The Catholic Leader Flipbook - Issue 5594 - March 22

9 / 32

9
The Catholic Leader, March 22, 2020
News
Emmanuel City Mission shares
‘consistency in the midst of chaos’
By Joe Higgins
IN South Brisbane there is a home
for the homeless that does not count
the days of the week.
It didn’t matter what day you rocked up, the
volunteers at Emmanuel City Mission would
take care of you.
Emmanuel City Mission director Roby Curtis
said he saw about 80 homeless and vulnerable
people per day at the daytime centre now that it
had opened its doors seven days a week.
He said it might seem sensible by “conven-
tional minds” that it was okay to have a centre
open only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs-
day, and to shut on Mondays and Fridays.
But there was a glaring problem.
“What if you wake up not knowing what day
of the week it is, but you’ve got to get two-and-
a-half kilometres to get that daily sustenance
and you’re not quite sure what days we’re
open,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure you knew eve-
ryday at 12pm there’s a feed, every morning
from 9am, there’s cereal, tea and coffee, (that)
there’s place for a shower.
“Consistency in the midst of chaos.”
Mr Curtis said opening seven days a week
brought its share of challenges, but “more
graces than anything”.
“We believe this is a Christ-centred place
where people prosper by coming here,” he said.
“They know that the streets don’t collide in
here, so you don’t bring the street culture and
street affairs in here, (what) you bring in here
is yourself as a person and the dignity of your
human person.
“You might be a heavily tattooed person,
you may be a First Nations person, you may be
someone who’s confused in whoever you are;
whoever and whatever you are, you’re welcome
here.
“There’s no one that’s not welcome here.”
The mission also underwent a brand change,
which he had thought about for some time.
Emmanuel City Mission better reflected
the heart of the mission – Jesus with us – and
veered away from the “almost protest” that
Blind Eye Ministries represented.
And with the brand change came acceleration
towards their primary mission.
He said it was not just to be an excellent,
state-of-the-art, homeless service provider in
the community, but to be part of the Church’s
mission and its evangelisation in a time of
renewal.
Mr Curtis sourced hope from Pope Francis’
apostolic exhortation Joy of the Gospel, where
he talked about the bruised, dirty and hurting
Church.
“That’s something we’re trying to do in this
room… is trying to capture really intentional,
deliberate church culture,” he said.
He said the ministry reached out to the
secular, warehouse, West End feel, but with the
collision of the “beauty of statues and ceiling
mounted icons… and the Corpus of the Lord”.
“The Holy Father is calling us to that, bro.
“That’s honestly who we are and what we’re
in the pursuit of; we’ve got no reason to speak
Catholic bravado, it’s just who we are, it’s who
I am, it’s what I’m pursuing personally.”
Vulnerability was being felt by many Aus-
tralians for the first time in a long time, too,
‘This is a Christ-centred place where people prosper’
Caring hearts: Emmanuel City Mission director Roby Curtis at the South Brisbane homeless centre, with volunteers behind preparing food for the
midday meal; and (below right), a small wooden shed housing the tabernacle of the centre. Photos: Joe Higgins
because of the threat of coronavirus.
“I think we’re all kind of concerned about if
we’re going to have toilet paper, but guess what
– what if you’ve never had a toilet before?” Mr
Curtis said.
“(What if you have) never known that since
the day you were really born, apart from maybe
the various stages of institutionalised care or
whatever it may be.
“That’s one step further in vulnerability, (in)
your whole life never knowing some of the
things that we’re now concerned about in the
day to day… the resources that make up our
safe, comfortable lives.”
Coronavirus impacted on support work too.
Mr Curtis said personal hygiene was the
defining factor with “disinfectant and detergent
running wild” at the centre.
He said he needed all the help he could get.
“The biggest struggle we’re facing at the mo-
ment is just setbacks within our fundraising,” he
said.
“We’re chasing support across the coming
three months.”
The centre offered laundry and shower
services, as well as free meals and clothing for
those who needed the help.
Emmanuel City Mission was a ministry of the
Emmanuel Community and you can offer your
support behind it by visiting the website: em-
Make an offering i your W l
Please prayerfully consider including a gift in your Will (a bequest) to support the
vital ministries of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Help secure the future of our Faith.
Contact the Archdiocese of Brisbane today for your bequest information kit.
Anna Herbert, Gift Manager | 07 3324 3211 |
Catholic Foundation
ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE