Summertime serving, a great way to give back

My oldest, along with his going into 6th grade classmates and scores of others in prep class at St. Isidore’s, prepare for the sacrament of confirmation which comes up for children in roughly their 6th grade year. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has changed things a bit since I was confirmed many moons ago at St. Cecilia’s Church in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase section. When I was confirmed as far as I can remember, I selected a sponsor and did some studying up on church doctrine which was always the case as a student in a parochial school. Best I can remember I received the sacrament, then mom, dad, my brothers and a few family members went back to the house for dinner. Standard stuff for Catholics as it has been and still is today. This past spring I received my son’s confirmation kit as he makes his way into the sacrament. ‘Kit?’ I thought to myself, I don’t remember anyone getting a kit when I was confirmed. It’s not too cumbersome, but it does ask a few things that I think are good for all kids today, whether or not they are preparing for confirmation. It seems Anthony and those in his situation have to serve north of 20 hours of community service to maintain eligibility for the sacrament.

Upon such news I right away thought of where we’d served each Christmas and Easter Holiday for the past several years and asked if we could pick up extra shifts to help my son work some hours in his community service endeavor. St. John’s Hospice for men is in Philly’s Center City at 12th and Race, just across from the gleaming Pennsylvania Convention Center and the hot spot Reading Terminal Farmer’s Market. Just feet from these two gleaming examples of commerce lies the benevolence of a select few dedicated to feeding hungry men in body and spirit each day, every day. I first learned of the place in high school at Cardinal Dougherty where St. John’s served as a place I was made to go to work off unbecoming behavior. Did I spend a few days serving at St. John’s when I was in high school? Well, let’s just say this columnist was on first name basis with the Brothers of The Good Shepherd who ran St. John’s through the 1980’s. In my being made to serve back in high school I developed a deep affection for St. John’s. Far from a depressing place it is a well of hope, that offers men a place to rest, get a clean change of clothing, pick up their mail ( many have it delivered to the hospice ) and enjoy a great meal and fellowship. These men do eat well I’ve discovered. All of the food is prepared by area parishs throughout the city. St. John’s then sends its truck to pick up donations. On top of the prepared food made by area parishoners, St. John’s also gets donations from restaurants that have over run food they would otherwise discard.

So this summer we’ve been out a few times already and are making an effort to work a few more shifts before the school year resumes. Great lessons for my sons and I as well as helping him pare down his community service hours as his commitment to prepare for confirmation mandates. We’ve met more and different hospice workers, residents ( a few men up to 50 stay at the shelter until they are able to get back on their feet ). We’ve developed a rapport and seen better what some men have had to deal with in a sometimes cold world that’s beaten them down to nothing and in need of life’s simplest things. What’s remarkable about most of these men is their resolve to get going, make a change in their lives and chart a different course. It’s a great life lesson for everyone, especially kids who often times in their quest to get stuff they want or do things they like forget sometimes how fortunate they are. For that matter, many of us adults can lose sight of the same thing, our good fortune.

That in mind I decided to ask a few of the men without getting too detailed what brought them to St. John’s. Many had a hard road. Some abandoned by their families at a young age, others had problems in the educational system, dropped out and felt the pain of little or no education to the point of not finding decent work and now while they get back on track to earn a General Equivalency Diploma find they need assistance on basics to get by until they can start working. Oddly enough many of these men have jobs while working for their GED, St. John’s helps by filling in the gaps and stretching an austere pay check. Volunteering at St. John’s has been an eye opener. There are scores of men who aren’t looking to get over or beat the system. These are mostly men who honestly want off assistance and a fair crack at an opportunity to care for themselves. They have a goal and it’s remarkable to hear them talk about how they plan to go about their own fulfillment.

Volunteering at St. Johns is an experience and rewarding in many ways too numerous to mention. Find out more about St. Johns or just look for other ways to serve your community this summer. It’s an easy way to feel good. A guarantee of any kind of service you can perform before summer goes. St. Johns’s Hospice is linked on my website if you’d like to find out more. See ‘ya round town.