Homeless Receive the Power
of the Sun

Displacement. Increased isolation from pandemic.  This is the reality of the homeless and those evicted from apartments during the Covid-19 pandemic.  I used to see them charging their cell phones at the back of my church, or in the local library or outside buildings.  But now with the pandemic and the ongoing shutdowns I knew they had little or no access to power sources for their cell phones.  My dream has been to distribute Unite to Light Solar Cell Phone chargers that also include a built-in flashlight.  Portable and the size of an i Phone, the three panels fold to fit in a pocket or backpack. 

A grant from Catholic Extensions for Sisters on the Frontlines made this dream a reality. Almost too good to be true --the generous funding to use $1000 was magical.  For a religious sister with an extreme vow of poverty, it felt so, well, liberating and wild to be given total freedom to purchase 30 solar chargers to accompany the needs of my almost invisible brothers and sisters on the streets.

In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis urges us to cross the road, and meditate on the parable of the Good Samaritan..."the parable eloquently presents the basic decision we need to make in order to rebuild our wounded world.  In the face of so much pain and suffering, our only course is to imitate the Good Samaritan." (Fratelli Tutti, 66).

The picture above is an image taken at Reed Park, known to be a dangerous homeless encampment across the street from St. Monica Church in Santa Monica.  The homeless used to use two electric sockets outside the front doors of the church. But the sockets were vandalized.   Being able to cross the street after the morning liturgy and distribute some of the solar chargers there helped solve an ongoing dilemma, as well as bridge and begin a healing, deeper pastoral/spiritual relationship with the homeless there.  In this photo, Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, pastor of St. Monica's and Father Dave Ayotee, associate pastor, joined me so as to also be a spiritual presence extending radical welcome to our brothers and sisters.

One man cried when he spoke with Msgr. Torgerson and received his solar cell phone charger.  He said he had been a parishioner for 40 years at St. Monica Parish, living nearby in a residence on Montana Street. He had come upon hard times. Msgr. was able to assure him he is still part of the parish, and always welcome.  

In other parts of Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles I have distributed the remaining chargers.  Doug can now call his truant officer to check in.  Rosa is able to call her AA sponsor when she gets panic attacks.   Frank is less agitated knowing he won't miss receiving a long-awaited phone call from housing assistance. Rita is no longer worried she will miss a phone call if she receives a call to clean a home. Max, the Golden Retriever, as we speak is laying across the dashboard of his Mimi's broken-down RV where the solar charger soaks up the sun.

I do not have photos of these beautiful souls and this devoted pup in the other parts of the cities. But you get the idea.  Even in a pandemic we have the chance to reach out.  To make a difference.  To be hope.  To be light in someone's life.  It is said that hope is one beggar showing another beggar where the bread is.  Let us keep showing and sharing.  Not giving in to weariness, fear, or anxiety.  Share the hope. Share the Light of Christ.  But even better, be Hope. Be Light. Be radical welcome.

This is the key to living Incarnational spirituality and engaging in truly mutual relationship. Only through the spirituality of a radical welcome will we thrive in this time of a new evangelization and express the new mission, new worship, and new ministries we are being called to at this time in the Church.

In this transformed and transforming presence of radical welcome our identity, ministries and structures will be renewed. Being gracious and engaging in truly mutual relationships is how we will not just survive but thrive.  As the poet Hafez wisely wrote:

"The small man
builds cages for everyone
he
knows,
While the sage,
who has to duck his head
when the moon is low,
Keeps dropping keys all night
long
for 
the 
beautiful
rowdy
prisoners."

(taken from internet site that gave poem: www.azquotes.com)

The blessing of my experiences distributing the solar chargers deepens my resolve to quietly find ways to help those on the margins experience they are loved and accompany them as best I can. The encampment actually felt far from dangerous and unfriendly. I felt at home. And they felt at home with us. A mutual radical welcome! I was moved by the men and women I met and their love and goodness, to learn of their struggles.  To my surprise, many said they would share their chargers with others on the streets. But I shouldn’t be surprised. When we are touched by the Light of Christ, community embodies and expresses all voices, calls forth leaders, needs and gifts are selflessly shared, including The Other. It has deepened my resolve to grow in my capacity to love and to receive love, heeding the words of Pope Francis: "I want you to take to the streets.  I want my Church to take to the streets."  

Sister Rose Marie Tulacz, SND
SisterRoseMarieTulacz.com