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Camillus House News
Final report of the Vatican First Integrated European Meeting for the Pastoral Care of the Road/Street
November 9, 2009
Dr. Paul R. Ahr
Last Thursday, November 5, 2009, the Vatican released the final report of the First Integrated European Meeting for the Pastoral Care of the Road/Street. This meeting was held at the Vatican in October. I want to share with you eight of the 13 Conclusions of the conferees dealing with persons who are homeless, and three of the nine Recommendations. Thanks to the Brother General, and to Brothers Majella and Raphael for making this report available to us.
Conclusions:
• Although the Church cannot always intervene appropriately in all situations of poverty and homelessness she must however call attention to the problem with the purpose of creating partnerships and coordinating available resources.
• It is important to remember that poverty is characterized by lack of economic means and materials, but also by the absence of stable relationships.
• The dignity of each human person is paramount when dealing with those on the streets. This demands that each person is respected for who and what they are.
• The quality of the relationship with a person who is homeless is important. It is preferable not just to provide mere welfare, but to take care of the whole person.
• Responses to persons who are homeless must be immediate and well prepared.
• It is important to enable persons who are homeless to break the cycle of living on the streets. Where possible it is essential to support them with the comprehensive range of services that reflect their needs.
• It is important to work with persons who are homeless at the place and at a speed of their making, while responding immediately to the possibilities of intervention.
Recommendations:
• The Church must also be able to accompany those who live on the streets, daring to propose hope even to persons who are homeless with a welcoming hospitality.
• Reintegration and restitution must always involve self-empowerment. Personal responsibility, participation and a restoration of self worth are essential to re-entry into society.
Compare the guidance presented in these Conclusions and Recommendations with the “Camillus Welcome” which is mounted at the entrance to our main shelter:
Abandon shame all who enter here; we offer you dignity.
Abandon hurt all who enter here; we offer you healing.
Abandon isolation all who enter here; we offer you community.
Embrace hope, embrace dignity, embrace healing,
for you are in the embrace of your community.
For the persons who enter our gates, especially those whose stay in our Courtyard represents their first step to breaking their own cycle of homelessness, the words on this plaque represent our enduring pledge to help them on their quest through the gifts of hope, dignity, healing and community. And the reason we offer these gifts to our brothers and sisters who are homeless is captured in this Conclusion of the Vatican conference:
• Persons who are homeless are not to be seen merely [as] a problem but also one of the ways that Christ makes His presence manifest to us.
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(1)I have taken the liberty to substitute the term “persons who are homeless” for the terms “the homeless” or “homeless persons.”
