Friday, November 25, 2016

"One Nation, Under God, Indivisible"

                          African Cardinal speaking at the Sant'Egidio prayer service at Santa Maria in Trastevere. 

Prayer has always been an integral part of Sant'Egidio's missionary service. Their organization is strongly founded on Catholic principles and they recognize that they are only able to help other people because God wills it and provides the means. For example, the Thursday homeless food runs begin and end at Saint Bartholomew's church, as they prepare food in an upstairs kitchen and often read from the gospels after serving the poor. There is also a prayer service every Tuesday night at Saint Bartholomew's, every night at Santa Maria in Trastevere (a basilica in Piazza Sant'Egidio), and a prayer service for the poor every first Monday of the month.

In addition, the Sant'Egidio community holds a prayer service for peace in Santa Maria in Trastevere every third Monday of the month. The church is so full each week that there are no pews left and people have to stand around the side aisles. A cardinal is often invited give a reflection, so Sant'Egidio offers headphones that translate what he says for those who speak a different language. There are also books with hymns and prayers that are said during the prayer service.

A French-speaking cardinal from Africa gave the reflection last Monday. He addressed the perennial question "Why does God let bad things happen?" His answer was that it is actually each person that lets violence occur-- every time that one sins, that is. He proposed that the what each person can do to help end world violence is to focus on becoming a holy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and a support for the family and friends that God has placed in one's life. Not only are there direct benefits to these actions, but there is also the indirect benefit of creating a world in which one likes to live and fostering a community of love. One's concrete witness to the Christian way of living can change the world.

After this moving reflection, someone read off the names of countries that currently experiences violence. At the same time, youth from the community came onto the sanctuary one by one to present a lit candle  and the congregation sang the Kyrie for each country named. The ceremony ended with the recitation of the Our Father, a sign of peace, and a concluding hymn.

The prayer service itself is a way in which the cardinal's words were fulfilled. The frequent and renowned communal prayer services of Sant'Egidio are indispensable in uniting people under God with the intention of holding each other accountable to serve the Lord by opposing violence and indifference towards the poor and marginalized.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Give Love

                                             CUA Facebook post announcing a Homeless Food Run.

All semester, students from the Catholic University of America (CUA) studying abroad in Rome have handed out food to homeless people with the Sant'Egidio service community. The experience of these homeless food runs, however, is uniquely different from most food runs that the students have previously been involved in. The reason for this difference is manifold.

Firstly, Sant'Egidio, as a completely non-profit organization, requires that the food for the homeless be purchased by the same weekly volunteers who distribute the food. Since the responsibility falls into the hands of Italians in this case, there assuredly is excellent homemade pasta. As is also customary in Italian culture, dinner distribution begins no earlier than 8 pm and finishes no earlier than 9 pm-- because of the lively during- and after-meal conversations. The homeless food run thereby resembles a social gathering among equals as opposed to the administration of provisions to the less fortunate. An illustration of this family-like atmosphere is when at the last homeless food run one of the homeless people suggested that the volunteers bring their dinner and some chairs so as to eat together. His suggestion exemplifies the unity created when sharing this unique meal.

The homeless food runs in Rome are not centered around eliminating physical hunger as efficiently as possible (as such services usually are) but about satisfying the hunger for communion with others. This mission is reflected in the meals themselves. That is, instead of serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with fruit and a carton of milk, which is quickly made and in great numbers, the homeless food run crew in Rome cooks pasta and makes fish and omelet sandwiches with much care one hour prior to its distribution. Additionally, people are served on plates rather than to-go containers, hot tea from a thermos, and a choice of fruit.

The volunteers embody Mother Teresa's wisdom that "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving" because, while the nutritional quality of the food is of a higher caliber than in most food runs, the goal of the volunteers is not so much to provide the poor with more provisions as much as it is to form a bond of love with the people they serve. In this way, the quality of the service is reflected in their intention and vice versa. The execution of such a service is truly impressive and its spirit should be emulated among service organizations worldwide.


Friday, November 11, 2016

Martyrdom of Love: Homeless Food Runs

Relics of martyrs from Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador,
 and Mexico at St. Bartholomew's Church.

Students from the Catholic University of America (CUA) Rome center volunteered at the weekly homeless food run yesterday night. Food is prepared in the kitchen on the top floor of Saint Bartholomew's Church and then distributed to the homeless at two piazzas in Rome. This time, however, the church itself was open, so the CUA students spent some time in prayer before going to the kitchen.

Commissioned by Saint Pope John Paul II, the side chapels of Saint Bartholomew's Church hold relics of 20 and 21st century martyrs from countries all over the world including Asia, Latin America, Africa, Spain, and the relics of those killed in the face of Communism and Nazism. The ethnic diversity of the martyrs reflects the diversity of those involved in the homeless food run. Among the service volunteers, for example, there are people who speak English, Spanish, Italian and Hindi, and among the homeless people there is one gentleman who speaks seven different languages. Each person has his own unique story and place of origin.

Perhaps more importantly, however, the martyrs and the people at the homeless food run are united in their diversity-- that is, they sacrifice for love of God and their neighbor by giving of their own life or their time for the other. At the homeless food runs, the volunteers uphold the dignity and worth intrinsic in every human being. This service project transcends merely distributing food, rather it is a sharing of one's life and experiences with another person. This attitude is what drives the group to cook homemade food, to stay out late to talk with people who have nothing to offer in return, to give out more than one fruit per person, and is what makes us concerned for each other's well-being outside of merely Thursday nights.

Reflection on the spiritual element which is the driving force of service is imperative, for because God created humans in His image and likeness, His honor is rightfully upheld when one takes care of himself and others. Needless to say, after this reflection, the CUA students were ready to serve the other volunteers and homeless people by giving of themselves unreservedly.

Rendiamo grazie a Dio!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Homeless Food Run Community in Rome

                                                                                Food for the homeless.
Sant'Egidio, a non-profit organization, organizes countless service projects worldwide. The Catholic University of America (CUA) campus in Rome is located within a short seven-minute walk from the Sant'Egidio center, offering students many opportunities to serve the poor and marginalized.

Every Thursday from 7-9 pm, students from the CUA Rome center walk to the kitchen in San Bartolomeo's Church on the Tiber Island to prepare food for the homeless. Then, at 8 pm, they then bring the food to two locations where there is a community of homeless people waiting not only to eat but also to talk, laugh, speak different languages, and discuss important issues with the volunteers. Conversations often continue for long after meals have been finished; the homeless people and volunteers alike look forward to seeing each other again the next week.

The homeless food runs are entirely led by the Italian student volunteers themselves who buy the food and organize its preparation. There is always hot pasta or lasagna, sandwiches with tuna or Philadelphia cheese and ham, fruit, and something to drink. The Thursday after the reception following the blessing of the Rome center, CUA students brought the leftover food from the reception  [as seen in the picture above] to the homeless food run, for it was the birthday of one of the homeless people. A lively feast ensued that night in his honor.

The aspect of community is the most important of this service experience. CUA students meet and collaborate with other Italian and American students (from around Rome, John Cabot, and American University) and are each united under the common bond of love for the less fortunate. Going out to the community of homeless people allows for the development of personal relationships with those who one would otherwise not have the pleasure of meeting. Indicative of these relationships is the exchange of email addresses in order to continue previous conversations and enjoy more time together. Additionally, often one comes across his new acquaintances out on the streets of Rome and suddenly finds that Rome has truly become one's second home.


For more information about Sant'Egidio, visit http://www.santegidio.org/.