The day begins…
5:30am – A morning alarm clock dings softly but easily fills the tiny room, which feels more like a closet than a bedroom. The cot creaks sharply as the Irish Deacon rolls over to silence his alarm – off. As he rolls off the squeaking cot to his knees for morning vespers, he hears through the thin wall the same alarm, the same squeaking cot, and vespers. Yet, the prayers across the wall have a Nigerian accent while his own follow the cadence of an Irish brogue.
5:45am – Prayers done, the Deacon enters the upstairs hallway of Christ House to enter the even smaller closet of a community bathroom. Shower, toilet, sink, and enough room to rotate oneself to use them. Shortly after, hygiene done, the bathroom door heralds the Deacon’s exit with a squeal that signals to his Brother. They pass in the hallway with a Nigerian “E ku aaro. Good morning.” and an Irish “Maidin Mhaith. Good morning.”
6:15am – The Brothers converse while walking along Prince Street to Saint Mary’s Basilica for morning mass.
6:30am – Morning mass.
7:00am – Remain at St. Mary’s for one hour of adoration after mass.
8:15am – Return to Christ House to prepare grocery bags for fifty families in need. The Deacons work together portioning food into each bag considering the food available, the number of family members, and the number of children. Each adds a silent prayer of hope and love to each bag. Amen.
11:00am – The two Brothers walk fifty paces north on West Street to the Christ House Thrift Store. In the back room, they enter to find a lump of donated items including clothing, furnishings, shoes, household goods, and more. They sort the items, categorize, clean, and iron. The Nigerian Deacon looks at his counterpart ironing wrinkles into the shirt. They look at the shirt on the iron board that is crisply creased where creases do not belong. He smiles, “Brudda, let me do dis. I am much betta.” They share a laugh and switch. Within minutes, the Nigerian Deacon quietly holds up the same shirt. The Irish nods his head, “Ta’. Yea. You are mooch bettah.”
1:00pm – Eat PB&J sandwich
1:00pm – Daily cleaning. Vacuuming, dusting, emptying trash, and washing windows.
2:00pm – One-hour break.
3:00pm – Help to prepare the evening meal. One of the forty-eight group from the community bring enough food to feed a hot meal to sixty people. As the volunteer group arrives, they are greeted by the Deacons, “Welcome. Friends. Welcome. We thank you.” They continue organizing the volunteers, heating the stove, preparing the food, and setting the tables. By the seating of the first twenty neighbors, the smell of hot meals permeates the halls. Legend tells that the Christ House has not missed serving a hot meal 365 days/year in forty years. On the Deacons’ watch, the streak continues.
5:00pm – The seating of the first twenty neighbors.
6:30pm – Clean up from dinner.
8:00pm – Evening prayers.
8:30pm – Ministry of Presence. The Deacons sit in the lounge with the shelters residents who are transitioning from homelessness to self-sufficiency. The two Deacons encourage the clients by reinforcing the program’s lessons of personal responsibility, timeliness, cleanliness, reliability, work ethic, and God’s enduring love. The duo lead by daily example.
11:00pm – Lights out. Late night vespers. The cots squeak a welcome to each of the two weary Deacons. Through the wall, a Nigerian voice bids a good night, “O da aaro.” His Irish Brother follows with, “Oiche mhaith.”
Silence.