Unexpected, and I would say unconventional, this year on June 18th, I celebrated Father’s Day with a group of friends and the Missionary Sisters of Charity in Lynwood, CA, bringing hot lunches to people who are experiencing homelessness. It was my first time to help the Sisters in their ministry. I was provoked by the March announcement on the School of Community with Davide Prosperi and Archbishop Santoro when we were recalled to the meaning of charitable work and asked to engage with it. So we went.

A small group of us showed up at the front door of the Sisters’ convent in Lynwood. After a bit of waiting outside, the door opened and immediately the Sister who welcomed us opened the door of the Chapel and without any other words invited us to look at Him. An invitation to nothing other than to open the door of our heart to seek Him and to look at Him. We then moved to the kitchen area to help prepare and pack up the hot lunches. Sondra said, “Let's pray the rosary as we fill the containers. We each take a turn in our mother tongue.” When the Sister prayed the Hail Marys, she said, “The first choir of Angels in Heaven, Hail Mary…The second choir of Angels in Heaven…Hail Mary,” and so on to help keep track of where we were at in the prayer. Our rhythm coincided with prayer. Each scoop of food that was put in the container had the Mystery present: “ and the Word becomes flesh.”

After loading up the van that Bob would drive, we jumped in our car to follow. We arrived at the first stop, about five minutes away from the convent. We parked the car and reached the Sisters’s van while the homeless people started gathering around us. I felt something surreal – extreme poverty embraced by an infinite Love. I felt overwhelmed. The Sister welcomed everyone and started to read today’s gospel: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Then she said “Jesus is moved to pity for you, for me, for us, for each of us today here and now…He is the Good Father who cares for us…Happy Father’s Day…Felix Dia del Padre!” For the entire time these words remained in my heart. The Gospel continues with Jesus calling the twelve by name. Today, every day and every moment, I am called by Him and together with me, in this mysterious communion, he calls us with Jeffry, Agustin, José, Gloria, Angie, Alex, and all the people who came to receive this infinite Love.

I am in wonder in front of what the Lord does every time I say “yes” to the initiative that He takes throughout our charism and His Church. This time to say “yes” meant to take seriously an announcement on the School of Community, call the Sisters and ask how we help their Ministry, and show up on Father’s Day!!

The city of Los Angeles has declared a State of Emergency for the situation that we are living with homeless encampments. I might not see this crisis resolved during my lifetime, but in seeing what I have seen today and having experienced this unconditional Love, I have seen that the living communion in Christ is the flower of hope capable of bringing comfort, love, and dignity to my neighbors, to people, who along with me, make up the Body of Christ.

Guido, Los Angeles, CA