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A new assignment in a familiar place, this is God’s most recent gift to me. Regina was my first mission assignment, from 2007 to 2010. Now I have returned a little older, a very little wiser, and much humbler to Madonna House’s “little house on the prairie.”
Some of the volunteers I remember have gone to the Lord. Others, due to age and infirmity, no longer volunteer, but are still very much a part of our lives. And others, I was amazed and humbled to discover, are still coming, still continuing to serve the poor here.
One man, a retired RCMP officer still in great shape, is now 82. His daughter and grandson also volunteer on Saturdays. Another man, age 87, who used to work here with him, now comes in the morning instead so that he can drive his wife, whose eyesight is failing. Husband and wife now chop vegetables for the stew together.
Finally there’s David #2, as he refers to himself, in deference to me. He leads the Friday crew, which is comprised of almost the same people I remember from twelve years ago. Dave is able to fix anything we can break, and he has become quite adept at begging at the hardware store on our behalf.
Oh, we do have an addition to the Friday crew—retired Archbishop James Weisgerber.
I could go on and on, but I think you can see how blessed we are.
Although no priest is assigned here, our MH associate and the bishop of our diocese, Archbishop Don Bolen, comes as often as his extremely busy schedule permits.
I guess the biggest difference I’ve noticed on my return is that generally the men we serve seem to be in better shape. Again, there are lots of familiar faces, but I’m meeting new friends all the time.
Getting to know the Brothers Christopher (the poor we serve) and hearing their stories is a holy thing. And sometimes there are wonderful changes.
One man, who I’ll call Jim (not his real name), greeted me when I arrived with a big smile and with news that he is now working and has really turned his life around.
He told me he used to be a top guy in one of the native gangs and, in his words, was “a very bad man.” Now he wants to help young boys who are at risk for joining gangs and addictions.
Finally, there is my Madonna House family who welcomed me with open arms. Before there was four women and me; now, the men outnumber the women, three to two. We do our best to live out the Little Mandate (MH spirituality) as we get to know each other, serve each other and love each other to the best of our abilities.
