Thursday, 14 April 2011 15:20

By Cynthia N. Colbert
Throughout our diocese there are countless good works underway each and every day. Most of them take place under the radar screen and these acts are performed by unsung heroes. Examples include the Lord’s Diner, Guadalupe Health Clinic, St. Vincent de Paul, and a number of social ministry projects performed by individual parishes.
One example of the ongoing and important charity work is the St. Anthony Family Shelter, operated by Catholic Charities, Inc. This program, which has been operating since 1988, provides shelter and support services to homeless families with children.
On a typical day, 15 adults and 30 children will be provided with a safe place to call home for up to three months. Each year, the staff and volunteers provide an average of 30,000 meals. The shelter allows families to get back on their feet, recover from crisis and return to permanent, stable housing.
Much of the fine work done through this program is supported by faithful volunteers who come from all walks of life to help us serve the homeless. In 2010, 261 volunteers contributed 3,233 volunteer hours of service.
Why do families end up homeless you might wonder? Can’t they pay their rent on time, keep a job, take care of their children? Family homelessness is caused by the combined effects of lack of affordable housing, poverty, decreasing government supports, the challenge of raising children alone, the changing demographics of the family, domestic violence and lack of social supports. For families with vulnerabilities or little safety net supports, even a minor event can create major disruptions and catapult a family onto the streets. In fact, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of today’s homeless population are women, children and families that experience a life-altering event driving them to homelessness.
Think for a moment about the following situations—the mother who left an abusive relationship to protect her children; the father who moved his family to a shelter because he had to choose between rent and his child’s cancer medicine; the pregnant single mother living on the streets because she has nowhere to go and no one to turn to; the family without a home because everything was lost in a flood or a disaster - these are the people served by Catholic Charities St. Anthony Family Shelter.
There is no better way to “live” Lent than to serve the least of our brothers and sisters. Especially during these difficult economic times, more and more people are finding themselves unable to provide life’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing.
We pray for the homeless and those living in poverty throughout the world. May we be a voice for their plight and follow the example of Jesus to love and serve.
During this Lenten season, we reflect, we serve, we believe, we rejoice in God’s healing grace and divine love which allows us to reach out and help those in need.
Colbert is executive director of Catholic Charities, a ministry of the Diocese of Wichita.