Some people never get to sit at the table. Who are they? Do we ever get to meet them in person? As part of a Matthew 25 Project, designed and initiated by Sr. Margaret Farrell, Sr. Bernadette Morgan joined in Saturday November 21st for this monthly out reach to those living on the streets of Los Angeles.
Margaret initiated this program to engage her homeless young people at Covenant House to make sandwiches to distribute among the poorest of the poor living on the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Volunteers and occasionally staff from Covenant House join them. Sr. Margaret Walsh networked with a parish program S.A.V.E.S. to help provide the bread.
After making sandwiches, the young people are driven in a van to what we call “Skid Row”, a place of where people go after hitting rock bottom and the poorest of the poor gather. They then break up in two’s and go around to have conversations with the poor and sharing food, bottles of water and whatever else donations provide.
Sr. Bernadette commented on her experience, “I have never seen so many homeless in one place before!! These young people go in different directions in two’s. They have learned to share a word of scripture spontaneously and greet everyone with gentleness and compassion – they see how others can be in a worse position than they are and they look out especially for any young person in need and invite him or her to visit and avail of the services of Covenant House.”
On the way home, Margaret asks the youth what impact their experience had on them. It’s a subtle form of theological reflection, we religious people practice, or a simple, informal faith sharing.
Margaret said that one of the young homeless men in the van said, “I think my heart grew two sizes today.”
When has your heart grown from being with those made poor?
Any RSC is welcome to accompany Margaret at this regular outreach and be exposed to the reality of the poverty of downtown Los Angeles.
