In her work as director of the Harry Tompson Center – part of the “Rebuild Center” collaborative at St. Joseph Church that provides the homeless with meals, showers, housing placement, mental health care and other life-affirming daytime services – Vicki Judice says she regularly sees society’s most marginalized animated by the same mission she and her staff try to fulfill: helping the world become a better place.
Take Billy, a man who had been living out of his van for nearly two years. Instead of falling into despair after all of his possessions were stolen, Judice recalls how Billy shrugged it off, articulated his blessings and told her that the thieves probably “needed his stuff” more than he did. He forgave.
‘Giving Tuesday’ salvation
Judice said that Billy, who ultimately secured permanent shelter with the help of case managers, also taught her a lesson on how to be a “true giver” on – of all days – last December’s “Giving Tuesday” fundraising marathon.
“I see Billy striding to the center with a brand-new bike and a new lock that he had purchased himself for (a homeless person) he knew needed a bike,” Judice said.
“He had no awareness it was Giving Tuesday. Billy was just doing what he felt he could do and should do to make the world a better place, just like you and I try to do.”
Stories like these – showing how the poor and homeless often are some of the greatest role models of faith, generosity and courage – were shared at St. Joseph Church in New Orleans Jan. 14 during the 2020 Interfaith Prayer Service for the Homeless.
Candles were lit as the names of homeless men and women who died last year were reeled off – 18 in New Orleans alone and an additional nine in Jefferson Parish who had died over the last five years. A separate candle was lit for those who had perished from lack of shelter, but whose names were known to God alone.
One of the named deceased – Ernest Melville – was remembered by Jessica Lovell, director of Depaul USA New Orleans, another Rebuild Center service partner that manages rapid re-housing and permanent supportive rehousing for the homeless.
Lovell told prayer service attendees that Melville, a New Orleans native, had been without shelter on and off for about a decade. Then, just as Depaul USA was about to help him move into his new apartment, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.
“He had a very difficult time accepting the fate that he would meet and struggled to forgive himself for not living a better life,” said Lovell, marveling at how the terminally ill man still would look for “moments of joy and grace,” whether it was through sharing his passion for music and black-and-white movies, or enjoying his beloved coffee and chocolate chip muffins.
During his final weeks, “Ernest laughed and he cried, but mostly he gave thanks,” Lovell said. “Like anyone else, Ernest was willing to find solace and peace, and I believe that he ultimately did.”
Put compassion into action
Archbishop Gregory Aymond thanked the diverse group of faith leaders, who hailed from numerous Christian denominations as well as from the Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and other faith communities, for coming together “as one family – God’s family” – to pray for those who had died on the streets and for those still living on them. Staff from area non-profits that minister to the homeless, such as Covenant House, Grace House and Catholic Charities, also led prayers and honored their clients’ human dignity.
“For those who have died, we pray that they will have a home in heaven. For those who are still on the streets, our love and our prayers go out to them and to all those who care for them,” the archbishop said, concluding with his hope that all present might put the evening’s prayers into tangible change for those struggling with homelessness, hunger and hopelessness.
“What we pray for must become action. It must become a sign of peace and an act of love and an act of reaching out to others,” Archbishop Aymond said. “So, as we go forth, we go forth in God’s peace, but we also ask that our lives will speak loudly of what we have prayed for.”
Before leaving, attendees were invited to place votive candles on the Communion rail as a sign of solidarity with the homeless and their resolve to do something to help them.
The annual prayer service is coordinated by the Ignatian Spirituality Project, the Harry Tompson Center, the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.
January 11, 2020