City Stories

Testimonial 2

Walking With Christ in Camden; How a Connecticut Teacher and His Son Experienced the Love of Jesus at The Romero Center by Patrick D. Higgins.

Patrick D. Higgins, M.A., 42, is a High School Social Studies Teacher who lives in Bethel, CT.  He is a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Bethel, and is a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Pavia Council # 48.

On Sunday, June 25 a charter bus filled with 45 chattering teenagers and 10 anxious chaperones from a picturesque New England town disembarked at the doorstep of the Bishop Romero Center. Our mission was simple – to serve those most in need through humility and charity.  By weeks end, we would become closer to each other and in our love for Jesus Christ.  My account of this journey is but a poor attempt to capture the feelings of that week, but I would like to share a couple of unforgettable experiences in working with the impoverished, the homeless, and the hungry of Camden and nearby Philadelphia, PA.

I will never forget the day I spent at the New Visions Center, and neither will my son.  Having largely given to the poor and homeless through the venue of a parish collection envelope or innocuous food collection bins, it was a privilege to be brought into the service and confidence of the staff and clients of New Visions that hot, humid Monday. We sorted clothes, assisted homeless citizens in selecting footwear and toiletries, and served meals to the hungry.  Despite the “reputation” of the area, our group felt a sense of peace and acceptance among the staff and clients as we worked.  During the noontime meal, I saw a young man that I recognized from our chores in the clothing room.  At that time, his shirt was torn and soiled; he looked hungry, sullen and in need of a shower. There he sat, a hot lunch putting color into his face, eyes once expressionless now luculent, freshly bathed and wearing a clean shirt. He seemed happier, and spoke animatedly with sign language to a young woman at his table.  I was reminded of what Jesus had said in Matthew 28”Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads and I will give you rest…..” How many times I had read or sung this during Mass, and now I was witness to it!
Blessed be Jesus!

As a parent, I hoped my son would find his time at the Romero Center to be an enriching experience – one beyond a mere “community service” action.  My wishes were confirmed the night before we departed Camden.  In a beautiful candle lighting prayer and reflection ceremony, my sixteen-year old son Patrick eloquently summed up the need for social justice in a nation blessed with material wealth and resources, largely by calling our political leaders to task in addressing the issues associated with urban poverty. Proudly, I watched a quiet young man recount what he had seen and how it permanently affected his thinking about social issues.  My only regret was that his mother and fourteen-year-old sister were unable to be there, for this and the many other experiences we shared that wonderful summer week in service to the Lord among the needy. 

Yes, Christ walks among the poor in Camden and neighboring Philadelphia. That is where we will feel his presence the most, until that glorious moment we are united with Him in His Kingdom. I recall the words of Mother Theresa, as she spoke to a journalist about her mission; “When I look into the faces of the poor, the hungry, the forgotten or the dying, I see the face of Jesus Christ….” 

When we reach out to those most in need, we feel His love and our faith is reaffirmed, if not refreshed.  Yes, it is easy to profess our faith, but it may be a bit laborious to practice it.  It is only through practice that we have the humble satisfaction of knowing that one of our brothers or sisters was fed, clothed, or in some cases provided with a new place in which to live. And that is the gift that Jesus gives to us.

Testimonial 1

Testimonial 3