Did you get a chance to hear one of Father John’s Homilies last weekend? He described our trip to Immokalee in detail, including the horrific living conditions that the men, women, and children undergo every single day. You can find the pictures from this trip at: https://legacysite.sjecc.org/featured/immokalee-needs-our-support-and-our-action
Pope Francis has asked us all to shed the light of our love and joy on these situations, and focus our church and our actions on them in his “Mission Statement” for the church, the EVANGELII GAUDIUM, Chapter 1, Section 48:
Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ. Here I repeat for the entire Church what I have often said to the priests and laity of Buenos Aires: I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life. More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37). – Pope Francis (http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html)
Saint John is blessed to have over 60 different Ministries, all focused on the Mission, To Know, To Love, and To Serve God in His Church and Our Community. This summer, we want to invigorate our service commitment on several priorities: Immokalee and the Homeless in Collier County and Lee County. These close-to-home issues require immediate action, and Father John has authorized two “Tiger Teams”, experts and dedicated individuals tasked to assess the situations and begin programs to support the dignity and humanity of all those in need. Together, in collaboration, we can make a significant impact.