Reflections from CIC Missionaries, Volunteers & Our Friends on the Street
Seeing the Poverty Around You
Before coming to Christ in the City, I would have said that finding “the lost sheep” would have been an easy task. It’s fairly easy to see the people in our lives who are broken, hurting, and lonely, but approaching them and having a true encounter with them, to me sounded impossible.
I Have Loved Until It Hurts
Goodbyes have always been hard for me. I feel powerless not knowing how someone is doing because they are not consistently in my life. A year ago I would not have realized how difficult it would be to walk away from my friends on the street.
An Easter People
“What you missionaries do is amazing. How do you do it?” This is a question I hear often and one I’ve asked myself a few times as well. Not only […]
Ten Minutes with Mary
“You look like Mother Mary,” Rob told me as my long hair peeked out from my hood. I didn’t feel at all like Mary. I had only gone on this […]
The Path to Success
By society’s standards, right now, I’m not doing so hot. I left school before getting my degree, I have no income, and I spend every day walking around downtown Denver […]
Seven Years of Trust
“My first impression was, “Wow… This man is definitely homeless.” His shoes were falling apart, his pants had huge holes, his sweatshirt was dirty, and his face was worn and […]
Under a Bridge
My best moments of the SEEK conference were spent under a highway bridge. A group of us missionaries went on street walks around San Antonio and one day, I met […]
Where is Your Calcutta?
By: Marie Foley When I was selected to partake in a summer medical mission to the Philippines, I was definitely excited, but also really skeptical. I looked forward to the […]
The Power of Invitation
This past week, I got the chance to attend SEEK, a conference put on by FOCUS in San Antonio, Texas. Having gone to the last SEEK in 2015 and experiencing […]
Instrument of Christ
For a couple of months I’ve been accompanying a friend whom I met at a women’s shelter. We meet every Friday to chat about life and pray the rosary together. […]
Verso L’Alto
I’ve been meditating about the Visitation a lot lately. I’ve been pondering the courage Mary had to travel across the hills of Judea alone. There could have been dangerous thieves […]
Love Until It Hurts
One of our mottos at Christ in the City is Mother Teresa’s “love until it hurts.” I’m often challenged by friends on the street to strive for a more radical […]
Similarities that Make All the Difference
Most people tend to focus on the differences between themselves and those around them. Especially when the exterior differences are very obvious. When one considers the chronically homeless this is […]
The Exchange
What’s in a name? On the streets of Denver, I’m learning that it’s more than I realized. We meet a lot of people with ‘street names,’ or nicknames, like “St. […]
Open Your Ears
“Sorry, I don’t carry any cash or change on me,” I said as I walked by a friend on the street, trying to hurry to my Holy Hour. “You need […]
Beautiful Weakness
Wake up by 6:30 a.m., Mass, breakfast with lots of coffee, and a street walk: a typical Monday morning at Christ in the City. Pretty straight forward, hey? I thought […]
Peace and Joy
“My heart is restless until it rests with Thee.” I’ve heard this so many times, it’s almost a tired cliché. Little did I know how quickly He would teach me […]
Heavenly Fame
“I don’t need my name in lights, I’m famous in my Father’s eyes, make no mistake, He knows my name.” These are lyrics from the song “He Knows My Name” […]
Pilgrimage
We are terrible at living in the present. This is the number one thing I learned on our pilgrimage to Chimayo New Mexico a few months ago. We walked for […]
What the Homeless Need Most Is You
By Makena Clawson I felt the Holy Spirit push me forward, through the tables where women were eating tonight’s chili and canned green beans, past the regular women I talk […]
Someday I’ll Be a Missionary
By Marie Foley “Miss Marie, I was telling my friend on my baseball team about Purgatory like we learned last week in CCD and he told me I was making […]
Easter Morning
By Catriona Kerwin The only barrier between him and the sky is the bridge under which he sleeps. He can sense the dark storm clouds above him. Yet he knows […]
Am I the Older Brother?
By Makena Clawson When we consider the parable of the Prodigal Son, we often ponder just that: the Prodigal Son. But what about the two other characters, the good Father […]
Why Do You Call Me Good?
By Marie Dukart Are we good? A common phrase I hear out on the streets is “I’m a good person,” or “I don’t hurt anyone by my choices.” What kills […]
All Things to All People
By Mary Sullivan When I signed up to be a Christ in the City missionary, I didn’t quite understand the scope of what I was signing up for. I knew […]
Fasting, the Poor and Pope Benedict XVI
By Trey Gross What marvelous wisdom the Church has in bestowing to us the season of Lent. Like fall, or winter, the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit […]
Only In Heaven
Only in Heaven By Michael P. McCrory In windswept Denver – all who pass Seek shelter from the stormy blast While in an alley – out of sight A homeless […]
5 Ways to Live Out the Year of Mercy
By Trey Gross The Year of Mercy started on December 8th, 2015. Did you know that? Some know a great deal about the Year of Mercy. Yet, it seems like […]
Community: A School of Love (and Hard Knocks)
Community: A School of Love (And Hard Knocks) By Blake Brouillette What was I thinking? Seriously though, I graduated college in May and the first big life decision I make […]
Rejoicing in the Small Things
Rejoicing in the Small Things By Marie Dukart “Oooh Baby!” my friend and fellow CIC missionary Anna exclaims. I know why she’s so excited. The donation truck just brought us […]
My Journey to the Faith
An interview with Catarina Ramos Why did you come to Christ in the City for a spring break trip? My sister converted to Catholicism in high school and was part […]
Sunshine Blossom
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Tips for Encountering the Homeless
We’ve all experienced it. You pull up to a stoplight and see a man or a woman with a sign, and you feel helpless. You want to do something, but […]
Encountering the Homeless
Encountering the Homeless By Torch (previously homeless friend of Christ in the City) Everyone is a unique individual. Of course it is better to be careful about labeling people and […]
Yellow roses and ice cream
Yellow Roses and Ice Cream By Makena Clawson I can’t do much. And realizing this actually brings me peace. I worry, wring my hands, pace around the room and eat […]
The Greatest Gift We Can Give
By Mary Sullivan “So…what is it that you do exactly?” My family, friends, strangers and the men and women experiencing homelessness ask me this question often. It’s a valid question. […]
4 Reflections from Pope Francis’ Visit
Four Reflections from Pope Francis’ Visit By Makena Clawson I wouldn’t travel across the country, sleep on the floor for five nights and wait seven hours in line to see […]
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable By Blake Brouillette Comfort. No, I’m not talking about your favorite recliner or a perfect fall Saturday. I’m talking about the thing that prevents you from being […]