The effort is a family affair, and firmly grounded in their strong Catholic faith. Josie and her husband, John, are Marian Helpers whose devotion to Divine Mercy, First Saturdays, and the Rosary have been a guiding force in raising their three children and always finding ways to do something good for someone else. For many years, Josie’s passion for music took a back seat to marriage, motherhood, and work as an accountant and a piano teacher. Then her daughter, Gina, was cast in the 1996 U.S. premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Whistle Down the Wind. For months, the DeStefanos followed a grueling rehearsal schedule that took them from their home in the suburbs to the bright lights of New York City. Amid the glitz and glamor of the Big Apple, Josie was so profoundly moved by the homeless people she saw on the streets of Manhattan. “I want to write a song that can feed people,” she told John, and she did just that: “Soup Kitchens and Shelters.” After Gina’s show closed in Washington, D.C., Josie kept writing songs and kept the faith that God would show her where to find her voice. John shared Josie’s passion. Embracing the Corporal Works of Mercy to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, they made it their mission to put their blessings into action. Together, they started writing a script to incorporate the songs that Josie composed. The story began to unfold. The whole DeStefano family got behind them, and now, nearly 30 years after that first note of inspiration, Streetlight: A New Musical, is set to make its world premiere in July! Set in New York City, Streetlight follows the paths of three people on a collision course: a driven Wall Street executive, a compassionate director of an overburdened city shelter, and a woman on the brink of homelessness. A single act of faith forces each to question who they are and what truly matters, and discover how, “even in the darkest places, one act of kindness can be the light that helps us find our way home.” “Streetlight is about getting out there and being successful, but doing good with it,” Josie says. Her favorite song, “In Another Place,” is about regrets, surrender, hope, and trusting God. The project has become a force of faith and family. The music director is Josie’s nephew, Robert Buonaspina, who’ll conduct a 30-piece orchestra for the show. Her son John oversaw the logo and website design (StreetlightTheMusical.com), and daughters Gina and Jackie help with marketing and administration. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Island Harvest, a leading hunger-relief organization. “All along, I said I’d only be able to do this if Jesus was walking with me,” Josie says. “My daughter Jackie reminded me that we have to answer for the gifts God gave us. I wanted to do this now, while I still can.” Using time, talent, and treasure and turning them into good works. Imagine, like the DeStefano Family, trusting in Him, what you, too, can do! As part of our Marian Helper Family, please join the Marian Fathers and help illuminate our world with faith, hope, and love. Josie DeStefano has had a song in her heart for as long as she can remember. An accomplished pianist with a performing arts background, Josie is creative, tenacious, and always trusting that she’d find a way to use her God-given talent to help others. And now her original musical will have its world premiere this summer! SHINE A LIGHT Outstanding Helpers Hope Ponsart Hansen is a major gifts officer for the Marian Fathers. Contact her at [email protected]; (413) 298-1387; or Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Visit Giving.Marian.org to learn more. Marian Helper • Spring 2026 • Marian.org 31
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