Street Ministry

Sometimes ministry starts after the official ministry ends…..

Last night, after four of us completed the street ministry for St Aloysius, a man approached me with a funny request. I walked through a park we had just been in and he came to me with his hand out and took mine. He said, “What I really want is a hat.” He looked at mine and smiled. I said, “After having just given you two sandwiches, five packets of crackers and a bottle of water, what you really wants it my hat?” He said, “I really need a hat.” I took off my hat and said to him,” This hat has travelled the world with me. You want my hat? Really?” He said, “I really need a hat.” I said, “The pin that is on this hat was given to me as a gift at my ordination 17 years ago. Really, you want my hat.” He said it would truly be a blessing to have a hat. I placed the hat on his head and said, “Then let God give you this blessing. But don’t let me find this in a dumpster or discarded in an alley. You wear that hat.” He promised that he would.

I walked two blocks and passed through another park and was approached by a man I have known now for about a year. He asked how I was doing and started to walk with me. He thanked me for having worked to get him some items for his apartment. However, he needed something else—a rug. I told him who to see someone in the morning and we could work on the rug. He asked where I was headed and said he would walk with me as my body guard! I smiled and said he was welcome to tag along. We talked about our younger years and the deaths of our fathers. He lost his dad at age 16 and I lost mine at age 17. He is 56 years old and I am 57—much to his surprise I am older than him. He told me he would be 57 next week on his birthday and I told him I had just turned 57 the week before. We were both born in July. I said to him, “See we are very much alike. “ He smiled at that. As we walked across the boulevard a man called out to me, “Hey I know you. You’re the guy who hands out the sandwiches.” I said, “Yes I am and I just finished. In fact the guy sitting next to you just a got a bottle of water from me two blocks over.” The man lifted his bottle and said, “Thanks for that by the way.” We chatted for a bit and then I walked on.

My body guard said to me as we approached the little store by the carport. Deacon could you help me out with something in the store? I said, “How long have you known me? Have you ever known me to carry money on me?” He smiled and looked me square in the eyes and said, “A man has to try doesn’t he?” We both laughed and he said, “I’ll see you at mass on Sunday!” I told him I would look forward to seeing him there.

I wonder where the real ministry took place tonight. Was it with the backpack with all the supplies or was it with the men a met along the way walking home? I guess I’ll let God decide on this one.