Georgia pastor hears the cries of homeless veterans and church answers

Pastor's plea inspires charity in Georgia parishioners
By Stephen O'Kane


Marietta, Ga., Feb 18, 2012 / 03:42 pm (CNA).- It began with a simple idea of providing candles to MUST Ministries in Marietta, Ga. for the homeless in hopes of keeping rats away while they slept in the streets.

Just two months later, the response and support of the parishioners at the Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta, Ga. has turned into a full-fledged ministry to help the less fortunate.

When St. Ann’s pastor Father Tom Reilly was approached during a liturgy meeting with the idea of collecting candles for the homeless, the priest felt that there had to be something more they could do to help. So he recorded a video message to be played during Mass throughout Advent, encouraging members to get involved in this budding ministry.

“I applaud MUST Ministries for doing this, but at the same time I was deeply affected by the thought of collecting candles so the light would keep rats away,” Father Reilly said in the message. “What has happened to us, as a country, a state and a world? … 16 percent of the homeless nationwide are veterans. In Georgia, that number is eight percent.”

“These veterans are men and women who served our country and fought to keep us free,” he continued. “Many of them have returned broken because of their experience. These are the people Jesus is talking about when he implored us not to harden our hearts when we hear the cry of the poor.”

Father Reilly asked parishioners to light a candle and keep it burning in their homes to remember the plight of the homeless. Over the next week, thousands of candles were collected and distributed at a homeless shelter. Richard Campbell, a friend of the pastor, suggested that the parish also collect military backpacks and distribute them with some basic supplies to homeless veterans.
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Most Christians know the story of the Roman Centurion going to Christ so that his beloved servant could be healed. What most do not think about is how powerful this event really was.

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When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come here,” and he comes; and to my slave, “Do this,” and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

The Centurion was an enemy to the Jews but above that, Christ knew Roman hands would nail Him to the cross when this man dared ask for help. What did He do? Christ loved him and healed the servant. It took a lot for this man of power to ask Christ for help but he must have trusted just enough to take the chance.

Across this nation there are military men and women coming home from where we sent them to do what was asked of them. We said go and they went. After September 11th, there was no need to worry about people stepping up to respond to the attacks. Young men and women were signing up while still in high school. Older veterans were saying "Send me again." and they reenlisted. They trusted just enough to do all that was asked of them expecting little in return.

They expected if they were killed in combat, their bodies would be laid to rest with honor and their families would be taken care of. They expected that if they were wounded, their wounds would be taken care of and if they couldn't work, they would be compensated for the loss of their ability to provide for themselves and their families.

What they didn't expect was to become homeless and living on the same streets they risked their lives serving. They didn't expect the American people cheering as they left these shores to switch to the other side of the street when they saw them begging for spare change. They didn't expect to hear a Christian say "They are homeless because they want to be." or hear "They are just another drunk looking for handout." They didn't expect to be suffering spiritually and have the churches shut their ears to their cries for help.

If your church has done this, or you hear a friend say the things you just read above, give them a copy of this so they know what is possible when we do what Christ did and when we look at our veterans with love.