SPAIN, Fátima Alvarado/mda. Those who know Pope Francis well say that he may do the same in Rome as he did in his native Buenos Aires. Others know from statements by the “Vatican almsgiver” who said that “when I used to go out for the night, he sometimes asked me if he could come with me.” When the Archbishop and Pope Francis’ confidante was occasionally asked if this had really happened, he would simply smile mischievously, giving rise to suspicions. Does Francis/Bergoglio walk through the streets of Rome at night to minister to the homeless dressed as a priest, unaccompanied and without the press? Some young people in Rome thought that if they did the same, then they might meet up with him. It could happen. But what is certain is that they will meet Jesus.
With Jesus, who “has chosen to inhabit our history as it is, with all the weight of its limitations and dramas. By doing so, He has demonstrated in an unsurpassable way his merciful inclination filled with love for human creatures,” said Francis on 18 December. Jesus can be found on the streets of Rome or any other city. And whoever goes out to meet Him, could also meet up with Francis. Just like those who would go out onto the streets of Madrid to meet with the homeless people on 20 December and 3 January.
In this very cold weather, you can see the reality just by looking of the window: countless people who are in the streets without food, suffering from the cold without enough clothes or food to meet their basic needs.
“After a year of going out to meet them, we have come to know many of them by name or nickname, and can testify how badly they are doing and their need to chat, their need for a little affection, in addition to their basic needs for food and shelter,” we read in the Madrid Schoenstatt Family Newsletter. The newsletter continues: “Therefore, we ask all of you to OPEN YOUR HEARTS, because we assure them that GOD lives inside each one of them, as POPE FRANCIS tells us.”
It started during Christmas 2012
The Encuentro (Encounter) Project was born in Madrid during Christmas 2012. “This adventure through the streets of Madrid. Once again we want to place ourselves at Mary’s disposal so that she can continue to use us as her simple instruments so that we can look through her eyes, welcome through her arms and speak through her lips,” says Fátima Alvarado in a comment to schoenstatt.org. “There is so much to do. May the desire of selflessness and mission continue to grow! Let it be noticed that Christ also goes out to meet the marginalised and loves them as they are! This Christmas, during these special days, we also want to make this date special for the homeless! On 20 December and 3 January, we will hand out backpacks with clothes and food to the homeless.”
What is Project Encuentro?
It welcomes people who live on the Street. It teaches us how to look at my city, my streets, my neighbourhood with different eyes.
It is to take an active part in the reality around us and not to be indifferent to what is happening by not getting involved in concrete activities (giving my time, my material possessions, my help, my ears).
It is to create solidarity, which in a time of crisis demands as much of me as of my surroundings.
It is a giving of oneself for others, love for one’s neighbour without stereotypes or prejudice, a disinterested service.
Project Encuentro is an exercise in taking on the problems of those around me and to build a better world, so that others can be inspired by my witness and can welcome everyone.
It is to walk through the streets with different feet, see with new eyes, hug with different arms. It is to listen without judging, speaking without lamenting and to accompany without imposing ourselves. It is the consciousness that we need to provide an answer for a world that is hurting and directionless.
We cannot lock ourselves away in our homes. The time has come to go out, to help those who are in need.
Many may not be able to go out physically, but there are many other ways to help: provide food, essentials, clothes or blankets.
There are many needy people, but we are also many who can help.”
Your backpack, their Christmas!
With Christmas in sight, Encuentro feels that it is important to do something special. They decided to go out on two dates: Friday, 20 December and 3 January. These are important dates, making it possible to reach out to more people. On Friday the 20th, instead of giving out the usual food parcel, they decided to do something more personal and unique.
Street people carry their “home” in their backpacks…. for this reason, Encuentro invites everyone to prepare one or more special backpacks, filled with Christmas treats, cookies, bread, some cold cuts, a drink, canned goods and more importantly, something to shelter against the cold (the best are elasticised thermal t-shirts that fit all sizes.
With this, not only will the street people have something in which to carry their small homes, but it also makes these days special and different from the routine and loneliness that they suffer day to day.
Original: Spanish. Translation: Kohnie Valderrama, Madrid/Sarah-Leah Pimentel, South Africa
