Thoughts from Downtown Detroit

So much good and so much evil all intermingled in life…

In the last six months I have seen and heard some pretty different and exciting things. What I am most aware of here is the intermingling of good and evil in the life of the community and its members.

I see constantly how we can become so focused on the stuff we have to offer that we fail to take the time to see the person we are trying to serve. I see how rather than the stuff being used as a means to open the entrance to someone’s life, it becomes the mechanism to hide behind so that we do not have to do the hard work of relationship. While the stuff is good and important, it can be an evil influence at the same time.

I have seen how we can focus on the past and not try to live in the present or expect anything different in the future. I have heard about so many past hurts, insults, demeaning words having been spoken that they are now a hindrance to the ability to forgive and work together for the good of the community. Relationships are hard but they are always worth the work. If we cannot build relationships with each other than what do we have to offer others that appears to make any sense or is seen as being valuable?

Life comes with good and bad. Trying to walk the line and not get caught in the evil is hard work. Without our eyes being fixed on Jesus, the journey becomes precarious. We can get caught up in a cult of personality or the desire to be the focus of the work rather than the servant. We can try to be so good for all the wrong reasons.

I was reminded recently of why I want to do the work of relationship in downtown Detroit. Fifteen years ago I met a man at the outreach center. He was a tall strapping strong man who had some drug and mental health issues. At times he seemed angry and frightened some people. Occasionally, he would be banded from the center because of disruptive behaviors. He always seemed to be nice to me and never really gave me any difficulty. When we would see each other, we would smile and point at each other. It was some kind of sign of friendship we developed over the years. About three months ago, I was out with the afternoon street ministers and I saw the man step out of a bus shelter on Woodward Avenue. Our eyes met and we smiled and pointed at each other. He yelled out, “I know you!” and I said in return, “I know you!” He grabbed my hand and we spoke about how the center had closed and that we were now on the streets trying to meet some of the needs of the homeless. Before I knew it, he had me in one of his huge bear hugs and was yelling at the people on the street corner. “See these people. They are the good people from St Al’s. They take care of me. They feed me and give me clothes when I need them. They are true Christians. They love me and I love them.” He finally let me go and he took a pair of gloves from us. As we parted, I said to him, “Let’s keep an eye out for each other on the street.” He pointed at me and smiled.

I found out a week before Christmas break the police had found him dead curled up behind a dumpster in an alley off Woodward Ave. His brother told me the Medical Examiner thought it was most likely a drug overdose that killed him. I was not able to attend his Memorial Service at Sts. Peter and Paul Jesuit parish in downtown Detroit. I know he was among good friends there.

When all is said and done what I believe we are called to do on the streets of the inner city is to build loving relationships so that we can point to each other and say, “I know you!” Perhaps in the knowing we will grow to be friends, brothers and sisters to each other. I will miss my friend but I know that the Lord will introduce me to someone tomorrow who I will point to eventually on the street and say, “I know you. How are you today?” Each day we struggle to get through the petty and unseemly things of life-the good and the bad-so that we can find the freedom to do what Jesus calls us all to do, “Love one another as I have loved you.” If you would like to come and join us in this wonderful journey please call me at 313-309-1270 and step into an unbelievable journey with God and His people.

New Street ministry Team

We started a Wednesday night Street Ministry team yesterday. Five new volunteers found their way out on to the streets of downtown Detroit. We encountered five homeless men and began to learn more about homelessness at night in Detroit. If you would like to join us please call me at 313-309-1270

Next step for Street ministry….

The weather is changing and the shelters are starting to open in the evenings for the homeless. In an effort to identify and support the most marginalized homeless who generally do not find their way to a shelter, Bro AL and I will be starting a Wednesday evening street ministry schedule. The first night will be November 9, 2011. We will meet in the parish office’s lower conference room at 6:30 pm to discuss the ministry and go over the content of the ministry with anyone who is volunteering to be part of these days. The office is located at 1232 Washington Blvd. If you would like to participate in the Wednesday evening Street Ministry please call me at 313-309-1270 so that I know how many for sure will be at the meeting. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing for the weather. We will go out no matter what the weather is like. I would recommend you bring a small flashlight also.

Deacon Don Leach

Someone cares enough……………

I had the pleasure of working the street ministry on Wednesday with a parishioner from St Aloysius our Neighborhood Services Director Mike Carsten, SFO. Mike was the Director of the Outreach Center before it closed and has been very helpful in redirecting our efforts at St Al’s. He was missing some of the folks from the Center so we went out on the streets to see what was happening. It was great seeing all the guys calling his name and walking over to see him. So many hugs and solid handshakes were given. Laughter and smiles filled many faces when they talked. At one point, we met a young man in Grand Circus Park. Mike called him and he smiled a wide smile when he saw Mike. Mike introduced me and another volunteer to the man. He asked Mike, “What are you doing out here?” Mike responded, “We are out looking for you to see how you are?” The man said, “No, really why are you out here?” Mike talked about the center closing and our new approach to ministry on the streets. The young man smiled and said, “It is good to know that someone cares enough to look for me!” Mike asked him if he needed anything to eat. The man turned down his offer and said he wasn’t hungry. The Salvation Army food truck had just been in the area. Mike asked if he wanted a sandwich for later. The young man said no that he was fine. He could however use a pair of new socks. Mike handed over the socks. As we were walking away, the man said to us, “Have a blessed day. Thanks for thinking of me.”

That exchange for me was the epitome of what we are trying to do in the Neighborhood Services ministries. We are looking out for people in the neighborhood. Mostly, we are present. The ministry has really very little to do with the stuff we have to offer—the greatest gift is ourselves.

New Program at St Aloysius

October 26, 2011

From the Health & Wholeness Ministry

As your Parish Nurse, I am excited to share with the St. Aloysius Parish and Community health initiatives which are and will continue to assist those who are uninsured or underinsured, especially our homeless brothers and sisters. The Downtown Detroit Circle of Care (DDCC) is a collaboration of The Interfaith Health & Hope Coalition and four faith based communities in Downtown Detroit, namely, St. Aloysius, Central United Methodist, Fort Street Presbyterian, and Second Baptist. The DDCC, of which Michael Carsten, S.F.O. and I are working members, over the past two years, has worked together to “build upon” existing outreach programs in Downtown Detroit through a form of “medication intervention.” Through a grant from Metro Health Foundation and in collaboration with Griswold Pharmacy, over this past year, a client who has come to the health professional at one of the faith communities mentioned above with a prescription and has no health insurance can have the prescription filled at Griswold Pharmacy. In addition, as of this October 2011, DDCC has received a grant from Metro Solutions to expand our efforts in assisting our brothers and sisters with basic eye exams and eye glasses. Distribution of those funds will begin in 2012. If you are in need of health assistance or you know someone who is, please ask them to call me. My phone number is 313.309.1265.

God’s continued peace,

Kathleen Ruth, MSN, RN

Parish Nurse

My Daughters are in the house and please pray for Harriet!

Dear Don! Allow me to inform you that your daughters entered their new home on 14th October 2011 and they were so much excited for this unexpected experience in their lives. They have much regard for your wonderful kindness! I have been with them this morning in a meeting and they are all doing fine, except for one girl (Harriet) who disappeared to an unknown location. We had to buy a number of items for their new home, including mattresses, blankets, cooking pots, etc..... for they had almost nothing on them, which proved a challange to us all. I shall forward to you a detailed accountability soon. Fr Gerald Yiga

The Value of Ministry out in the Community

September 30, 2011

It takes a village…

In these past two weeks the downtown Detroit Seniors took care of one of their own. Simon’s life (name changed) has been turned upside down. Schizophrenia’s grip has tightened and he is experiencing unrelenting voices, eviction from his apartment, and homelessness. He roams Capitol Park where he thinks no one can see him and where he believes if he runs away, no one cares enough to follow. He didn't realize that the watchful eye of Sara (name changed) and several other seniors who live in his “village” were upon him. “He is my friend and neighbor” Sara said. “I have been following him around the park; staying up late at night making sure he is safe; he needs our help.”

Sara came to St. Aloysius to seek help for Simon. “He’s hard to talk to; he runs away.” said Sara. She and the parish nurse went to the park; Simon said, “Go away—you’re not real.” With that, Simon fled across the street, unaware of the passing cars. Sara and the parish nurse came back to the offices and contacted the Wayne County Adult Protective Services. Through that contact, Sara learned that it would be best for Simon to have a temporary guardian. The next day, Sara selflessly went to Probate Court and filed. Quickly the court wheels moved. Sara and several other seniors attended the court session—a guardian was assigned to Simon.

For the next week, the Seniors followed, watched, and cared for Simon—waiting for his guardian to come. But even all of this care didn’t prevent him from being physically assaulted. His face bore the bruises and cuts from the violence. It is so hard on the streets. Fortunately, the next day his guardian found him, but he ran. Thankfully, watchful eyes of the seniors saw him—they got on the bus that he took to escape. Using their cell phones, they communicated with Sara. So when he returned from his ride on Gratiot, he was given the help he needed—the police met him at the bus stop and gently took him, at the guardian’s court order request, to the crisis center at Receiving Hospital. There he would be safe, warm, and given the medical and psychiatric care that he so desperately needed.

To Sara and the seniors: thank you so much for your love and care. It truly takes a village to stand up for those who cannot help themselves.

This story was told to me by the St Aloysius parish nurse. I believe it exemplifies the kind of ministry we are able to have as we step out on to the local streets in our community. The parish has a natural nexus to life on the streets and we are in the process of trying to strengthen it.