Pupils flock to help homeless with McVerry
FR Peter McVerry is singing the praises of the many transition-year pupils who have turned up to help at shelters for the needy.
The campaigner for the homeless has revealed his work experience programme for the fourth-year pupils is so popular it is booked out until 2020.
Up to six students a week attend his drop-in centre for a week at a time and talk to those who have been sleeping rough.
The dedicated priest, who has been running the programme for many years, said there is a huge spike in applications recently, and he has had to double the students from three to six every week. He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘They seem to love it and I have seen it impact on many of them, they leave with a different outlook.
‘They don’t realise how privileged they are until they come to the centre and meet homeless people.’
He explained that the pupils spend a week at the centre in Dublin city and talk to those who have had difficulties in addiction or homelessness.
And the people who use the shelter are always willing to share their stories with the teenagers.
Fr McVerry said: ‘They feel they are contributing to society or giving back by telling their own stories about what happened to them – or why they ended up homeless or in addiction.
‘They never say no and always sit down with them and tell them a real honest account of their lives.’