Full house hears Catholic Charities speaker on Approaching Homelessness
 
More than 40 people stayed after 10 a.m. Mass last Sunday (March 16) to hear Patrick Bayle deliver a moving address on homelessness in Minnesota. Bayle, the community engagement coordinator at Catholic Charities Twin Cities, was once homeless himself, and he shared his story of emerging from a dark period of addiction to become an advocate for people in similar straits today. 
 
Bayle reminded his listeners of God’s presence in every human being, regardless of their circumstances. When encountering a person who is homeless, the most affirming thing one can do is simply to say hello and ask their name. “Proximity builds empathy,” he said. “Distance breeds suspicion.”  
 
For more than 150 years, Catholic Charities has been part of the Twin Cities community and the Archdiocese’s primary means of serving our most vulnerable neighbors. They deliver essential services such as affordable housing, emergency shelter, nutritious meals, mental health care, addiction resources and more. There are numerous ways to participate via volunteerism or advocacy. For information visit the Catholic Charities websites, https://cctwincities.org/volunteer/ or 
 https://cctwincities.org/advocate/take-action-now/.