Accompanying the Poor by Keith Branson, c. pp. s., Precious Blood Resource Service Planning Committee
A cholera epidemic ravaged Italy in the mid-1830s, causing widespread death and disruption: in the fall of 1837, it reached Rome. Gaspar del Bufalo was staying at Sonnino, in poor health, but busy guiding his community both in organizing missions and social assistance to epidemic victims as best he could. A call came for him to return to Rome, and in October he was there, visiting hospitals and the sick; others made a line at his apartment for confession and other aid. Gaspar had been a tireless worker for the poor in Rome since his early 20s: as a seminarian he had been appointed president of Santa Galla Hospice, and he was an excellent fundraiser as well as chaplain. One of his biographers said that on this journey to Rome he saw none of the Curia, avoided the hierarchy of the Church, and devoted all his time to making himself available to the poor.
There are many programs available to help the poor in our time. However, as Denise Murrow shared with some of us, there is little cross communication between services, and at times is seems the system makes the process difficult in hopes people will abandon their quest and funds set aside to help them go unused. Very few people walk with aid applicants through the process, and the need is much greater than the help available. At her urging, some Companions, province staff, and incorporated members have been meeting over the past couple of months to develop a Precious Blood Resource Services, where people can come to find out which public and private programs exist that can help them, and get ongoing support as they travel through the system. No other group or agency is especially dedicated to this one service, although a few offer this as part of a larger group of services.
It will be an excellent opportunity for Companions and incorporated members to work side by side, accompanying the poor as Gaspar did and Pope Francis calls us to do today. It is hoped we can set up a pilot program this fall, and eventually operate centers in other places where the Precious Blood community exists. It is a ministry that won’ t require physical strength or agility— someone in a wheelchair could do it. The work would take average intelligence, patience, and an openness to learn. There will be some training involved as well as ongoing education. However, it may be a chance for us to help people get the assistance they are entitled to and only ask us to commit a few hours every week. It will also be a chance to expand on our Corporate Statements of solidarity and the work of the Peace and Justice Committee by putting words into action, and ourselves in direct contact with those who need our help. We would have a chance to walk with the poor one to one.
Pope Francis started calling us to walk with the poor almost from the beginning of his pontificate. The need today is great and it may become greater. Companions have explored ways to work together in the past, and incorporated members have been talking about which directions our future ministry will go. As we read the signs of the times, it is time to find more ways we can be faithful to Christ’ s call for us to love one another and reach out to those in need. Perhaps this will be a way we can work together to bring forth the Kingdom of God.
March 2017 • The New Wine Press • 9