On 26 July, following the 12:10 pm daily Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and our presentation to Father Shawn Hughes of a large cheque in support of Veronica’s Veil Overnight Shelter and St Rita’s Drop-in Centre (please see Brother Troy Roques’ article on the Mary Campeau Memorial Charity Golf Tournament in this issue), Father Shawn led us on a tour of
St Rita’s Drop-in Centre, which provided me a most practical example of faith in action.
The sheer number of volunteers was impressive enough. Team Thursday consisted of ten members, and each weekday at St Rita’s has its own team of volunteers: greeters, waiters, cooks, those operating kiosks for snacks, clothing, books, and hygiene products, and others cleaning up. But more impressive and inspiring was how these volunteers interacted with the men and women who came to the Centre seeking assistance.
Every person who came through the door was welcomed with a smile, offered a place to sit, a menu with choice, and conversation. Father Shawn and the Team Thursday volunteers knew many of their guests by name, and their interactions conveyed respect and concern; clearly, they recognized Jesus in each guest they served, and they acted as the hands and feet of the same Jesus in serving each guest.
The golf committee went to great lengths to convey the spirit of charity that we wanted to animate the 2024 tournament in developing this year’s poster, which features Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz’s figure of Jesus embracing a homeless person.
To see Father Shawn and the volunteers of St Rita’s Drop-in Centre emulating the actions of Jesus gave further meaning to the efforts that we collectively put into this year’s successful tournament.
As we look ahead to the fraternal year now begun, let us resolve to open our hearts to Jesus, to deny ourselves and put Jesus first in our lives, and to put our faith into action each day by becoming the hands and feet of Jesus.
Vivat Jesus!
Shaun Tymchuk
Grand Knight