Christians must put faith into action to aid the poor
Dorothy Day was a woman who put her Christian faith into action. Living the Gospel message helped her to confront the social issues of her day with a desire of transforming individuals and society. This was to be done in a spirit of nonviolence with a special commitment to the poor, the community and to God.
It was in the depths of the Great Depression of the 1930s that Dorothy Day, together with Peter Maurin, began the Catholic Worker Movement in New York City. She addressed the conditions of the poor, especially the working poor. She applied her understanding of Catholic social teaching to inspire and transform the world around her.
She started a newspaper (The Catholic Worker), opened houses and farms to assist the poor and offer hospitality, and supported the organization of labour to promote better working conditions. She had a great love for the poor and those in need.
She wrote, “The mystery of the poor is this: That they are Jesus, and what you do for them you do for him. It is the only way we have of knowing and believing in our love. The mystery of poverty is that by sharing in it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge and belief in love.” (The Catholic Worker, April, 1964)
One of the more significant ways in which Christian churches co-operate with one another is in ministering to the poor and vulnerable. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Out of the Cold program in St. Catharines which has been operating for 22 years. Each year, from Nov. 1 to March 31, seven churches offer hospitality, hot meals and shelter from the cold. They provide for people who are homeless for reasons of poverty, exclusion, cognitive impairment, physical and mental disabilities, and substance abuse issues. This is possible because of the many volunteers who so generously give of their time and talents.
Unfortunately the need is increasing along with the complexity of issues presented each night. Since 2015 there has been a 96 per cent increase in the number of overnight stays (3,620 to 7,113). Overnight guests are much more likely to be younger with complex mental health and addiction issues.
The dramatic rise in numbers has caused overcrowding and an increase in both aggressive behaviours and property damage. This negatively impacts the guests and the volunteers who experience high levels of stress.
When Out of the Cold opened in 1996, it was supposed to be a temporary response to the rising levels of homelessness and poverty until more permanent housing could be found. The situation has not improved; in fact, it is getting worse. I believe that this is not unique to St. Catharines as most social agencies throughout the Niagara region are reporting an increase in issues regarding poverty and homelessness. All concerned feel that something needs to change.
Some say that Albert Einstein gave the following definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Sometimes we continue to do the same thing and expect a different outcome. This is certainly true with regard to poverty and homelessness.
Dorothy Day challenges us not to be complacent regarding the plight of those most in need. As Christians we are called to put our faith into action and work together to transform the lives of individuals and society. This is the power of love in action and that is what we need today.
“The mystery of poverty is that by sharing in it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge and belief in love.” (Dorothy Day)
The Most Reverend Gerard Bergie is bishop of St. Catharines.