My first time volunteering with the Catholic Street Missionaries stirred up a mix of thoughts and emotions. The missionary group was so welcoming when I arrived. Before we went out we prayed three times over the Gospel, pausing for moments of reflection after each one. We were encouraged to pick something from the Gospel that stood out to us that day to share in the hope that this would help guide us that day.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8) - This is the line that
stood out to me. It reminds me to keep my heart pure and free from judgment as I go out
into the world. This is especially true when meeting homeless people or people who
struggle with addiction. We are all children of God. He sees each one of us and loves us all the same.
With my missionary my group, we walked around the downtown area of Vancouver city.
Coming across members of the homeless community, we introduced ourselves, asked them their names, offered them some clothing (e.g. gloves, hats, socks, etc.), some snacks, and we asked them if they would like us to pray for them that day. What struck me the most on my first outing with the Catholic Street Missionaries is how grateful people were. They were extremely polite, engaging, and enjoyable to talk to. This, however, was also tinged with a hint of deep sadness – sadness for the lives they were living, sadness for the cards they had been dealt. But, in spite of their circumstances, many people had a defiant sense of humour, making jokes, laughing; it was a beautiful thing to witness.
On a more personal note, I found the whole experience to be very rewarding. When Jesus
calls us to do his work, all we can do is answer that call and do our best to walk in the light of God. Through us, all of his deeds on earth may be accomplished if we are just willing to give more of ourselves. The Catholic Street Missionaries offered me the opportunity to do that. And not just that, it was by volunteering for the Catholic Street Missionaries that I met so many wonderful people; not only on the street, but also as part of my missionary group and beyond.
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