SEASON’S GREETINGS AT PINE STREET INN
Cardinal O’Malley pays a visit during tough times
Christmas Eve at Boston’s Pine Street Inn looked very different on Thursday amid the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions, but Cardinal Sean O’Malley still brightened the holiday for many homeless individuals.
The archbishop of Boston in past years has helped serve meals to the Pine Street guests, but that was not allowed on Thursday because of coronavirus protocols.
Instead, O’Malley — wearing a mask while standing outside in Pine Street’s parking lot tent — greeted guests as they collected hats, gloves and gift cards. The cardinal said to them, “Merry Christmas” and “Feliz Navidad.”
“If there’s any year where we need some hope, it’s this year — and that’s what the Cardinal brings to us today,” said Pine Street President Lyndia Downie.
The Pine Street Inn prepared around 1,000 holiday luncheons, which included lasagna al forno, Caesar salad, baked garlic bread and assorted pies.
The meal was served in a socially distant manner, and no volunteers were on-site.
“We’ll make this as festive as we can within the limits we have to live with this
‘The work being done here is so important.’
SEAN O’MALLEY archbishop of Boston
year,” Downie said.
Pine Street’s Outreach team also delivered holiday meals to men and women staying on the streets.
O’Malley stressed the importance of everyone helping one another, especially during this incredibly challenging year.
“There are so many people during Christmastime in any given year who are suffering a lot because of isolation and because of lack of shelter or food, but this year that has been increased exponentially,” the cardinal said.
“The work being done here is so important, and I urge everyone to be supportive of the Pine Street Inn and St. Francis House and all the other organizations in the community that are trying to serve this population,” he said.
Tom Cooper, 71, a Pine Street Inn guest, said O’Malley’s visit was special, particularly during this difficult year.
“It kind of keeps you going,” said Cooper, who has been at the Pine Street Inn for two years. “It’s very, very helpful psychologically to know that there are people who are very interested in actually helping. And it’s not just words. They actually come here physically, and that’s really important.”
Cooper said he’s had his ups and downs this year. He tested positive for COVID-19 in April, but he said he was fortunate it was a mild case.
At the height of the virus’s spring wave, 36% of guests at Pine Street were testing positive. Now, the rate is less than 2%.
“It’s still going to be a hard winter, no question about it, and it’s going to be a particularly tough holiday season,” Downie said, but she noted that the “vaccine is coming, and we’re trying to keep our eyes set there.”