Homelessness: the Cry of the Poor

On Sunday (June 29) there was a second meeting for new parish ministries. A concern for the homeless was identified as a parish concern and possible new ministry. Persons interested in working on a parish ministry for the homeless have expanded the work group. They are: Carolyn Tagupa (co-chair), Clo Holland (co-chair), Michelle Panos (coordinator), John Archuleta, Paul Starkey, Torry Powers, and Carl Ponciano. If you are interested, you may join the group. The group is looking into the issue of homelessness and, as a project of OLG SVDP, we will prepare a report about the needs of the homeless in the West Sacramento area for the parish council. The report will be presented to the parish council at the August 5 meeting.

The work group is meeting on July 6, after the 10:30 a.m. mass, at the Rectory to discuss issues and put together the report. If you want to participate in the working group, or if you just want to attend the discussion, let Carolyn Tagupa know.

At the new ministries meeting, Sr. Pearl talked about our “mission” as Catholics given at baptism: we are called, like Christ, to be priests, prophets, and kings (shepherds).

• When we were baptized, we were also anointed and given a participation in these three offices of Christ — priest, prophet and king. As the celebrant anointed us with Sacred Chrism, he prayed: "As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life" (Ritual, no. 98). And the Catechism echoes this reality in these words: "The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them" (no. 783). http://www.catholicherald.com/loverde/2004homilies/homily0205.htm

Each of these roles has several aspects. We were asked to think about the new proposed ministries from the perspective of our “mission” at baptism. From my notes, here is a short summary. As Catholics by baptism we have this mission:

• Priest. The priest mediates between God and His people; the priest also mediates between members of the Body of Christ, helping to create community. In the role of priest, we spread the Word of God. Do we seek to form community?

• Prophet. The prophet is witness to the Truth; and because we must be that kind of witness, we are called to be the prophet who calls to account “the powers that be.” It is said that the prophet “afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted.” Are we witnesses to the truth?

• King. This may be thought of as the role of shepherd. The shepherd-king guides the sheep; protects them. The shepherd gathers the flock, gathers the lost. Are we shepherds, or are we too busy?

Concerning the homeless, certainly we are called as priests to recognize the homeless as a community and part of our community, although they are often outside the doors. As shepherds, we know that we need to gather the homeless, to protect them. The homeless are our modern day “lost sheep.” As prophets, we know in our hearts that homelessness is disorder. It is a symptom of a society that has turned its back on the least fortunate. To the extent the homeless are ignored and shunned, we must be prophets. In a very real sense, the homeless are prophets to us, to afflict us in our comfort.

As Vincentians, we are called to meet Christ in the poor. In the homeless, we may find that unexpected meeting.

1.2 The Vincentian Vocation (from the Rule)

The vocation of the Society's members, who are called Vincentians, is to follow Christ through service to those in need and so bear witness to His compassionate and liberating love. Members show their commitment through person-to-person contact. Vincentians serve in hope.

Commentary. Belonging to a Conference is a vocation in itself: a vocation of personal contact with Christ in the Poor. The predominant feature of this contact must always be compassion and the will to free people from their burdens: an effort to build the coming Kingdom. Personal contact with the suffering is the most obvious distinctive characteristic of the Vincentian ministry. We bring unconditional love to the poor and seek to love in the way Jesus loved, because "the first vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus” (CCC2232 )."Vincentians serve in hope". What air is to the lungs, so is hope to the human spirit. We have a real hope that our work will make a difference, both in the lives of those we visit and in a mysterious way, in the world at large. If we go through difficulties, we remember that "(hope) affords us joy even under trial" (CCC1820).