Women & Men From the Streets
Ministry at St. Willebrord – I have received several questions about the women and men from the streets who come to our parish to find rest, access to bathrooms, and safety in our buildings. I have heard many affirmations for the hospitality we offer.
These persons come to us from local homeless shelters and the streets of Green Bay. They are homeless. Some of them are physically handicapped and others are living with mental illness. Many of them have income through Social Security Disability Insurance, but they cannot find a place to live. In Green Bay and Brown County there is significant lack of housing that is affordable to people in lower-income brackets. Many other parts of the state and country have similar insufficiencies.
At the current time, because we cannot use the church building, the hallway near the church is very quiet. The location is conducive for resting, even sleeping. Some of the first persons who arrive in the morning have been on the street all night. They have not slept well. They lie down on a mat or blanket and fall asleep quickly. Others arrive later in the morning after St. John’s Homeless Ministries close for the morning.
The parish staff members do our best to relate to everyone with respect and invite them to be respectful to each other. We know most of the regulars by name. Sometimes new persons arrive and investigate what is available here. The regulars “educate” them about our parish also known as “the baloney church” because of the sandwiches we offer.
At other times, people who are struggling with addictions arrive and we must ask them to leave. Our parish cannot offer refuge to those who are abusing alcohol or drugs. We ask them to leave and return when they are sober. If they want a sandwich, we give it to them. We remind them of the Alcoholics Anonymous groups.
In general, the women and men who find hospitality at the parish are willing to help clean the bathrooms, vacuum the hallway rugs, mop the floor, and even shovel snow. They know our welcome is something that they cannot easily find in other places. They want to help as a way to say thank you and maintain a good relationship.
Jesus said “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me,” (Matthew 25:35-36).
Peace, Fr. Andy