For His Friends

An article in Sunday’s St. Petersburg Times outlined some of the challenges which face Catholic Charities as it attempts to expand its services to the homeless of the five counties of our diocese. The article featured quotes from a neighborhood activist indicating her (and possibly others) strong opposition to the concept of opening a cold weather, safe shelter for qualifying homeless on vacant diocesan property in Hillsborough county. It was for me a typical “nimby” approach (translated that means “not in my backyard”) to a growing social challenge facing our nation – the rapidly expanding numbers of homeless on our streets.

The neighborhood spokesperson used as one of her reasons a study of Pinellas Hope done by the University of South Florida which was overwhelmingly positive in the first measureable results of the Pinellas Hope experience. The neighborhood leader suggested that the study showed that roughly twenty per cent of the homeless were not able to graduate into permanent housing and jobs. Actually the study showed that our first venture into the homeless shelter concept was quite successful, even surprisingly successful in placing homeless people in jobs and residences which were affordable and sustainable. Catholic Charities is not in this for just a “band-aid” response but to move as many off the street into a respectable and sustainable life. Our graduation rate is higher or at least as good as the high school graduation rates of the Pinellas and Hillsborough schools.

If in the end the civic authorities do not wish us to assist them, then we will move on to Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Any good thing done for the destitute and down-on-their luck population should meet the Lord’s criteria for the final judgment: I was in your neighborhood, your backyard, homeless, hungry, without a job or clean clothes, medicine or good hygiene and you took me in. It all proves once again how hard it is sometimes for the Church to do the good the Lord expects of us.

+RNL

This evening the parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Seffner joyfully celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their much loved pastor, Father Christopher Fitzgerald. Father Chris was ordained in Rome on December 7, 1958 for the Institute of Charity or the Rosminian Fathers. He has served forty-eight of the fifty years in Florida and forty of them in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He was the youngest of eleven children and weighed just three pounds at birth. Health problems have been somewhat consistent throughout his life but they have never slowed this good man down.

Rosminian Father Chris Fitzgerald, third from left, watches as his portrait, created from 7,500 images of St. Francis of Assisi parishioners, is unveiled during a Mass celebrated Dec. 13 in honor of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. (Photo by Ed Foster)

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