonymously this Christmas:

Dear Friends,

   Thank you for your lovely Christmas gifts to our family. Your generosity warmed our hearts! We wish you health and happiness in the coming year and always. May God bless you abundantly. 

Your friends, 
The Bieszad Family - Andrew, Jessica, Drew, Augustine, Margot, Gregory, Charles, and Ambrose

Update 1/22/22: The Bieszad family is grateful to be through the challenges that separated them in 2021, and they are happy and settled together in their home which was renovated with the help of Basilica parishioners. With the ordeal behind them, Andrew is now working at a local hospital, and Jessica is hoping to pursue a nursing degree. They are grateful for all the support they have received and happy to be able to participate in our parish activities. 

Update 12/28/21:  The Bieszads are happy to have completed their 90-day probationary period with their children at home, and the DHR has closed their case with no findings. They are doing well. Their current prayer request is for Andrew to be able to begin working. He has had multiple job offers, but he has not yet been cleared for employment, because of the legal challenges that they have had this past year - even though there were never any findings, and the DHR has closed the case. Please pray for resolution to this impediment so that Andrew may be able to work to support his family.

Update 8/13/21:  As of August 12, the children were allowed to return home! There will be a 90-day probationary period. Thanks to much help from the community, including a few key volunteers who have dedicated themselves for the long haul, the Bieszads have been able to move back into their house, and are just in need of a few more furnishings (under List of Needs below). Additionally, Jessica is happy to have begun a secretarial position at a local college. They ask for your continued prayers and welcome donations to finish the required improvements to their home.

Update 6/18/21:  The Bieszads had a successful court date on June 17 and gained permission to have their children for three days a week "unsupervised", such that they will be able to bring their children to Mass and activities again! The family appreciates your prayers and support. 

Updated 6/16/21: 
The Bieszads recently had a setback when Jessica's father, Donald Burton, passed away of lung cancer at the end of May. This put them behind on their home renovation. However, with the help of about 20 volunteers on June 5, the family made considerable progress on their addition. They had another setback finding rotted studs inside one kitchen wall and foundation problems. They were able to fix this with professional help in anticipation of an inspection by the social worker​​​​​​ today (6/16).

See follow-up and photos from Grant Barker after 6/5 work day at the Bieszad home 
 

Prayer Requests

 

Prayer for a Family