By Sue Denny • Posted May 18, 2026

Wendy Cadet was finishing her freshman year of college when her father encouraged her to intern with him in his native Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world.

Wendy spent her summer break with her dad, a lawyer who directed a large social services program in a country where 60% of the population lives in poverty. “He’s the reason I do what I do,” she said.

She lived and worked with people facing severe socioeconomic challenges. The majority of Haitians lack access to education, employment, and healthcare. “That’s where my passion started for human services,” she explained.

Eventually, Wendy relocated to Pennsylvania and joined Catholic Charities of Philadelphia (CCoP) as a direct care provider and later a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP).

CCoP has four pillars of service; one is to empower Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

When asked to recall a time in her career she is particularly proud of, Wendy mentioned Jeffrey, a longtime resident who is now deceased. She described Jeffrey’s family as very “hands-on” and active in his care, regularly visiting on the weekends for car shows, bike rides, and his other favorite activities.

As years passed, family visits became more difficult and less frequent. “Everybody’s aging,” Wendy explained. When Jeffrey’s older brother was turning 80, his family wanted him to attend the birthday party, but the 90-minute drive was too much for them. Wendy arranged for a staff member to transport Jeffrey to and from the celebration. “We made it happen,” she said. He and his family were thrilled . . . and grateful.

In 2021, Wendy became a program coordinator with Life Sharing Through Family Living. For nearly 40 years, this ministry has enabled adults with IDD to live with host families in nurturing and supportive environments.

“We provide a home for them where they can have the family life they deserve,” Wendy said. Clients often maintain close relationships with their biological families, even if they are unable to give their loved ones the necessary care and support.

In 2023, CCoP expanded the program to children with medically complex conditions who typically require round-the-clock care. If possible, medically fragile children live with their biological families rather than in a hospital or institution. “They get the one-on-one attention that they need, that they deserve,” Wendy said.

She loves working with kids and jumped at the chance to help start Life Sharing for children. Paris was the second child in the program. “Even though she was not with the biological parents, they opened their hearts and took care of her as their own.”

Wendy was heartbroken when the 7-year-old passed away last year, yet comforted knowing Paris was in a loving home at the end of her short life.

Today, Life Sharing Through Family Living serves 68 adults and 9 children, ages 5 to 83, through a dedicated network of host families in the five-county area of southwestern Pennsylvania. “They’ve opened up their hearts, opened up their homes, to care for these individuals,” Wendy said.

Participating families receive a stipend and ongoing support from an interdisciplinary team. Program participants access community resources and engage in work, school, volunteer, recreational, and religious activities. The goal is to help them develop self-esteem, learn life skills, and live independently with others while reaching their full potential.

“They’re able to be part of a family,” she said. “They are having the family love that they need.” She said she benefits from the program as much as her clients. “They are an extra family for me. We support each other.”

Life Sharing Through Family Living is one of several programs offered by The Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence, which has adopted the values of its patron, St. Luigi Guanella. A talented writer and preacher, he encouraged society to accept people with disabilities as blessings from God.

CCoP’s IDD ministries envision a world where people with IDD are respected, accepted, and appreciated for their unique gifts and abilities. Wendy and her team have embraced that vision. “They are all created in the image of God,” she said.

The organization provides a person-centered approach through a continuum of care with a wide range of living options and specialized programs for the IDD population. “Catholic Charities provides an array of different settings to support them,” Wendy said. “We are meeting them where they are at.”

Before Life Sharing, some participants lived in a group home or residential campus setting. Without this least restrictive option, many would have no choice but to remain in a hospital or other facility. “Not having our program would be very detrimental for them,” Wendy said. “This way, they are able to be part of a family.”

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This piece was previously published in Catholic Charities of Philadelphia’s 2024-2025 Annual Report. View the full report here.