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Parishioners of St. Anastasia in Teaneck prepare 200 bologna and cheese sandwiches for the next day’s delivery.
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The old white van headed over the George Washington Bridge. Inside, were four Saint Anastasia faithful, prepared for a morning of ministry to the Bowery poor, in downtown Manhattan. Also crammed into the van’s recesses were many large plastic bags, marked MEN and WOMEN, filled with clean, like new clothes, donated by parish members. A large vat of homemade vegetable, beef and noodle soup was securely anchored next to 200 bologna and cheese sandwiches, made from bread donated by Buttercup Bakery of Teaneck, and prepared the day before by 6 people, working in a rectory all purpose room, after the 8:30 AM Mass.
For the past 28 years, since the time of Carmelite Pastor, Cecil Pickett, the Bowery ministry at Saint Anastasia’s, Teaneck, New Jersey, has repeated this process every Saturday morning and on special holidays.
On this particular Saturday, I was fortunate enough to be one of a quartet: Father Emmett Gavin, O.Carm., Leoncia Brady, and myself, with Bob Paladino deftly driving through the busy Manhattan streets. It was a first for me, though I had often helped with the preparation of sandwiches. It seemed the vehicle, with all its hiccups, knew just where to go, inching through tiny spaces, on streets jammed with double parked cars and trucks, missing the jay walkers who darted between them.
Our first stop was at a Dorothy Day Women’s shelter. We were welcomed by one of the residents and led into a stark hallway off of which was a sorting room. There we deposited the heavy bags of clothes, knowing that they would all be put to good use. I smiled at the woman who had greeted us and looked deeply into the beautiful eyes of one of God’s beloved poor. She smiled shyly and said a very soft, “God bless you!”
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The van destined for the Bowery, is loaded to the brim with bags of clothing, hot soup and sandwiches.
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Back on the street, Bob, who had stayed with the van, was ready to head the few blocks to the men’s shelter. There several men were recruited to help carry the heavy bags. A meal was being prepared in a large cafeteria style room, as men, young and old, sat waiting. A large group of both men and women volunteers were busily working to provide a wholesome breakfast for the needy. Perhaps it is my own reverie, but I felt as if I was in the presence of goodness...God-ness.
Leaving there, we piled, once again, into the now much less packed van and I noticed two large thermos containers that had been hidden by the clothes bags. They were, I was told, filled with hot, sweetened coffee.
After several blocks, I saw a long line of people standing along a park fence. They knew we were coming and had assembled, anticipating our early morning arrival.
Leoncia Brady set up the soup, to be served in styrofoam cups while Father Emmett distributed the sandwiches and I doled out the welcomed coffee. Bob stood and chatted with people who knew him well, since he is one of the regulars. It was evident that they felt they had a good friend paying them a visit.
As I smiled and filled cups, I again looked into the eyes of the recipients, many of which reflected a life of challenge beyond anything I have ever had to face. I found it natural to smile back at each with love and feel the connectedness that is so desired by the Heart of Christ. “Thank you. God bless you!” were freely exchanged, and the line went on.
When only dregs were left, I apologized to the last fellow and said, “What’s left is mud.”
“That’s OK” he said. “I like mud.” Even the dregs were used. We gathered our wares, said our good byes to those still standing around, and headed back to Teaneck with an empty van and full hearts. One never gives without receiving in abundance.
Ministry to God’s poor brings with it great wealth, whether in the hills of Peru or in the streets of New York.
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