"What good is it that Christ was born 2,000 years ago if he is not born now in your heart?" -Meister Ekhart

Every year about this time the adage that we should “treat every day like Christmas” crosses our lips. And every year that sentiment gets packed away with the ornaments and decorations, not to be seen again until next winter. Every single day a woman gives birth, refugees are forced to leave their town or country, holy men are challenged by the very faith that sustains them. Daily we are faced with unimaginable circumstances that, whether we choose to believe it or not, are instances of grace.

The birth of our Savior happened in a creche over 2000 years ago. But beacons of grace, individuals who are created in God’s image, are sent to us still today with the hope that we can recognize in them the Christ who sustains us. Jesus is incarnated every day in those to whom we minister. We are given the opportunity to renew our own salvation and to stand in awe of the power, mercy and love of God every day by ministering to the needs of others.

Let us be filled with the spirit of Christmas, the presence of faith,

mercy and love in our lives at this time and throughout the year.

And may God bless you and yours this holiday season! Merry Christmas!

30 years of love lived in service!

30 years ago today, St. Francis Inn opened its doors to minister to the poor and marginalized in Philadelphia. Since that day, at least one meal has been served every single day since then. Amidst snow storms and construction, we have been abundantly blessed by the generosity of our volunteers and benefactors who believe in who we are and what we do.

I will (hopefully) be posting some sort of video to the website in the near future (though in all reality, probably not until after the New Year) of some pictures from over the years. Keep checking the Media Gallery for updates!

Thank you again for your continued support! You are all blessings to us!

Check out one of our own in the news!

Karen Pushaw, one of the Team members at St. Francis Inn, is quoted in this article on MSN.com!!! Check her out! (And the article is pretty good, too!)

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/charities-face-grim-holidays.aspx?page=1

Ave Maria, gratia plena. Dominus tecum.

Just some thoughts on this Holy day...

Today marks the beginning of our salvation history. Today, a young woman was born, without the stain of original sin, that would one day give birth to our Lord and Savior. This morning, Father Michael Duffy preached about how God changed the world with this one birth. God didn’t use floods or famine, He didn’t use some celebrity to preach His cause. He went to a small town with a tarnished reputation, granted amnesty from original sin to a newly conceived baby, and watched as His plan to change the world unfolded.

So maybe, yet again, we are being taught a lesson of humility. Maybe we aren’t supposed to be starting foundations, or orchestrating benefit concerts with big names. Maybe, just maybe we can change the world, starting in Kensington- a lost neighborhood with a tainted reputation- starting with one person.

My non-Catholic friends admire, envy, question and doubt the Catholic devotion to Mary. Honestly, what’s not to revere with a thirteen year old girl in a poor town, imbued by the Holy Spirit with the immaculate conception of the Messiah? She is an example of grace (as the Hail Mary chimes in), of faith, of total surrender to the will of God.

So often people act according to how others will respond. We can count ourselves blessed that Mary did not act as most teenagers do. And we can give thanks to God for creating, on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a young woman that would become a model of faith for the rest of us who struggle day-to-day with listening to the Word of God.

"With faith and hope and love, we give You thanks."

First of all, today, December 1st, we recognize and pray for all those living with and affected by AIDS. For all that is being done to educate those with the disease, those who are at risk for it, and those who may never come into contact with somebody living with the disease, we are grateful. Their efforts are valuable and vital to the health of our world and by simply saying a prayer, you can show your support for their work.

Secondly, Thanksgiving at St. Francis Inn was a success (I heard, I was able to head home for the first time in 3 years)! Turkey and fix-ins from Boston Market, along with homemade stuffing fed 287 people in the dining room, not to mention the over 100 turkeys given away in the days leading up to Thanksgiving!

And lastly, I would be remiss to not say thank you to all who made Thanksgiving possible at St. Francis Inn Ministries! The family in the dining room was felt by all those who served and who were served.

I plan to update with some other interesting stuff later in the week so please check back!!!

Oh, and Happy Advent!