Women’s sanctuary celebrates re-opening

Patrick Raglow, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, emotionally addressed a crowd gathered for the re-opening of the organization’s Sanctuary Women’s Development Center.

“This day has been a long time coming and is a testament to the generosity of our donors and benefactors,” Raglow said. “It will serve the women we are privileged to accompany for decades to come. I am so happy and am feeling blessed.”

Catholic Charities celebrated the re-opening of the center Aug. 21 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the site location. Archbishop Paul Coakley provided a blessing of the new building, which officially re-opened July 24, following a year of construction and temporary relocation of the daytime shelter, which offers resources and support for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Sanctuary Women’s Development Center provides women and children with services such as case management, counseling, showers, laundry, hygiene packs and food. The building features trauma-informed design, lush outdoor green spaces and a more conducive facility for case management and services.

“To say we're thrilled about the new facility would be an understatement of epic proportions,” said Bleu Savage, director of the sanctuary. “This incredible upgrade means we can now provide three times the number of showers and four times the laundry capacity, all within a stunning, trauma-informed environment.”

 “We’re also in the midst of planning and coordinating a whole host of new services to further support and uplift our community.”