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Camillus House News
Embrace hope, embrace dignity, embrace healing, for you are in the embrace of your community.
March 9, 2009
by Dr. Paul R. Ahr
This Lent we investigated whether Camillus House offers hope, dignity, healing and community to persons who are poor and homeless in Miami. The promise of these gifts constitutes the Camillus Welcome, displayed on a plaque outside the entrance to the Camillus Courtyard at our main shelter. To help us answer this question, Camillus COO Pat Cawley and I have been meeting over lunch with some of our guests and clients: Marshall, Ivan, William, Mike, Angel, Harcourt and Chechy. I am grateful to them for their thoughtful and honest responses to our inquiries.
“This is what you do.”
During our lunches together, our companions told us in a clear and common voice what it means to be at Camillus House. Perhaps the most important aspects of being in our Courtyard are the feeling of security and the experience of unconditional respect. Separation from the chaos and temptations always present on the street – the feeling of security – allows men and women who had survived on the street to begin living a life of self control and self esteem. Then there is the caring shown by all staff; who, professionally trained or not, all participate in the physical, mental and spiritual healing work of Camillus House. Recall Henri Nouwen’s words (see my Letter of 3/10/05):
- Healing is the humble but also very demanding task of creating and offering a friendly empty space where strangers can reflect on their pain and suffering without fear, and find the confidence that makes them look for new ways right in the center of their confusion…The real host is the one who offers that space where we do not have to be afraid and where we can listen to our own inner voices and find our own personal way of becoming human.
Last week, Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora visited the Camillus House main shelter and its Courtyard, accompanied by Archdiocesan Chancellor Msgr. Michael Souckar. As the Archbishop prepared to leave after an extended tour, he glanced at the Camillus Welcome plaque. Running his eyes across the words, he said, “Hope, dignity, healing, community…that is what you do.” The Archbishop’s distinction is important: more than merely offer these gifts to persons who are homeless in Miami, he and our luncheon guests have told us that we make hope, dignity, healing and community a living reality in the “friendly empty space” of Camillus House.
One final sign of the community that is Camillus House can be found in the way clients and staff members treat each other. Today, two of our employees are gravely ill. Victoria Robinson has worked for about 15 months at Mother Seton Village in Homestead. Joe Hodges, who was a member of Camillus’ original C.H.A.N.G.E. group of the late 1980s (a forerunner of our ISPA treatment program), has worked for Camillus House for more than 10 years. We pray for them and their families daily. Joe supervises the direct care staff at our Courtyard and Fred Mims tells me that most of the staff at our main shelter and even some clients have visited Joe in the hospital, and that many more clients are praying for his recovery. According to Fred, the Courtyard guests and clients miss Joe’s gentle and respectful way with all whom he touches, as do we. Joe and Victoria are part of our Camillus family and we care deeply about them and for them
Signs and plaques here call out “Welcome!”
As we come to the end of another Lenten season together, I am reminded of the words of Jean Vanier, which we quoted in the last letter of Lent 2005: “Welcome is one of the signs that a community is alive. To invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace to share.” Those who are our guests and visitors tell us that we have such a treasure of truth and of peace to share, and that we share it with all.
When we relocate from the site established by Brother Mathias Barrett, BGS in 1960 to the new Camillus House Center in 2010, we will leave most of the physical aspects of this Camillus House behind. We will bring with us the charisms, or special gifts, of the Brothers of the Good Shepherd: availability, hospitality, flexibility, adaptability and respect for human dignity; and we will bring our guests and clients; our volunteers and staff; our traditions and standards; our appreciation for our benefactors and our love for the poor. We will also bring with us the Camillus Welcome plaque as an invitation to persons who are poor and homeless in Miami-Dade County to join us and a promise of what they can expect to experience in the embrace of the Camillus community.
