Serving the Poor
The article was also posted in The Sentinel, and shared
electronically with my audience of educators, students, military personnel, law
enforcement officials, and community leaders.
In the article, I highlighted an unimaginable sight in New
York City, one of the planet’s richest cities.
Because of its importance, and relevance years later, I
believe this excerpt that captures my emotions of the sight, deserves a spotlight:
"Although throughout the city and often can be
easily circumvented, there are moments when kindness toward the homeless stops
us in our tracks.
“One such experience for me was seeing the compassion of the
Missionaries of Charity, commonly known as the Sisters of Mother Teresa, tending
to the homeless near Central Park’s entrance at Columbus Circle.
“Although one normally
associates these sisters caring for the poorest of the poor in the slums of
Calcutta, here they were in the heart of New York, one of civilizations most
affluent societies, home to the richest people on the planet.
“The Missionaries of Charity, serving the homeless of New York City-the
world’s epicenter of wealth, culture, education, tourism and diversity. Here
were the sisters, serving a wake-up call to America’s conscience – reminding us
of the suffering on New York City streets.
“America must respond to this anguish of our human family and triumph
with full force, courage, compassion and dignity.”
Thanksgiving Day 2021
Now, eight years later, it is reawakened as I visited Saint
Augustine’s Parish in Newark on Thanksgiving Day. The parish is the home to the Missionary
Sisters of Charity.
The purpose of my visit today was to assist the sisters with
their commitment to the Corporal Works of Mercy, specifically to feed
the hungry.
Some may consider the efforts of my wife and I, who hold the work of the
Sisters with the highest admiration, as noble.
But our efforts pale in significance to the inspiring work
the Sisters do every day for the poor, not only in Newark, but throughout the
world. They are carrying out the work
of their foundress, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In my heart, there is no doubt that Saint Mother Teresa, a model of holiness and love for the poor is smiling
down upon them.
The Youth of America
These youth from Ramsey High School, Immaculate Heart Academy,
and New Jersey City University, along with their parents truly represent character. Each of them gave of their
time generously to help the poor, hungry, and homeless of Newark today.
An additional selection from
the aforementioned article, as it remains relevant to the events of this
memorable day in Newark, also deserves a spotlight:
“America is as great as its commitment to respecting the dignity of
each person especially the poor. All human beings must be celebrated and we
must always see beyond superficial externals of social status, humbly
understanding we are all the human family.
“Whenever a human being is ostracized, distressed or impoverished, a
nation must respond with moral courage, compassion, and resolve. When the poor
are a burden, inconvenience, or annoyance-or treated with discriminatory
indignation for their hardship-the nation is derailed and must be
reawakened.”
Hopefully these reflections, and more importantly the admirable work of the Missionary Sisters of Charity, and the outstanding students and parents who assisted today, may serve as a wakeup call.
The message of each of them is clear - living a life of charity, character, and community is a sacred privilege and the heart of reawakening America.
Related:
America's Forgotten
Homeless: Awareness, Compassion, Dignity
Missionaries of Charity (The Sisters of Saint Mother Teresa) Official Website
For more information: twitter@vincentjbove
POST SCRIPT: Chinese Reflections by Lily Bove
My wife beautifully captured the heart of the day and posted it to share with friends and family in China:
Chinese Language:
English Translation:
Note Well:
“I have come to realize that it is being unwanted - that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.”
Mother Teresa
It was the joy of a lifetime, entering an assembly with over 100 children and their parents, at Saint Augustine's in Newark, and distributing Christmas gifts. I will never forget the expressions of awe and appreciation in their faces.
Photos:
1. Lily Bove assisting the Missionary Sisters of Charity at their Shop Kitchen, Saint Augustine's Parish, Newark, NJ, Feb. 12, 2017. (Vincent J. Bove)
2. Missionaries of Charity, Columbus Circle area near entrance to Central Park, New York, NY, Sept. 4, 2011. (Vincent J. Bove)
3. Photo collage from events of Thanksgiving Day, 2021 at Saint Augustine's Soup Kitchen. (Vincent J., Bove)
4. Student volunteers from Ramsey High School, Immaculate Heart Academy, and Jersey City University volunteering to help the poor on Thanksgiving, 2021 with Missionary Sister of Charity. (Vincent J. Bove)
5. Mother Teresa serves food to the poor in Calcutta, India, in October 1979. (Photo by Calogero Cascio/Getty Images)
6. Reawakening America Collage, and pics of Vincent J. Bove keynote, PHAMA event, Champion, PA, Oct. 20, 2017. (Lily Bove)
7. Vincent Bove, Sister Lazerena, Lily Bove (left to right) Saint Augustine's Soup Kitchen, Newark, NJ, Feb. 12, 2017 (Courtesy Reawakening America LLC)
8. Missionary of Charity Sisters with Thanksgiving Day volunteers at their Soup Kitchen, Saint Augustine's Newark, NJ, Nov. 25, 2021. (Courtesy Reawakening America LLC)
Labels: Character, Character Education, Character Training/Development for Students, Education, Faith Based, Homelessness, Parenting, Youth
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 8:26 PM
0 comments
